CLOSED

Nail & lash studio opened · CLOSED after 1 yr 1 mo

James Davis, 25 · 1 yr 1 mo

“My spreadsheet was profitable. Reality wasn’t.”

I closed after 1 year and 1 month. What remained was $48,944 in debt and 5 regulars.

On the last day, you sat in front of the register. Cash $1,177, debt $48,944, 1 employee, 47 customers. Your employee found their next job. You told them you were sorry, and they said, "I learned a lot working for you." The business failed, but that time did not disappear.

How it went

1. 2026 · preparing to openJames Davis, 24. You have decided to try starting a company in Midwest. No idea, no product yet. Savings $49,823, no job.
2. Debt from day onePersonal debt: $558 a month for 97 months. It comes out regardless of the company.
3. 11/2026: what now?Start a business: «Nail & lash studio» — You are going with «Nail & lash studio». Next: a location and people.
4. Where to start, and with whatA proven franchise — You set up the shop exactly as the headquarters manual said. Customers walked in because of the brand. That made you a little sad.
5. Who opens the doors with you?Part-timers for the rush hours only — Two students took turns. Both told you their exam weeks in advance. You were grateful.
6. 2026 · year 1 beginsA Quiet Year
7. 11/11 · A family emergencySomething came up in the family. You dropped what you were doing and went over.
8. 11/20 · A competitor made a moveA nearby competitor started heavy social ads. Search for your shop and their ad comes up first.
9. An insurance agent dropped byTake the full package — Signed, hoping you never need it.
10. 12/6 · Supplier price increaseA new price list came from the supplier: your most-used items are up 6%. You redid your prices.
11. 12/22 · Building repairsThe landlord said the pipes need repair and asked you to cut opening hours for two days.
12. Financing approvedsmall business SBA 7(a) loan $50,000 · 6.5%/yr · 84 months
13. You are short of moneyApply for the SBA 7(a) loan — You rewrote the business plan. The officer at SBA (Small Business Administration) spent longer on cash flow and repayment than on revenue. The answer arrives by post. small business SBA 7(a) loan $50,000 approved.
14. 1/19 · Down sickDay three of a cold that will not lift. No time to see a doctor.
15. The “$20,000 a month or your money back” courseBlock the ad — You block it and another account posts the same ad. The money is still in your account.
16. 2/11 · Street festivalA festival opened nearby. Foot traffic doubled.
17. 3/23 · Equipment stoppedA key machine broke. Three days for the part to arrive; you did it by hand until then.
18. 4/19 · Card terminal outageThe card terminal died at the busiest hour. You served only customers paying cash.
19. A review farm makes an offerDecline — You deleted the message. That week one customer left a good review on their own. One.
20. 5/11 · FamilyYou talked with your family for a long time. Someone said, “You come before the money.”
21. 6/10 · A competitor made a moveA nearby competitor started heavy social ads. Search for your shop and their ad comes up first.
22. 7/24 · An employee quitAn employee said this month would be their last. The big store down the road pays more an hour.
23. A gap opened in the rotaMake an urgent replacement hire — A new colleague joined. Work is shared, but payroll and onboarding are now recurring responsibilities.
24. 8/22 · Street festivalA festival opened nearby. Foot traffic doubled.
25. 8/23 · Building repairsWork started on the building’s facade. Scaffolding went up in front and hid your sign.
26. 9/6 · Loan payment dayLoan payment day. $813 in principal and interest left the account. The balance is $50,574.
27. 9/27 · Supplier price increaseThe delivery driver said a freight charge starts next week. In effect, a 5% rise.
28. 10/29 · Equipment stoppedThe technician said a repair would cost nearly as much as a new one. You bought new.
29. Financing declinedThe Bank working-capital loan application was declined.
30. You are short of moneyBank credit line — You walked into the bank with documents and proof of income. They said your trading history is short. Now you wait for underwriting. But underwriting declined it. Credit and cash flow need another look.
31. A Quiet YearNothing much happened. You got up at the same time every day and did the same work. That repetition can build something, or wear a person down.
32. Year 1 closeRevenue $34,721, loss $17,812. Cash $8,481.
33. 2027 · year 2 beginsSupplier Fraud · Rates Rose
34. 11/18 · Records requested by the tax officeIRS requested records for credit card sales and cash sales. You opened the books again.
35. Cash ran outClose the shop — On the last day you closed the books. The faces of a few regulars came to mind first.

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