Price List Requirements for a Nail Salon - Mandatory Display, Content and How to Update (2026)

No price list on display means a violation of Poland's pricing legislation and consumer rights law. Sanepid and UOKiK (the Consumer Protection Office) can check this, but the bigger problem is different: without a clear price list, every dispute with a client about a charge is a dispute you can lose. A good price list is not just a legal requirement, it is a tool that minimises conflicts and builds client trust in your salon.

Legal Basis for the Duty to Display Prices

Two pieces of legislation require you to inform clients of your prices before providing a service:

• Act of 9 May 2014 on Price Information for Goods and Services (Article 4): a business providing services is obliged to display prices at the point of sale, in a clear, unambiguous manner that enables comparison.
• Civil Code (Articles 66 et seq.): a price list constitutes an offer under the Civil Code. When a client accepts an appointment at a stated price, she enters into a contract with you. You can only charge the price listed or a lower one.

UOKiK can impose a fine for a missing price list or one that misleads consumers - up to 10% of annual turnover. In practice, UOKiK targets beauty salons infrequently, but trade inspectors and Sanepid check price list availability during routine inspections.

What a Nail Salon Price List Must Contain

Your price list must be complete, unambiguous, and current. Check whether yours includes all the required elements.

Mandatory elements

• Full service name: not "manicure" but "classic manicure with regular nail polish" or "hybrid BIAB manicure with one nail art design". The more precisely you describe the service, the fewer misunderstandings with clients who "thought it was something else".
• Gross price (inclusive of VAT): the price shown must be what the client actually pays. If you are a VAT payer, the price must include VAT. You can add a note "prices include VAT" or "VAT exempt" (if you use the exemption).
• Currency: Polish zloty (PLN). If you serve international clients and quote prices in another currency, PLN must be the primary currency.
• Currency date or current status: add a validity date ("price list effective from 01.01.2026") or a note "current prices". Without this, a client can dispute which price list was in force on the day of her appointment.

Recommended elements (not mandatory)

• Service duration: useful for clients planning their visit and for you when building your schedule.
• Brief service description: what is included (for example, "hybrid manicure: nail plate preparation, base coat, colour coat and top coat application").
• Information about services quoted individually (for example, elaborate nail art, bespoke extensions).

Where the Price List Must Be Displayed

The location of your price list is as important as its content. The client must have access to the price BEFORE deciding on a service.

• In a physical salon: in a clearly visible location near the entrance, at the reception desk, or at the treatment station. "Kept in a drawer" or "available on request" does not satisfy the requirement.
• On your website: if you accept online bookings, prices must be visible before the client confirms the booking. A buried link to a pricing page in the footer is not sufficient.
• In a booking app: the price should be visible at the service selection stage, not only after confirmation. If the booking platform does not display prices, add the price to the service description or include it in the automatic booking confirmation.
• On social media: if you accept orders or bookings through Instagram or Facebook, prices should be accessible. A profile with no price list and no link to one is a chargeback and complaint risk.

How to Update Your Price List Correctly

Changing your prices is every business's right, but you must do it at the right moment and in the right way.

The rule: price at the time of contracting

The client is entitled to the price that was in force when she entered into the contract with you. The contract is typically formed at the moment of booking or at the start of the service (if there is no booking). If a client booked on Monday when the price was 150 PLN and you raised it to 180 PLN on Wednesday, the client still pays 150 PLN.

How to change prices

• Update the price list BEFORE the new prices take effect, not after.
• If you have a printed price list, replace it physically - do not cover old prices with stickers (it looks unprofessional and can be questioned by inspectors).
• Inform clients in advance: a social media post, a message in your booking system, a note in the appointment confirmation.
• For clients with existing bookings: inform them of the price change and give them the option to cancel without penalty. This is good practice, not a legal obligation, but it protects you from negative reviews.

Promotions and discounts

• Seasonal promotions: label them clearly with a validity date ("promotion valid until 31.05.2026").
• Loyalty discounts: you can apply them, but you always charge less than the listed price, never more.
• Discount codes: if you use them, the price list can show the pre-discount price with a note "discounts available".

Discrepancy Between the Price List and the Invoice Amount

This is where the greatest risk of client disputes lies. The rule is straightforward:

• You can charge LESS than the listed price: a promotion, a discount, a gesture of goodwill. No problem.
• You cannot charge MORE than the listed price without prior information and the client's agreement.
• A client charged more than the listed price has the right to claim a refund of the difference. She can also file a complaint with UOKiK or a consumer platform.

What if the price depends on nail condition or length of work?

This is a frequent situation in nail salons. If the price can vary, you must inform the client BEFORE the treatment, not after. Two approaches:

• In the price list: "price from X PLN, final price determined individually after nail assessment".
• Verbally before the service: tell the client your estimated price and ask for her agreement. Do this before, not during, gel removal.

FAQ

Does the price list have to be on paper, or is a tablet or phone screen sufficient?

The format is not legally prescribed: the price list can be printed, displayed on a screen, on a tablet at the reception desk, or on a website visible to the client. What matters is that the client has easy access to it BEFORE deciding on a service. A price list that exists only on your phone and is shown "if the client asks" does not meet the "price display" requirement.

What if a client claims you quoted her a different price over the phone?

A price quoted over the phone is an offer that may differ from the price list (for example, an individual quote). If you quoted 130 PLN on the phone and the price list says 150 PLN, the client is entitled to pay 130 PLN. This is why you should be careful about quoting prices without seeing the nail condition first. If you give an indicative price, say so clearly: "that is an approximate price - the final price will be confirmed after I see your nails".

Can I charge different prices to different clients, for example lower prices for regulars?

Yes, you can run loyalty programmes and offer individual discounts. The key rule: you always charge a price equal to or lower than the official price list. You cannot charge more than the listed price without the client's agreement. Regulars can pay less; new clients pay the listed price.

How should I describe package deals in the price list?

A package must have a clearly described composition: what is included in the package price. Example: "Package: hybrid manicure + classic pedicure = 220 PLN (instead of 270 PLN separately)". Avoid packages described as "basic/pro/premium" without a list of what is included: the client does not know what she is buying and you will have disputes about the scope of the service.