NY appearance enhancement wage bonds.
Flat 3%. $275 minimum.

The "nail salon wage bond" the New York Department of State requires from an appearance enhancement business once it employs two or more workers providing nail specialty services. It guarantees those workers get paid the wages they are owed. The penal sum is tiered by headcount — we write it at a flat 3%, $275 minimum, with a soft credit pull only.

Required by the NY Department of State once you employ two or more nail-service workers
Penal sum is tiered by headcount — $25,000, $40,000, $75,000, or $125,000
Flat 3% of the penal sum, $275 minimum — soft credit pull only, no hard hit
3% flatof the penal sum$275minimum premiumSoft pullonly — no credit-score hit
Trusted by industry leaders
NYCEDC
BDG
Capital
McKinney
Terra
JLL
Triple Five
Georgetown
NYCEDC
BDG
Capital
McKinney
Terra
JLL
Triple Five
Georgetown
How it works

Apply to bonded in a day or two.

This bond carries a light credit check, so it is not instant — but the pull is soft and the turnaround is quick. Here is the whole thing:

TODAY · 5 MINUTES

Apply online

Your business details, the number of workers providing nail specialty services, and the penal sum that headcount puts you in (starting at $25,000) — that is the application.

SOFT PULL · SAME DAY

Quick credit review

Because this is a wage bond, the surety runs a soft credit inquiry to confirm eligibility. It is a soft pull only — it does not affect your credit score — and most applicants clear it the same day.

1–2 DAYS

Bonded & ready to file

Once approved you pay the premium and the executed bond is issued, ready to file with the Department of State, Division of Licensing Services with your license application or renewal.

The whole pricing page.

Penal sum × 3% = your premium, one-time, $275 minimum. Because the smallest tier is $25,000, every appearance enhancement wage bond prices above the minimum:

$25,000 (2–5 workers)
$750
$40,000 (6–10 workers)
$1,200
$75,000 (11–25 workers)
$2,250
$125,000 (26+ workers)
$3,750
About this bond

What it is and who needs it.

What the appearance enhancement wage bond actually covers

New York requires every appearance enhancement business that employs the equivalent of two or more full-time workers providing nail specialty services to carry wage coverage — most often satisfied with a surety bond, which is why it is widely called the "nail salon wage bond." It guarantees the business pays its workers the wages they are legally owed, and gives a worker a way to recover unpaid wages if it does not.

The penal sum is tiered by headcount: at least $25,000 for the equivalent of 2–5 full-time nail-service workers, $40,000 for 6–10, $75,000 for 11–25, and $125,000 for 26 or more. Enter the tier your worker count puts you in and the quote updates.

Because this is a wage bond, it carries a light credit review — a soft pull only. That never affects your credit score. We write the bond at a flat 3% of the penal sum, $275 minimum, and most applicants are approved and bonded within a day or two.

NY General Business Law Article 27, § 406The Department of State requires an appearance enhancement business that employs the equivalent of two or more full-time individuals providing nail specialty services to obtain wage coverage. The required amount is tiered by headcount — $25,000, $40,000, $75,000, or $125,000 — and the requirement has applied since July 1, 2015.

You need this bond if you are

A nail salon employing the equivalent of two or more full-time workers who provide nail specialty services
A growing salon crossing a headcount tier — 6, 11, or 26 workers each raise the required penal sum
A new appearance enhancement business filing for a Department of State license that requires proof of wage coverage
Renewing a license the Department of State will not act on until current wage coverage is on file

Five minutes, soft pull, bonded in a day or two.

Submit the application with your worker count and penal sum. The surety runs a soft credit inquiry — no score impact — and the executed bond is issued on approval, ready to file with the Department of State.

Start the application →
FAQs

Common questions.

If yours isn't here, the bond team can usually answer within the hour.

How much is the New York nail salon wage bond? +
The penal sum is set by how many workers provide nail specialty services: $25,000 for the equivalent of 2–5 full-time workers, $40,000 for 6–10, $75,000 for 11–25, and $125,000 for 26 or more. At the flat 3% rate that is $750, $1,200, $2,250, and $3,750 respectively — every tier prices above the $275 minimum because the smallest bond is $25,000.
Who has to carry this bond? +
Any New York appearance enhancement business that employs the equivalent of two or more full-time individuals providing nail specialty services. The Department of State has required wage coverage since July 1, 2015 under General Business Law Article 27, § 406. A business below that threshold is not required to post it.
Is there a credit check? +
Yes, but it is a soft pull only. Because this is a wage bond the surety runs a quick soft credit inquiry to confirm eligibility — it does not affect your credit score, and it is not the hard pull a lender runs. Most applicants clear it the same day.
How fast can I get bonded? +
Usually a day or two. The application takes about five minutes, the soft credit review is quick, and the executed bond is issued as soon as you are approved and pay — ready to file with the Department of State, Division of Licensing Services.
Why is this called the "nail salon wage bond"? +
Because the requirement was created in the 2015 nail-salon reforms and applies specifically to businesses providing nail specialty services. Its formal name is the appearance enhancement wage payment bond. It guarantees workers are paid the wages they are owed, which is why the amount scales with how many nail-service workers you employ.
Related bonds

Other New York bonds.

Wage bond, bonded this week.

Five-minute application, soft credit pull only, flat 3% of the penal sum with a $275 minimum. Filed with the Department of State as soon as you are approved.

Your premium @ 3%$750
Apply now →