When a Principal Refuses to Stay Silent: APEX's Cô Jenny Speaks Up for the Nail Community — Tax Solutions for Salon Owners & Technicians

This past week, the Vietnamese nail community across the United States was shaken by news that a salon owner had been pursued and penalized by the IRS for tax evasion, underreporting revenue, and failing to properly report technician income. One case — but a wake-up call for tens of thousands of small nail salons quietly operating across the country, where the vast majority of owners and technicians are Vietnamese immigrants working tirelessly to support their families.

In the middle of this storm, instead of staying on the sidelines or simply condemning from afar, Cô Jenny — Principal of APEX Beauty Academy — took a very different action: she sat down, invited tax experts, legal professionals, and seasoned salon owners onto a live stream, and worked with them to find real solutions for the community.

A Principal Who Doesn't Sit Behind a Lectern

Many people know her as "the principal," but few realize that before she ever stood at the front of a classroom, Cô Jenny was a real nail salon owner herself — running day-to-day operations, serving clients with her own hands, and losing sleep over bookkeeping, taxes, and licensing.

That is exactly why, when she saw a salon owner — perhaps a sister, a friend, someone she once stood beside — caught in legal trouble simply for not knowing how taxes work, she could not stay silent. She understood deeply that:

• Most small salon owners are not intentionally evading taxes — they simply don't know how to file correctly.
• Employed nail technicians also don't fully understand their own rights — especially when many are paid in cash with no W-2, no proper withholdings, and no legal protections.
• The line between "partnership," "booth rental," and "formal employment" is blurry in this industry, but the legal consequences are razor sharp.

A Different Kind of Live Stream: Not for PR — To Save Careers

Cô Jenny's live stream was designed very differently from typical marketing events. She didn't sell a course. She didn't pitch a product. Instead, she invited:

• A tax & accounting specialist focused on the nail and salon industry: walking viewers through EIN registration, Schedule C filing, and how to claim input tax credits on nail supplies.
• An immigration and labor attorney: breaking down the legal difference between an employee and a booth renter (independent contractor) — one of the most common (and costly) mistakes that puts salon owners in IRS crosshairs.
• Veteran salon owners: sharing real stories of how they transformed from informal "just getting by" operations into fully legitimate, sustainable businesses.

Throughout the live stream, Cô Jenny asked questions like a peer, not a teacher. She said it plainly: "I've stood exactly where you're standing. I know the fear of opening an IRS letter. I know the stress when a tech asks for cash at the end of the week. But I've been through it — and you can get through it too — if you start the right way, starting today."

The Solutions She Delivered — Not Theory, but Actionable Steps You Can Take Right Now

From the live stream, Cô Jenny and the experts distilled a clear roadmap that any nail salon owner can begin applying immediately:

1. Clearly define how you engage your technicians

• Employee: you must issue a W-2, withhold taxes, provide workers' comp insurance, and pay at least the state minimum wage.
• Independent contractor (booth renter): the tech gets their own EIN, files their own quarterly taxes, carries their own insurance — and you cannot control their hours or service prices.
• This is the first thing the IRS audits. Getting this wrong is the #1 reason salons get hit with massive penalties.

2. Open a separate business bank account and track every dollar

• Use a simple POS or accounting app (Wave, QuickBooks Self-Employed, Square) to log every transaction.
• Avoid accepting undocumented cash payments — because if the IRS ever asks, you will have nothing to prove your actual revenue.

3. Get an EIN and file estimated taxes quarterly

• Every salon owner needs a separate EIN (free to apply at IRS.gov).
• Pay estimated quarterly taxes using Form 1040-ES, due April 15, June 15, September 15, and January 15.

4. Keep every receipt for supplies and equipment — they are legitimate deductions

• Investments in nail supplies, gel, UV lamps, tables, and chairs are all legitimate business expenses that reduce your taxable income.

5. If you have years of unfiled taxes — consider Voluntary Disclosure

• The IRS offers a Voluntary Disclosure program that can dramatically reduce penalties compared to being caught.
• Cô Jenny emphasized: "Don't be so afraid that you never ask for help. A good accountant or attorney will get you back on the right path."

Why This Action Truly Matters

In the nail industry — especially in the U.S. — there is a truth few people say out loud: most Vietnamese nail technicians start with zero knowledge about taxes, insurance, or business licensing. Some are lucky to find a mentor. Others figure it out the hard way. And far too many pay a devastating price.

Cô Jenny — as someone who was once a salon owner and is now a beauty academy principal — has done something not everyone is willing to do: she brought her real-world experience out to serve the wider community, instead of keeping it for herself.

That is exactly what makes APEX Beauty Academy different: our graduates don't just learn how to paint beautiful nails — they are equipped with business mindset, legal awareness, and financial discipline to become the next generation of salon owners: skilled with their hands, and smart about protecting themselves.

A Message from Cô Jenny

"To every nail tech, to every salon owner — we work because we must. For our families. For our children's future. We deserve to work with respect and safety — including legal safety. Don't let one letter from the IRS or one labor inspection tear down everything you've built. Start fixing things today, even if it's small, even if it's slow. Cô and APEX will walk this road with you."

Need More Support?

APEX Beauty Academy regularly hosts free community sessions on taxes, licensing, soft skills, and nail business ownership. If you are a salon owner or technician who needs guidance:

• Follow our Facebook page to get notified about the next live stream.
• Visit us in person at 4410 E Independence Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28205.
• Call +1 980-422-5428 to book a 1-on-1 consultation with our advisory team.

Learning the nail trade isn't just about technique — it's about learning to live and work the right way: sustainable, dignified, and valuable.