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1. What is Salon Software?
Salon software is an online tool designed to automate the day-to-day activities of a salon or spa. It enables salon managers or businesses to manage their daily schedules, staff and inventory with ease. You can edit existing bookings, create new appointments and set reminders and alerts. It makes use of automation to personalize services and notify customers of free slots, cashbacks, discounts and gift cards that they can cash in.Appointment management is designed to give salon managers access to bookings, manage resources and staff and organize shifts and timeoffs. The platform also lets businesses reach out to clients for feedback on services and stores various payment options to simplify and reconcile transactions.2. What are the Features of Salon Software?
The core features of the best salon software include appointment management, marketing and lead generation, point of sale and reports.The features you will find in most of the best salon software are- Online scheduling
- Cancelation management
- Point-Of-Sale with integrated payment processing and suggestive selling
- Automated confirmations
- Reporting on client activities, booking histories and employee schedules.
- Inventory management
- Automated Email and Mass marketing capabilities
- Integrated eCommerce for selling salon products online.
- Built-in ticketing system that facilitates prompt and responsive customer service.
3. Why is Salon Management Software Important?
Considering the hours you save (not to mention the tedium of manually reconciling records), businesses are now replacing manual paperwork with salon software. Besides preventing appointment overlaps, the best salon software even maps customer details to the services they request for regularly. The more personal the marketing, the easier it will be for salons to attract and retain their clientele.The benefits of a salon software include:- Filling up no-shows.
- Reassigning canceled appointments.
- Ensuring service personnel availability for requested services.
- Reduced queuing and wait-time.
- Increases customer satisfaction.
4. How Much Does Salon Software Cost?
If you’re looking for a ballpark figure, salon software costs between $15 to $395 per month. The best salon software has pricing slabs based on the size of your business and number of users who’ll require access to the platform. There are monthly and annual packages. If you opt for yearly plans, it works out to be cheaper, not to mention that you won’t have to worry about missing a payment.
Phorest, for example, offers quotes based on the features that come with their plans which are broadly called Starter,Grow and Ultimate. The website does not list any particular pricing range, but instead offers prospects the option to book a demo. Feedback and review engines have mentioned that the starter plan costs $79 per month.5. The Best Salon Software for Small Businesses
1.Timely
About:
Timely is a salon software launched by Andrew Schofield, Ryan Baker and William Berger in December 2011. It is headquartered in New Zealand with offices in Australia and the United Kingdom. Customers on Timely include Green Butterfly, Manscape and Stevie Vincent.Timely Features at a glance:- Appointments
- Client Management
- Sales and Payments
- Marketing
- Inventory
- Reports and analytics
- TimelyPay
- The TimelyPay app makes online payments easy for customers.
- The Facebook integration accepts bookings made via Facebook.
- Users report the customer support to be responsive and helpful in providing timely assistance. It's also device-friendly, meaning you can access your calendar anywhere, anytime and on any device.
- It's easy to generate email campaigns and maintain a customizable contacts database.
- The booking process is lengthy and requests a lot of user information before revealing the price at the end. Some businesses report that clients prefer phoning in over using the tool app because it saves more time.
- The facility for daily financial reconciliation is missing.
- Email options for follow-ups and rebooking reminders are limited.
2. Salonist
About
Launched in 2016 in Singapore, Salonist offers optimized salon software in 60 countries and supports 8 languages.It is used by over 1000 small to medium clients worldwide, including Sketchers,DHL and Abila Beauty Salon.Salonist Features at a glance:- Payroll & Employee Management
- Appointment Management
- Customer management
- Reward/Loyalty System
- Salon Management
- Billing & Invoicing
- Branch and Location Management
- Prepaid and credit
- The API is device-compatible which offers customers options to access the app and make bookings from any device.
- End-to-end data security.
- It has live support with a very responsive customer service team.
- The Reports could be made better for advanced calculations and help in auditing aspects.
3. Rosy
About
Rosy Salon Software was launched in 2009 by Floydware Software in the USA. It was one of the first cloud based softwares designed by Salon professionals for efficient business scheduling. Happy customers include Lux Lashes, Duke the Studio and TrenaKaye SkinSpa.Rosy Salon Software Features at a Glance- Curbside check in- contactless check-in for customers from their car to alert staff.
- Email Marketing / SMS Marketing
- Inventory Control & Management
- Appointment Management - with client images
- Credit Card & Gift Card Processing
- Client Management & Credit Control
- Employee Management
- Point of Sale (POS) option- Billing & Invoicing
- The application is accessible on any device and sends out reminders automatically.
- The placeholder for appointments changes colors as and when clients confirm, cancel or request rescheduling, meaning that you don’t have to repeatedly chase customers.
- Reports are customizable and has a SWOT identifier for a stylist’s competencies.
- Some customers complain that the scheduling feature is difficult to use.
- This is not a con if you have prior CRM experience or use other mail building and campaign creation tools, but the email Builder within the CRM could evolve better. The software handles automated emails once it has been set up.
4. Mindbody
About
Mindbody was founded in 2001 in California,U.S. This is the best salon software for small businesses that offer beauty spa and wellness treatments. It caters to over 35 million customers in over 130 countries & territories worldwide.Mindbody Features at a Glance:- Financial, inventory and employee Management
- Point of Sale (POS)- Billing & Invoicing
- Time & Expense Monitoring
- Client Management
- eCommerce Management- social media integrations
- Marketing Management
- Workflows Management
- It has an API - so it can be seamlessly integrated.
- The business intelligence suite helps you analyze customer data and improve or revise your marketing tactics.
- There’s a livestream option for Yoga and wellness classes. Mindbody is the first of its kind to offer workout sessions besides salon management. One downside to Mindbody’s salon software is that it's a bit expensive, and some users have reported the customer service to plummet from its initial responsiveness and helpfulness.
5. Acuity Scheduling
About
Acuity Scheduling is a Squarespace product offering and is an online salon management assistant.Acuity Features At a Glance- Appointment Scheduling
- Client Information Organizer
- Social media calendar sharing
- HIPAA compliance
- Custom reminder mail and texting
- Two-way API integration
- It's a simple organizer that is easy to set up.
- The tool sends out text message notifications when appointments are booked/rescheduled/canceled. The mobile app sees to it that customers never miss your reminders.
- Two way API integration with Google Calendar avoids double bookings
6. And the Winner Is
Salonist !This Singapore-based software has it all covered for a smaller segment of Salons. It is cost-effective and provides excellent customer support, even for startups to get on with the game.6. Salon software for Mid-sized Businesses
1. Meevo 2
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About
Meevo 2 is a recent entrant to the array of cloud-based salon software available in the market. It is designed for all types and sizes of salons, and is based in Lombard, USA. Meevo was developed by Millennium Systems International and is used by the Florida Spa Association, Intercoiffure and iSpa.Meevo 2 Features at a Glance
- Appointment management
- Before & After Picture Gallery
- Client Database management & profiling
- Customer Mobile Apps & Surveys
- Email Marketing
- Gift Card & membership Management
- Point of Sale (POS)
- It has adequate customer support to set up and train the staff on the usage.
- Ease of use web interface with Pop-ups that give you all client data.
- A smart center and Dashboard.
- Printing reports comes out to be cumbersome.
- Filters can be made better to sort the data.
2. Vagaro
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About
Launched in 2009 by Fred Helou in California, USA., Vagaro is a web-based solution for all sizes of Salon and wellness businesses. It helps in carrying marketing campaigns, fixing appointments, and conducting all services via the application.Vagaro Features at a Glance
- Appointment Scheduling
- Client & employee Management
- Email & social media Marketing
- Inventory Management
- Loyalty & gift card Program
- Payroll & Commissions
- Point of Sale (POS)
- This web-based application offers users access from Multiple locations and
- Booth rentals as a unique feature to vagaro
- Users report the tool’s marketing automation to be helpful in expanding the business.
- Difficulty in booking multiple services at once.
- Navigation is not easy, with many customers reporting that they tend to get lost once they’re in.
3. Zenoti
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About
Founded in 2010 by brothers Sudheer and Dheeraj Koneru, Zenoti is an all-in-one enterprise management software exclusively made for Spas, Salons, popularly used in over 50 countries. Engineered for reliability and scalability, the cloud-based enterprise-level software Zenoti has a centralized platform that provides access across multiple locations. Clients include Boardroom Salon For Men,Gene Juarez and Tricoci Salon & Spa.Zenoti Features at a Glance
- Inventory & Locker management
- Custom& Ad hoc reporting
- Calendar management with reminders
- HIPAA compliance
- Sales statistics, analytics & reports
- Automate- Task scheduling
- Activity dashboard with Drag & drop interface
- Loyalty program & gift card systems with POS
- Social network and Email marketing
- Digital consultation forms are very innovative and helpful for businesses.
- Centralized inventory checking makes it easy to manage.
- Marketing activities are easy as uploading offers and sending promotional messages are simple.
- Reporting packages could be useful
- There is scope for improvement in the marketing feature, particularly in targeting a demographic section. Pricing Zenoti works completely on a subscription model; contact Zenoti for prices.
4. Phorest
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About
Founded in 2002 in Dublin Ireland, by Ronan Perceval, Phorest is a comprehensive cloud-based salon management tool. It's used by over 7000 salons.Phorest Features at a Glance
- TreatCard Loyalty Program that rewards clients & increases retention.
- Salon-branded App & Online Bookings: Allows users to book appointments - 24/7
- Email Marketing: sort & send by client type & service history
- SMS Appointment Reminders that cut down "no-shows" by 70%
- Reviews: get vital feedback from clients - review on every appointment
- Selfie rewards: clients can share a selfie for extra loyalty points
- Phorest Go: view, change & manage bookings on any device
- Automate: & personalized thank you/birthday emails to client
- The support of reports is very commendable.
- Users can access software across devices.
- Loyalty schemes on social media are good.
- Online bookings are direct.
- Integrations with merchant services units could be an issue with some specific customers, but customers can solve it with the help of customer support.
- Social media review integration could be helpful to promote better.
- Employee handling, such as new employee addition in a new category, takes time- could improvise this feature.
5. Fresha
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About
Fresha (formerly,Shedul) was launched in 2015 by William Zeqiri and Nick Miller. It is one of the best salon software that’s cloud-based and has a free version. It is well suited for med-spas, health clinics, Salons, massage centers, and wellness centers.Fresha Features at a Glance
- Calendar-based scheduling
- Powerful and flexible
- Online bookings & Activity dashboard
- Automatic reminders & Custom messages
- Built-in POS
- Invoicing
- Receipts, taxes, calculations
- Shedul has Robust appointment scheduling with calendar displays.
- Available in free and premium options so small organizations or freelancers can benefit from the free version.
- Reliable and secure, and widely used
- User experience could be made better.
- A mobile app could make it more accessible.
6. And the Winner is
Phorest. It was a choice between Phorest and Fresha, with the latter being free. But after careful deliberation over the facilities available, we think Phorest is best suited to mid-sized businesses. Besides which, Phorest is also committed to volunteering and fundraising, and operates on strong ethics.7. The Best Salon Software for Large Establishments
best salon software[/caption]1. Booker Spa
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About
Founded in 2010, Booker is another Mindbody offering that serves over 10,000 high end salons and spas. It is an online 24/7 booking software that has earned over USD. 25 million in subscriptions and payment revenues as of 2017. Booker Spa’s clients include Jbe Beauty, Barbers of the lowcountry and Oak Haven.Booker Spa Features At a Glance
- Booker Marketing Network: Allows booking on partner websites
- Social media integrations & email promotions
- Customized gift certificates & booking packages
- Integrated point-of-sale (POS) system
- Special offers, loyalty rewards programs & membership plans
- Built-in CRM with Appointment reminders to clients
- Customer feedback surveys
- 3rd party API integration
- 2-Way SMS Texting
- Scheduling staff and juggling appointments are straightforward.
- Training videos for each feature make it easy to learn.
- It has various tools, including time-clock, inventory management, etc., and easily compatible with other devices.
- Since it's web-based software, you’ll need steady connectivity to enter, access and modify appointments.
- Adding special deals or offers needs to be made easier.
2. Insight Spa
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About
Founded by Ajay Aggarwal in 1995, Insight Spa serves over 25,000 users in 28 countries. Insight spa is a cloud-based software in use by clients such as the Michael Anthony Salon.Insight Spa Features at a Glance
- Appointment booking & reminders
- Client management & Inventory management
- Employee management
- Shift scheduling
- Loyalty program & Gift card system
- Social marketing & Email marketing
- API Integrations across devices
- It comes in bold colors and easy to use.
- It is an excellent value for money as you can access it across devices.
- Good customer support
- Has both cloud version and the installed version
- Too many features which most enterprises may not fully use.
- SMS bundle costs extra and may burn a hole if not cautious.
- Errors while generating reports which need fixing.
3. FlexiSalon ERP
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About
Founded by Softmark in 1993, FlexiSalon ERP has a rich history of innovation in the salon industry. It comprises a wholesome package to grow your beauty business. Clients using FlexiSalon ERP include Sarla’s, nVi and Mudd Salon & Day Spa.FlexiSalon Features at a Glance
- Email Marketing / SMS Marketing
- Inventory Management
- Reminders
- Appointment Management
- Credit Card & Gift Card Processing
- Client Management & Credit Control
- Online Booking
- From wastage and consumption tracking to employee management, the tool lets you monitor activities across the enterprise.
- Quick, friendly and helpful customer support.
4. eLite Spa
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About
The eLite Spa was founded by Claire Hardwick in 2006, although the company’s history dates back to 1986. It is a simplified salon management system to streamline salon activities, improve productivity and boost sales. Customers include Myra and company, Oasis Day Spa & Salon and Fusion Spa.eLite Spa Features at a Glance
- E-mail & SMS Marketing
- Inventory Administration
- Appointment Management
- Referral schemes integration & Loyalty Management
- Membership handling
- Employee Management
- Point of Sale (POS) & Cash Flow monitoring
- Reports and bookkeeping activities are hassle-free.
- Users can carry out tracking clients and gift card status with this tool.
5. And the Winner Is
Insight Spa.With both cloud and the downloadable version, large salons can use whichever works best for them. Ease of access via multi-location and varying price range all make it fit the big brand just right.8. What is the Best Salon Software?
Our five picks to treat yourself or a loved one to a Spa day would be Rosy Salon Software Acuity Scheduling Fresha Timely and Insight Spa While Acuity is great for basic scheduling and appointment management, Rosy’s interface, customer support and features make it one of the best salon software there is for beauty, wellness and grooming services.When selecting tools for your business, think long-term and go for one that offers a trial period. The learning curve should be easy so that your staff can also familiarize themselves with how the tool’s features work. The best salon software is one that streamlines schedules for customers and employees alike, reconciles payments and enables you to know what your customers like (or dislike).Which one are you thinking of getting?
