Buyer's guide to salon & spa software

After weeks of planning and mentally preparing, you’re finally ready to face the music - you’ve decided to get a software system for your business. You have been struggling far too long with unsuccessful marketing campaigns, issues with staff and collecting accurate data on how your salon or spa is doing - not to mention staying after hours and trying to make sense of it all. Most of your competition has already made the switch from paper to salon software - after all, it’s 2019, and you need to get with the times - unless you’re going for that antique salon theme.

There’s just one roadblock in your way to purchasing the perfect salon system - how do you pick the right system that will meet your needs? There are many systems on the market, all of which claim to have numerous great features and whatnot, so how do you decide which one is the perfect fit for you?

Getting started

If you’re new to salon software, then you’re in for a ride! In the past, such systems were downloaded onto your computer and could only be used on that one device - nowadays, most solutions are cloud-based and therefore, be used on all devices that connect to the Internet. Most well-developed salon systems share similar features, such as inventory management, appointment booking, staff calendars, email messaging and online booking, however, you need to find a solution that specifically fits your needs.

Making the right decision when salon software shopping can take time - after all, you’re putting your trust into a system to better run and manage your salon or spa, so you need to be sure that it will do the job. It should house features that fix issues you deal with on a daily basis. Research a few reputable brand names and get in touch with a representative for a free tour of the system - if a brand offers a quick, one-on-one consultation, then you’ve found a good candidate, as they value their customers!

During the tour, mention issues you struggle with and what you think may work best in order to resolve them. A live tour saves you loads of time and an expert can show you all of the tweaks and tricks inside the system. All too often, non-tech savvy salon and spa owners sign a contract for a system based on the reviews they read online, only to be faced with unpleasant surprises later on.

Tip: salon software shouldn’t fall short of your expectations, but also shouldn’t have too many features that you won’t be using. An overly complex system might be charging you for tools you don’t even need!

Pay attention to...

So you’ve made contact with a representative and mentioned issues you’re facing in the salon or spa and you now have a good idea of what you’re looking for. However, you should make sure that your system of choice has these three options: marketing, analytics and management features. These elements are necessary in order to save you time and reduce complexity - just imagine having 3 different solutions for each of these tasks - what a nightmare!

Another bonus feature you should be on the lookout for is management automation. Chances are you’re busy most of the day, doing a client’s hair, nails or providing a relaxing head massage and facial peel, and there’s no time for sending appointment reminders, review requests or launching scheduled messages to clients. Ask what you can automate with the system and choose the solution that saves you the most time!

Hidden details

A salon system should be the solution to the daily issues you face in your business, and not add more to the list. If a spa software’s features are exactly what you’re looking for, make sure that they aren’t incomplete, have hidden fees or are too difficult to understand. Just because your system of choice is free or has two features you really like, it does not mean that it will be compatible with your needs.

You stand behind the saying: “Good lashes/hair/nails/massages aren’t cheap, cheap lashes/hair/nails/massages aren’t good” - and the same applies to your choice of software. Free beauty & hair salon software sounds like a godsend, however, don’t expect miracles. More often than not, you’re stuck learning the system on your own, missing key features and having to find extra tools to compensate for the missing ones. As for paid systems, find out EXACTLY what you are paying for and how you can avoid extra fees. Certain outdated systems require that you pay extra for updates - without which, your software won’t function properly, so make sure you don’t fall victim to that! Plus - it shouldn’t require you to have a PhD in order to understand!

You have a match!

Once you’ve finally compiled a list of reliable salon systems, chances are Booksy has made it on there. If that’s the case, then it looks as though you’re looking for a solution that goes a step further, without overcomplicating things. All of the aforementioned features can be found in Booksy, so expect nothing short of reliable software that makes running and managing your salon or spa enjoyable again. Create marketing campaigns for specific groups of clients, manage your team more effectively, generate all of your reports in real-time, take bookings online and collect online prepayments - all through a user-friendly system!

Sign up for your free account and ask for a free one-on-one tour with a Booksy expert. No credit card required and no contracts - sign up today!