3 Tips for Choosing the Best Salon Software

Salon Software
4 minute read

Selecting the right salon and spa management software for your business is important. It can be the difference between earning profits and missing out on growth opportunities. When searching for the best salon software that fits your business, consider these 3 pieces of advice.

1. Consider Total Value

While price is an important aspect of the decision-making process, you should not base your selection of salon software solely on cost. Beyond price, factors such as efficiency and user experience should be evaluated as well.

For example, how long does it take you to run payroll? For many businesses, it can take hours to work out all the wages, commissions, tips, taxes, and other deductions. But with software, those same calculations can be done instantly and with more accuracy!

By saving a couple hours of administrative work, you will have more time behind the chair to increase your revenue!

Ultimately, compare the value that you are getting with the cost you are paying. When you pay less, you may be missing out on opportunities to grow your business. Remember, cheaper isn't always better.

2. See the Bigger Picture

For any salon or spa, the main purpose of your business is to provide a service to clients. To earn more revenue, it’s essential to optimize your appointment schedule. Your software should give you the structure and flexibility to organize your appointment book in a manner that makes sense for your business.

For example, does it allow you to double book clients so you can begin working with one customer while another is in the color processing stage? Or can a client be assigned to another team member for a different part of the service?

As important as the appointment book is, there are other contributors to your success that must also be considered:

  • Automated appointment confirmations to reduce no-shows
  • Client database to store contact details, service history, formulas, and notes
  • Inventory system to boost retail sales
  • Loyalty program to increase client retention
  • Point of sale to process payments and rebook customers
  • Reports to analyze and grow the business

3. Look Ahead to the Future

How can salon management software help you grow your business? To engage customers and draw them back into your salon, many programs enable you to communicate with clients via emailtext message. The marketing capabilities are essential to filling last-minute appointment openings, winning back customers, and promoting referral programs or other special offers.

Also, consider that as your business expands, will your management software program be able to grow with you? Are you able to add new employees? Or if you decide to open a second location, will they be able to share data? Perhaps you may be interested in renting out salon chairs to other hairstylists in your area; will the software be able to help you manage that?

Finally, as the industry continues to grow and adopt new trends, will your software allow you to follow suit or will you be stuck where you are at? A few current trends include:

Insight Salon & Spa Software

Developed specifically for the beauty industry, Insight Software boasts features like appointment scheduling, client & employee management, email & SMS marketing, inventory tracking, and payment processing. Plus, we provide dedicated customer support, data migration services, and training so you can be up and running at full speed in no time!

Since 1991, Insight Software has been serving thousands of businesses ranging from multi-location day spas to small hair salons and single chair renters. Our success stems from our personal engagement with clients. We greatly value their feedback and listen to them when prioritizing new features to add to the software.

Speak to one of our sales consultants to learn if Insight Software fits in with your business: 1-888-919-5841. 

Experience Insight today - download a free trial

Topics: Salon Software
Posted on January 23, 2017