Types of Salon Management Software

The different types of salon management software are often categorized based on a number of factors, such as the size of the spa and salon business the software caters to, the mode of implementation or deployment and the main functions the product offers to salon owners, managers and independent beauty industry professionals. When it comes to business size, there are three types of salon software to consider: software for small businesses and independent/freelance professionals, for medium-sized salon operators and those for large chain enterprises.

Appointment scheduling tools for small businesses

Small businesses and independent or freelance beauty industry professionals normally operate in a smaller capacity compared to larger establishments. Individual professionals manage a one-person business, while a small salon business usually has only five or fewer employees. For these types of businesses, appointment scheduling is often the main priority. Therefore, salon management software that focuses primarily on online bookings and salon appointment management is the more reasonable option for them.

Salon software that mainly focuses on appointment scheduling and online bookings is available. They’re usually light in features and capabilities and are mostly available as a web-based solution supported by mobile apps for the professional who’s always on the go. There are free and open-source solutions in this software category as well, which is a significant reason why they are popular and widely used among small businesses and individual professionals in the beauty industry.

Spa and salon management software for medium to large businesses

As a salon business grows in size as well as client volume, it becomes more crucial for that business to have the ability to capture and store valuable customer information. The customer data, once collected and stored, can be analyzed and segmented automatically in order to produce effective targeted marketing campaigns, through email and social media, which place an emphasis on customer loyalty and retention.

Salon management software solutions that cater to medium and large businesses are equipped with additional functions outside of the standard salon appointment and booking tools. If you want to manage your business in a more efficient way, reduce no-shows and make it easier and more convenient for your clients to book their appointments with your salon, you’re going to need a software solution that offers customer management as well as marketing management capabilities, on top of the basic online booking and appointment scheduling applications.

Modular salon management software for large enterprises

A spa and salon business that employs a large number of beauty industry professionals and operates in multiple locations is going to need a much more comprehensive, feature-rich and powerful salon software system. These large enterprises are going to require a salon management software solution that enables their staff members to perform multiple tasks and processes simultaneously from a single platform on the same interface.

Some of the salon business tasks and processes that the salon scheduling software has to be able to handle include inventory management and tracking, point-of-sale (POS) billing, credit card payment processing, gift cards processing and other promotional management tasks, social media and email marketing, employee scheduling and attendance tracking, onboarding and training management, as well as extensive reporting and data analytics.

With those kinds of processes and requirements, a large salon business would benefit more from a modular salon management software solution. This category of salon software gives large salon operators and owners the option to pick and choose the modules they acquire based on the current requirements of their business. In this category, the most popular and widely preferred implementation method is the cloud-based approach.

Cloud-based or web-based salon management software is preferred by a number of salon owners and operators because they often have a low initial cost of investment, but provide a bigger return on investment or ROI. Unlike on-premise solutions, regular software maintenance and updates with cloud-based salon scheduling and management systems are shouldered by the vendor or service provider.

How to Choose Salon Management Software

Consider these few key factors when deciding which salon management software to purchase for your spa and salon business:

Ease-of-use

Consider the amount of training and the level of technical support the salon management software may require. This should tell how easy or challenging the software is to implement and use. Ease-of-use can greatly impact usability and adoptability. The easier it is to use and operate the salon software, the faster it’s going to be adopted by your staff members.

While ease-of-use may not always be apparent, you can also judge the salon management software by the level of support the vendor provides when it comes to training and technical service. Some software vendors offer unlimited training and support for all their clients, regardless of the subscription plan they’re paying for. However, there are also vendors that charge customers a flat fee or usage fee. If your salon business and/or staff members require technical training and support, you need to make sure the software you’re buying offers the appropriate level of customer service you need.

Flexibility, functionality and scalability

When choosing a suitable salon management software solution, you need to take into account certain aspects that go beyond your salon business’ immediate requirements. Best-of-breed salon software offers more than your average day-to-day operational functions like appointment scheduling, online booking and point-of-sale management. They can also help salon owners and operators like you plan and strategize for long-term growth.

There are salon management solutions that offer flexibility and scalability. These are systems that make it easier for salon operators to scale up or down, depending on their current requirements. There are also software solutions that offer great functionality, allowing users to create and develop sustainable marketing campaigns to help drive more customers to their business. Social media and email marketing are common functions that users can leverage to capture leads. Gift cards and discount coupons can also be used as promotional material, helping to boost customer loyalty and retention.

Pricing structure and budget

Consider your budget and what you’re willing to spend on premium salon management software. Then, take a closer look at the pricing structures of different salon software vendors. Some vendors charge customer businesses on a per-user or per-seat basis. This means the more employees you have accessing the system, the higher the cost of your monthly or annual fee.

There are also those that offer a flat rate software package with unlimited users/seats. However, you may find that this option can sometimes be lacking in the features and capacity department, where if you want more capacity or if you want to acquire a specific feature that’s not currently available in your pricing plan, you’re going to have to upgrade your subscription to a higher tier.

The key in this scenario is to identify what your salon business needs in terms of software features and capabilities and then find the right salon management software with the appropriate pricing plan that suits your requirements as well as your budget.

Benefits of Salon Management Software

The following are a couple of important benefits from implementing the right salon management software:

It serves as a centralized system

Having the ability to put all your customer data in one platform, while also using the same platform for all day-to-day processes and activities, makes managing a salon business that much easier and more efficient. This quick and easy access to customer information can help you create more effective social media and email marketing campaigns that will only benefit your business in the long run.

Automate tasks and processes

Implementing a salon management software solution can help salon operators and staff members automate otherwise time-consuming processes and everyday tasks. This means the salon business and its employees can focus more on their clients and provide better quality service.