Top 15 Best Salon Software Solutions for Small Business
Have you noticed how technology has influenced the business world? No matter if you own a real estate business, a fitness studio, or a salon – technology is revolutionizing the business dynamics in every field. So, you might be wondering how technology impacts your salon business to enhance its efficiency. Well, have you considered incorporating the best salon software in your business?
Leveraging a salon management system brings management ease to your business by streamlining all the operations. Managing never-ending tasks manually enhances the risks of errors, leading to a reduced client base. So, to enhance your staff productivity, customer experience, and overall profitability of your salon business, the salon management system plays a pivotal role.
Finding the right online salon management software can be overwhelming. Since the industry is flooded with many management software, choosing the one that fits your salon’s requirements can be challenging. But no worries!
In this guide, we will embark on a journey to explore the best salon software, their features, and what to consider in the software you want to incorporate into your management system. So, buckle up since we are onto a bumpy ride!
What is Salon Software?
Salon software is a tool that helps operate and streamline salon business operations efficiently. From online bookings to scheduling to PoS transactions, salon software can handle all the management operations of your salon, taking the burden off the owners’ shoulders.
With ever-evolving technology, the usage of salon management solutions is growing insanely. The global market size of salon management software was around 447 million USD in 2021 and is expected to reach 1189 million USD by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 13.1%.
To increase your business’s functionality and applicability, the best salon software plays a crucial role. In addition, having a salon application enhances the authenticity and credibility of your business. So, if you want to benefit your business with technology and make it stand out in the market, it is time to make your decision!
Your own custom branded app
- Integrate your logo & colors
- Promote your business & brand
- Enhance customer experience
Engage & acquire new clients
- Autopilot & drip campaign builder
- Integrated email, SMS, & WhatsApp
- Analytical success dashboards
Increase client conversions
- Lead capturing forms
- Track, nurture & engage your leads
- Effective reporting and analysis
Scheduling made easy
- Easy to navigate & monitor
- Manage shifts & bookings
- Sync with Google calendar
Branded booking widget
- Multiple booking options
- Book from your website & app
- Sell, book & schedule smartly
Secure access control 24/7
- Touchless entry
- Monitor & control from anywhere
- Online and offline mode
Increase revenue with VOD
- Easy to upload and control
- Create private video links
- Increase client interaction
Best Salon Software for Small Businesses
With numerous options, choosing the best salon software for small businesses can be quite challenging. For your feasibility, we have done a profound homework and researched all the best management software for salons. So, take a look at the following:
1. Wellyx
Looking for an all-in-one solution? Wellyx is your software! Using Wellyx, you can manage all the operational activities of your salon in one place. It not only helps streamline operations but also tracks performance and enhances efficiency.
With its automated marketing feature, you can send personalized emails and messages to your audience, making them feel connected.
In addition, this best salon software offers easier accessibility and strong data security so that you can keep the trust of your customers. Last but not least, you can have your hands on many beneficial features at a very pocket-friendly price.
Specifications
- Access control
- Lead management
- Scheduling and marketing
- Waiting list management
- Point of sale system
Pros | Cons |
Intuitive user interface | Can be pricier for small businesses |
24/7 customer support | |
Affordable |
Pricing Plans
- Excel: $149 per month
- Exceed: $199 per month
- Ultimate: $249 per month
2. Vagaro
Vagaro is a well-trusted cloud-based software solution providing management ease in the wellness, fitness, and beauty industry. From scheduling to inventory management to payroll, it offers many features to facilitate its users. In addition, it comes with decent customer support, offering an immediate response to your customers’ queries.
Specifications
- Customer tracking
- Online booking
- Track inventory
- Invoices and payroll
Pros | Cons |
Easy to navigate | Complexed payment processing |
Strong integration | Expensive |
Decent customer support |
Pricing Plans
Vagaro has complicated payment plans. It depends on the number of bookable calendars and locations. For a single location, the pricing plans are:
- 1 bookable calendar: 25 USD per month
- 2 bookable calendars: 35 USD per month
- 3 bookable calendars: 45 USD per month
And so on!
You can know the pricing plans for multiple locations by reaching out to them.
3. DaySmart
If you are specifically looking for management software that fulfills the needs of hair and nail salons best, DaySmart is your solution. Using DaySmart, you can optimize salon operations automatically and feasibly.
To enhance the customer experience, it offers a customized booking experience. Moreover, its applicability allows you to improve your business and customer manifolds.
Specifications
- Walk-in kiosk manager
- Customized booking
- Booth rental management
- Point of sale system
Pros | Cons |
Simple booking calendar | Mobile app is difficult to navigate |
Easy inventory tracking | Interface could be more friendly |
Affordable | Does not allow customizable branding |
Pricing Plans
- Basic: 29 USD per month
- Deluxe: 69 USD per month
- Deluxe Growth: 149 USD per month
- Premium: 199 USD per month
4. Mindbody
Mindbody is a specialized management solution for health and wellness businesses. It provides a seamless experience to its users by automating tasks such as scheduling, marketing, and payment processing.
The interface of this software is very easy to use so that customers can make a booking in no time. In addition, using this software, you can improve the digital presence of your salon and enhance sales.
Specifications
- Automated billing
- Profile building
- Barcode scanning
- Point of sale system
Pros | Cons |
Easy to navigate | Limited features |
Decent customer service | No free trial |
Simple booking feature | Expensive |
Pricing Plans
- Starter: 129 USD per month
- Accelerate: 279 USD per month
- Ultimate: 499 USD per month
- Ultimate Plus: 699 USD per month
5. Ovatu
Ovatu is known to be a world-class salon booking software. It manages the scheduling and appointments seamlessly. In addition, it has amazing customer support, responding to queries in an efficient way.
Ovatu offers good support services and ensures that customer queries are resolved in time. Using Ovatu, you can customize the whole booking experience, enhancing the customer base and overall profitability of your business.
Specifications
- Online booking
- Point of sale system
- Automated marketing
- Automated reminders
Pros | Cons |
Seamless online booking | Could have a better interface |
Quickly respond to queries | Lags sometimes |
Incredible customer service | Integration could be stronger |
Pricing Plans
- Neat: 25 USD per month
- Loaded: 38 USD per month
Ovatu charges $7 per additional employee in the neat package and $10 in the loaded package.
6. Rosy
Rosy is a powerful and trusted salon scheduling software. Being a cloud-based solution, you can access it easily from anywhere. From scheduling to integration to inventory management, it optimizes all the management operations instantly.
The best thing about this solution is you can have a 30-day free trial to make sure if this software is suitable for your salon or not. In addition, it offers the consistency and stability that you require to enhance the revenue.
Specifications
- Automated marketing
- Google Integration
- Rewards and referrals
- Online store
Pros | Cons |
Text and email confirmations | Interface could be more friendly |
30-day free trial | Poor customer support |
Allow customization | Inconsistent reporting feature |
Pricing Plans
The pricing plans of Rosy depend on the number of employees. Take a look below:
- Just me: 29 USD per month
- 2 employees: 45 USD per month
- 3 employees: 59 USD per month
- 4 employees: 69 USD per month
- 5-10 employees: 84 USD per month
- 11-15 employees: 99 USD per month
- 16-20 employees: 109 USD per month
- 21+ employees: 119 USD per month
7. Mangomint
Mangomint is a top-rated solution providing you with management ease in the health and wellness industries. It is a well-designed software with an intuitive interface. With its various features like inventory, scheduling, reporting, and PoS system, you can bring visible growth to your salon.
In addition, Mangomint comes with efficient customer support, making sure that no client face any difficulty while booking their appointments.
Specifications
- Booth rental management
- Customizable branding
- Electronic payments
- Inventory management
Pros | Cons |
Easy to navigate | Charge extra for integrated forms |
Efficient customer service | Complicated product management |
Strong integration | Does not allow email and text marketing |
Pricing Plans
- Essentials: 165 USD per month
- Standard: 245 USD per month
- Unlimited: 375 USD per month
8. MioSalon
MioSalon is a powerful salon marketing software. It helps in capturing new leads, marketing to new customers, nurturing potential leads, and maximizing sales. In addition, it offers automation in every management task of your salon and enhances the business manifolds.
With its friendly interface, it makes sure that every important element is easily visible so that customers do not have to go through any hassle.
Specifications
- Multi-location management
- API integration
- Inventory control and management
- Commission management
Pros | Cons |
User-friendly interface | Limited or no access to some features |
Useful product inventory | Does not work offline |
Effective payment gateway | Poor customer service |
Pricing Plans
- Lite Plus: 29 USD per month
- Standard: 49 USD per month
- Premium: 99 USD per month
9. Square
Square is an all-in-one solution for managing your salon productively. This best salon software fits every size of business; whether you have a small or a big salon, you can tailor it according to your requirements.
It is a cloud-based software providing strong integration. Using it, you can enhance your client base and profitability. In addition, it is known to be the best salon software for booth renters as well.
Specifications
- API integration
- Team management
- Inventory management
- Point of sale system
Pros | Cons |
Automated reminders and confirmation texts | Application lags sometimes |
Highly customizable | Difficult to set up |
Has free version | Only suitable for local clientele |
Pricing Plans
- Plus: 40 USD per month
- Premium: 90 USD per month
Note: These pricing plans are for a single location.
10. Phorest
Phorest is tailored to help small to midsized salon businesses. This software is designed on a cloud-based system, providing easier access to its users if they have a stable internet connection.
Using this software, your customers can book their appointments through your business website or social media platforms since it has a strong integration feature. In addition, this salon booking software offers waitlist management and helps reduce overbooking.
Specifications
- Customizable branding
- Commission management
- Barcode scanning
- Calendar management
Pros | Cons |
Intuitive interface | High set up fee |
Highly customizable | Complicated reporting |
Decent customer support | Require upgradation |
Pricing Plans
Its pricing plans start from 99 USD per month. You have to take a quote for the plans.
11. GlossGenius
GlossGenius is a robust scheduling software with a captivating design and interface. It offers a seamless customer experience, enhancing the chances of rebooking up to 90%. With its countless features, it lets you enjoy a smooth scheduling experience, automated marketing, and notifications and reminders.
In addition, it offers the control to customize features according to your business needs. This way, you can offer the exact experience to your customers you want. Using it, you can enhance the profitability and revenue manifolds.
Specifications
- Client management
- Reports and analytics
- Inventory management
- Client notifications
Pros | Cons |
Customizable application | No waitlist management |
SMS reminders | Limited features |
Multimember calendar | Not very user-friendly |
Pricing Plans
- Standard: 24 USD per month
- Gold: 48 USD per month
12. Timely
If you want to have complete control of client experience in your hands, Timely client management software is your go-to solution. This best salon software comes with a stylish and customizable calendar to provide a seamless booking experience to your clients.
From marketing to staff management to reporting, you can manage all the significant operations using this management software.
Specifications
- Automated marketing
- Payment and deposits
- Waitlist management
- Google tag manager
Pros | Cons |
Precise and intuitive interface | Lag sometimes |
Decent support service | No loyalty program management feature |
Efficient reporting | Expensive for its features |
Pricing Plans
Timely offers complicated pricing plans since the charges depend on the number of bookable staffs. According to a single bookable staff, the pricing plans are as follows:
- Build: 25 USD per month
- Elevate: 35 USD per month
- Innovate: 40 USD per month
13. Salonist
If you are a novice in the salon business and looking for a solution that will help you groom your business, Salonist can be a good choice. It is a cloud-based software offering countless features to bring management ease to your business.
With the integration of Salonist booking software, you can optimize the scheduling and appointments to enhance the customer experience. In addition, Salonist not only enhances the customer experience but the staff experience as well, leading to more productivity.
Specifications
- Point of sale system
- Customizable mobile app
- Analytics services
- Automated marketing
Pros | Cons |
Various reporting options | Limited customization |
Easy to navigate | Support service could be better |
Strong integration with other systems | Offline availability requires improvement |
Pricing Plans
- Basic: 49 USD per month
- Starter: 69 USD per month
- Business: 99 USD per month
14. Booksy
Booksy salon software is a secure and strong cloud-based software that offers numerous features to streamline the managerial operations of hairstylists, salons, and spas. From calendar management to marketing management to online payment processing to appointment scheduling, this salon management software provides a seamless experience to its users.
In addition, using this solution, you can manage sales of products, packages, and services. Lastly, Booksy provides a remarkable experience to both Andriod and iPhone users.
Specifications
- Add-ons and combo services
- Automated marketing
- 24/7 online bookings
- Customizable services menu
Pros | Cons |
Easy to navigate | Difficult payment processing |
Decent customer support | No customer ID uploading feature |
Personalized marketing | Inability to retract unfair customer reviews |
Pricing Plans
Booksy charges 29.00 USD per month for a base subscription, and for each additional staff member, it charges 20 USD per month.
15. Zenoti
Zenoti is a robust cloud-based management solution designed for salons, spas, yoga, and fitness industries. This best salon software for booth renters offers multiple features to provide your management assistance in every way possible.
Whether it is billing, scheduling, marketing, or inventory management, it provides you with valuable insights regarding every managerial aspect. In addition, it offers a decent customer experience as well as a productive work environment for your staff.
Specification
- Front desk empowerment
- Multi-location accessibility
- Booth rental
- Credit card and gift card processing
Pros | Cons |
Several customizable options | Does not allow integration of all centers |
Very intuitive interface | Difficult to understand for a novice |
Amazing customer support | Expensive |
Pricing Plans
Zenoti offers customized packages, i.e., you have to tailor your own package and the pricing for services is confidential.
Choosing the Best Salon Software
If you are a novice in the technological world, you must know that you need to consider a few important factors before buying the best salon software. Investing in management software is an important decision. If you do not invest it right, you not only lose money, but you may also lose some of your loyal customers.
That is why do not make a hasty decision. Rather, take your time, compare different products, and analyze which software can bring value to your business.
So, we have enlisted a few significant factors to consider while making a software purchase. Let’s have a look at them:
Intuitive Interface
Without an easy-to-navigate system, you can not provide your customers with the experience you promise. In addition, it not only harms the reputation but also impacts your client base. To avoid this, it is important to have a user-friendly interface.
To ensure a seamless experience for your customers and staff, consider if the user interface is intuitive and friendly. You can comprehend that by taking a demo. Check if all the important elements are easily visible, and you can navigate all the features without any hassle. In addition, check the speed of the application and make sure it does not lag.
Easier Accessibility
The application you want to incorporate into your salon must be easily accessible. For that reason, check if it is cloud-based or not. A cloud-based software can be accessed from anywhere if you have a stable internet connection.
In addition, when it comes to accessibility, make sure that it offers a feature for your customers to reach you easily. Since customers can book an online appointment using software, you must ensure that your assistance is just a text away. So, look for salon software that has 24/7 automated customer support.
On the other hand, you have to be sure that the information regarding bookings, appointments, cancellations, and everything else must be easily accessible to the staff as well. This way, the staff is always ready to provide exceptional services.
Point-of-Sale System
In this era, people do not carry cash anymore. Nowadays, everyone carries money in the form of their credit cards, debit cards, and mobile applications. Since the customers look for convenience, that is why having a PoS system integration is essential.
Using the salon PoS system feature, customers have a lot of online payment options, making it easier for them to schedule appointments. Studies have found that businesses with multiple payment options can enhance their conversion rate by 30%.
In addition, using a PoS system helps you track inventory. That means it keeps you updated about your sales, products, and stocks. In short, it is the brains behind your conversions. So, make sure that you integrate the best salon software having a PoS system.
Automated Marketing
To outgrow your salon, it is vital to perform marketing activities consistently. For that purpose, many spa owners spend hefty amounts on promotional activities. However, if you have the best salon software incorporated into your salon, you do not need to do that.
With a salon management system, you can automate the marketing of your salon. Its automated marketing feature uses artificial intelligence to smoothen the process for you. Using it, you can send time-to-time emails and texts to your clientele to keep them in the loop. This way, they stay up-to-date regarding your offers, discounts, and advancements.
In addition, using automated marketing features, you can reach your audience in an effective way. With tailored emails and texts, you can connect to your clients and build long-lasting and trustworthy relationships. Moreover, you can send reminders and cater to last-minute cancellations. This enhances the customer experience manifolds and helps in retention.
Data Security
The best salon software is not only easy to navigate and smooth but also “secure.” For a secure salon solution, look for a system that is cloud-based. A cloud-based system comes with a layered security system that makes sure no one can breach privacy. For that purpose, the system uses end-to-end encryption, multi-factor authentication, and continuous monitoring.
Without tight security, your customers can not trust you with their personal information. So, if you want to keep your customers, make sure their information is safe. For that purpose, choose salon software with strong security.
This is not all! A cloud-based salon management system offers easier accessibility, enhancing the customer experience. With a cloud-based application, your customers can reach from any location and make their bookings if they have a stable internet connection.
Final Takeaway
The salon industry has been crowded immensely. With the rise in competition, the options for the best salon software have also increased. However, finding the right solution that perfectly fits your business needs is challenging. So, consider your requirements and enlist the features that you need to streamline your business operations.
If you find it difficult to choose the best salon software. Consider Wellyx Salon Software to streamline the managerial operations of your salon. This solution has a 5-star rating and is used by countless businesses to excel in their industry.
Ready to upgrade to an award-winning software?
Get a personalized demo to see how we align with your business needs.
Here’s what you can expect in the demo:
- A conversation about your business goals and specific needs.
- Software specialists who will identify ways to streamline your operations and increase your revenue and client retention.
- Ways to manage memberships, scheduling, billing, communications and access controls.