Are you still using a paper diary for your Salon? Or maybe you’ve dipped your toe into sofware but are feeling confused? I know it can be a minefield, a bit like buying a machine! So which Salon Software is best?
Here I’m going to give you a short guide into Salon Software, plus a quick review of a selection you might want to look at.
There are 2 main types of software;
- Software which is also in a marketplace (which markets your business for you) So the Salon equivalent of booking.com for hotels.
- Software which is purely for you to use to manage your business, which is not in a marketplace.
I have used both types and you need to understand where you are with your business to decide which one you want.
If you are a relatively new business and don’t have many clients, then you might want to consider software which puts you in a marketplace. The marketplace finds new clients for you who are searching for the services you offer, and they will book directly with you online. You will pay a percentage per client for this.
If you have a lot of regular clients and/or get a steady stream of new clients through your own methods, whether that’s social media, google, word of mouth or whatever, then you will probably be better off with option 2.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW is that you don’t need to worry if you think you may want to swap in the future. Most software companies can grab all of the information, client database, and all your appointments and move them over seamlessly! I have done this a few times.
Here I’m going to give you a short review of the software I know, and in some cases have used to give you a better understanding of what you might want to look for:
FRESHA (A Marketplace Software)
Good for small Salons or Individual therapists.
No subscription fees to set up and use.
You can add paid features such as text reminders and email marketing.
Has a marketplace you can choose to be in or out of.
You’ll pay approximately 20% of the treatment value if they book via Fresha Marketplace for a new client.
This is good if your business is new and you need to attract new clients.
TREATWELL (A Marketplace Software)
Good online booking software which is also a marketplace. Treatwell marketplace is bigger, (like booking.com for Hotels, but for Salons)
It has more reach than Fresha at the moment, which potentially means more new clients.
Treatwell Pro is approximately £59 per month, plus you’ll pay 35% if a new client books via the marketplace. Then it’s zero commission for repeat clients.
Can be worth it if you’re setting up and are located in a major town or city because of the reach.
I have also used this software – it works well if you need to attract lots of new clients, and is very user friendly for clients online.
PREMIER SOFTWARE
A long-standing software provider which has been around 25 years, so they know what they’re doing and have good support.
Has a free trial period then a minimal fee starting from around £10-£30 per month for single users, which makes it great for if you’re starting out.
You can then upgrade to more sophisticated versions as you grow, which are very reasonably priced for what you get.
I’ve used this software and the only reason I changed was because they hadn’t brought out their best/newer version soon enough for me.
PHOREST
This is the software I currently use and it’s great for bigger Salons or multiple Salons.
Book online is very user friendly and easy to manage.
A very sophisticated software, which is on the more expensive side, but totally worth it if you use the features which can help your Salon grow.
The pricing plans are fixed based on features not on how many staff you have. (From £85-£150 per month)
They also build you your own Salon App, if you choose the best plan.
I think it’s great software for medium to larger businesses.
TIMELY
A very good software which can grow with your business.
Very sophisticated.
The price varies according to the number of staff members.
Single users will pay from £20-£35 per month.
For 2-5 staff you’ll pay £50-£150.
More than that you can pay £250+.
So the downside of this software is that for a large team you will end up paying much more than other software providers, based entirely on the number of staff columns.
OVATU
Another very good software which also increases in price based on staff.
It’s £20-£30 per month for 1 user, depending on whether you want extra features.
For 2-5 staff you’ll pay £30-£70.
Online booking is easy to set up and is very user friendly for clients.
I hope his has helped you if you’re looking at Salon Software. What I do know is that if you don’t have a method of allowing your clients to book online with you, then you are losing out. So I urge you to get started!
If you need any more Salon advice then please feel free to get in touch with me here: rachael@comeandcopyme.co.uk