Best salon software for small salons
The best salon software for small salons (1-5 staff) balances essential features with affordable pricing. Look for flat-fee pricing that doesn't penalise growth, included SMS reminders, online booking, and straightforward setup. Avoid per-staff pricing models that become expensive as you hire.
What small salons actually need
Must-haves
Simple scheduling (drag-and-drop calendar that's easy to learn), online booking (let clients book themselves 24/7), SMS reminders (reduce no-shows without manual effort), client records (basic history and notes for personalised service), and affordable pricing (predictable monthly cost you can budget for).
Nice-to-haves
Payment processing integration, basic reporting on revenue and appointments, and multi-device access (mobile, tablet, desktop).
Usually unnecessary for small salons
Complex marketing automation, advanced inventory management, multi-location support, extensive integrations, and enterprise-grade analytics.
Pricing models that work for small salons
Flat monthly fee
You pay the same amount regardless of team size or booking volume. This is usually best for growing salons because costs stay predictable.
Per-staff pricing (be careful)
Seems cheap at first but costs multiply as you hire. A $30/month per-user fee becomes $150/month with 5 staff.
Commission-based (usually poor value)
"Free" platforms that take a percentage of bookings. Calculate your actual monthly cost—it often exceeds subscription alternatives.
What to evaluate
When comparing options:
- 1Total cost for your team size: Get the real number, not just "starting from" pricing
- 2SMS allowance: Are reminders included or extra?
- 3Setup complexity: Can you get started in a day?
- 4Support quality: Can you talk to a human when needed?
- 5Contract terms: Month-to-month is standard; avoid annual lock-ins
Common mistakes
Choosing based on feature count
More features doesn't mean better. Software with 100 features you'll never use is worse than software with 20 features you'll use daily.
Picking the cheapest option
Cheap software that doesn't reduce no-shows or save time isn't actually saving money. Calculate the value, not just the price.
Overcomplicating things
Start simple. You can always upgrade later if you genuinely need more capabilities.
Getting started
- 1List your 3-5 biggest scheduling headaches
- 2Find software that solves those specific problems
- 3Use the free trial to test with real bookings
- 4Train your team before going live
- 5Give it a month before judging—new systems take time to show value
Related features
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