Payments & Deposits

How do I accept tips in salon software?

Modern salon software lets clients add a digital tip after their appointment, either through a prompt at checkout or via a post-appointment link. Tips are processed through Stripe alongside the service payment, with the amount attributed to the specific team member.

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Why digital tipping matters

Cash tipping has been declining for years, and many clients simply do not carry physical money anymore. If you do not offer a digital tipping option, you are leaving money on the table — and your team members are the ones who miss out. Digital tipping removes the awkwardness of asking and makes it easy for clients to show appreciation.

Clients increasingly expect tap-and-go for everything, including tips
Removes the awkward "do you have cash?" conversation
Tips are automatically attributed to the correct team member
Full transparency — team members can see their tip history

How digital tipping works

Post-appointment tipping

After an appointment is completed, the client receives a payment link or notification prompting them to leave a tip. They can choose from preset percentages (e.g. 10%, 15%, 20%) or enter a custom amount. The tip is charged to their card via Stripe, and the team member is notified immediately.

At-checkout tipping

When processing payment in person, the checkout screen can display a tipping prompt before the client taps their card. This works well for walk-in payments and gives clients a clear, pressure-free way to add a tip in the moment.

Preset tip percentages consistently outperform open-ended "enter an amount" fields. Offering 10%, 15%, and 20% with a custom option gives clients an easy decision while nudging towards a reasonable amount.

Payment processing and payouts

Tips processed through Stripe are subject to the same transaction fees as regular payments. The tip amount flows into your Stripe account alongside appointment payments, and you can view a breakdown of service revenue versus tips in your reporting dashboard.

Tips appear as a separate line item in your transaction history
Team member tip reports help you calculate payouts accurately
No additional Stripe fees beyond the standard processing rate
Tip income is fully tracked for tax and payroll purposes

Tips are taxable income in Australia. Make sure your payroll process accounts for digital tips the same way it would for cash tips.

Team member notifications and tracking

When a client leaves a tip, the team member should be notified right away — it is a morale boost and reinforces great service. Good salon software will send a push notification or in-app alert showing the tip amount and the client's name.

Tip reporting

Your dashboard should show tip totals per team member, per day, per week, and per month. This data is useful for payroll, for understanding which team members consistently deliver tip-worthy experiences, and for identifying patterns — like whether tips increase after specific services.

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