While it’s true there was a time when a simple appointment book or spreadsheet program sufficed for keeping track of the comings and goings of clients, today beauty salon management software can take your business to another level. Offering such features as scheduling, inventory, POS, payroll, client history and more—all in one package—spa software can help you run your hair salon, nail salon, tanning salon or spa more efficiently as well as provide solutions for marketing to new potential clients.

Whether your company is just starting out or you’re an established business, you’ll want to compare salon software by considering the following:

1. What features are most important to you in a beauty salon software package?
2. How technically savvy do you have to be to integrate beauty software into your business?
3. What are the risks vs. rewards?

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Determine which salon management software features you need

Many of the top beauty and personal care product software solutions provide anything and everything you might want for your business. Don't be intimidated: It may take time to learn how to use all the features offered, but think of the time you'll save and money you'll earn in the long run.

I recommend: Mind Your Business and ClienTrak! are a couple of spa software options that provide the basics for better managing your salon. Unique Salon Software lets you select a version of beauty software that covers the needs you have now instead having to purchase more than you need. As your business grows, you simply pay the difference between the salon management software version you currently have and the version you want.

Evaluate computer system requirements

Be sure to check out the system requirements for the beauty salon software you're interested in. Obviously, if you need a system upgrade, this will add significantly to the overall cost of the software switch. You should also explore beauty and personal care product software that is web-based, which means the software 'lives' on another server.

I recommend: Insight does not require an expensive computer system - most computers purchased after 2002 will be sufficient. SpaBooker by SpaFinder is an alternative solution where you use integrated services via the Internet. There are no startup costs for this salon and spa software, but SpaBooker charges a transaction fee for every order you generate.

Try out beauty shop software, risk-free

Considering the cost of beauty care software (about $300 per computer workstation), it's important to do your homework and compare salon software packages. Also keep an eye out for trial periods that allow you to test out the software, risk-free.

I recommend: Envision and Harms Software both offer one-year 100% money back guarantees on their beauty salon software. If you’re not happy with the salon management software you selected and ask for your money back, you might want your next stop to be KORVUE Software. They will analyze the areas you were dissatisfied with and help you come up with solutions.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  As with anything related to computers, you'll want to be sure the beauty and personal care product software provider you choose has an easy-to-contact help desk for any problems you run into with installation or everyday use. Xtreme Blue offers free technical support via email.