Moving clients, appointment history and gift card balances to a new system is slow and risky, so a careful first choice is worth an afternoon. Here is the order we suggest, using the facts in our directory.
Step 1: Count Staff and Locations
Prices scale in different ways. Timely charges per staff member, Mangomint per location plus a fee per user, Booksy adds $20 per extra user, and DaySmart Salon uses tiers with set user counts. Your team size decides which model is cheapest.
Step 2: List Your Must-Haves
- Processing time for color, so a client can be booked during another's development time.
- Deposits and no-show fees.
- Memberships, packages and gift cards.
- Commission rules, if staff are paid on commission.
- Forms and charts, if you do skin, lash or injectable work.
Step 3: Decide on Payments
Most platforms want to process your cards, and some tie features to it. Mangomint says many advanced features need its payment processing, and Vagaro lists a $150 fee if you stop its merchant services within 12 months. Read salon card fees explained.
Step 4: Decide on Marketplaces
Booking apps with consumer marketplaces charge a one-time fee for each new client they send. That can be good marketing or a quiet drain. See the fee calculator.
Step 5: Add Up the First Year
Use the cost calculator with your staff and locations, then add card fees, text overages, payroll and any onboarding fee.
Step 6: Trial With Real Work
Most products we list offer a free trial or plan. Set up your real service menu, book a week of test appointments and run a checkout. Ask how to export your data before you import it.
Common Questions
What Is the Best Salon Software?
There is no single best one. A solo stylist, a 12-chair salon and a med spa need different things. We do not rank products; we show their published facts so you can match them to your needs.
Should I Pick Software with a Marketplace?
Only if you want new clients from an app and accept a one-time fee for each. See our guide to marketplace fees before deciding.
Sources
Basis: Our directory data, read from vendor pages.