Your salon should utilize a POS system that helps the business stay operational. A POS system can help the salon book appointments, manage its inventory, and review its sales. It can work with software that keeps your business afloat and easy to run. A system could even work with whatever hardware you have right now.
You’ve got a full array of Salon POS software and system programs to explore. Here’s a brief look at what you can consider when getting a Salon POS software setup ready for your business. You can find a system that is easy to plan and also works with software you can manage in moments. Anything that offers more help with everything you want to do with your business will always be a plus.
Salon POS Software – A Buyer’s Guide
Stick With a Paid Version
While there are many free POS software solutions for you to utilize, they may have limits over what they can provide. You might not get access to features for booking appointments or managing your inventory.
The free programs that give you more options might also have time limits over how long you can use them. Many providers offer free trials to help you see what a system has to offer for your business. You can use this time to see what works for your business.
Installation Process
Your POS software and system should be easy to install. You will need to add many things like:
- Payment registers and POS setups
- Hardware wiring for your business
- A new software program that runs on your system
- Support for whatever services you wish to provide
Every salon will have unique needs for its POS system. Some systems are easy to install yourself. Others require a professional to help you, especially if it needs a new wiring system to function. You can talk with a provider for details on what fits your needs.
What Hardware Will You Require?
You can use many pieces of hardware when running your POS system. Your hardware should work with whatever POS software your salon will utilize. Some of the pieces of hardware you might require for your business include:
- A mobile chip reader
- A cash drawer
- A receipt printer
- Scanners for hair care products, NFC cards, or other things you will scan
- Monitors, including customer and store-display units
- Tablets and other items for mobile transactions
Some POS solutions may support whatever hardware you currently have in your salon. Other systems will require you to use their dedicated hardware systems. They should provide the option to buy these items, as leasing these POS parts may be more expensive than what you can afford.
What Are the Processing Fees?
Every business will pay processing fees for every credit card transaction they collect. But the specific fees you’ll spend will vary over many things:
- Some system providers may have built-in payment processors. Others will use third-party services to handle these systems.
- You’ll spend more money if you key in card transactions. The risk of fraud is higher for keyed-in payments than for swiped ones.
- Some cards may have higher fees, including those with more extensive reward programs. American Express cards also have higher processing fees, as Amex acts as its bank when issuing cards.
These rules can all vary, but you’ll still use the same MCC or Merchant Category Code to list your business format. The MCC will dictate what you will spend on credit card transactions. Your business might have a low risk depending on the credit card network that processes a transaction with you.
What Will Your Software Feature?
A quality salon POS software program must include everything necessary for your business. Your salon POS system should include support for these points:
- It should help you schedule client appointments. You can set up appointments based on what needs people have and when they will arrive.
- A software program can let clients schedule their appointments online. You can link your program to a website where people can see what appointment times are available.
- A program should also support text and email confirmations. It can send automated messages letting people know when their next appointments are. The feature reduces the risk of late clients and people missing their appointments.
- Inventory support is critical for all software needs. You must keep track of your inventory to ensure you have the items you need to run your business. A program can alert you when you’re running low on certain products. Anything that integrates online retailing also helps, as it lets you reorder items you’re running low on.
- A software program can include support for your marketing efforts. You can create email messages, automated text messages, and other promotional notes for your clients. Your software program can also include an opt-in and opt-out system to help you increase your email list and to get more leads.
Of course, a software program needs to be easy to utilize. A program can come with tutorials and other support features to help users understand how to use the setup.
Contact HMS For Help
The best thing you can do when getting a POS system ready for your salon is to contact us at Host Merchant Services. We provide a personalized approach to POS systems you can trust. We can review your salon and identify the right POS devices you can use. We can also integrate our systems with whatever hardware you use right now.
We also provide quality POS software solutions that fit your needs. You can select from the Clover, Bonsai, or Vital POS platforms when looking for software. We support all three of these systems. You can compare different choices and see which fits your demands when hiring us for help.
We at HMS offer affordable processing rates and don’t impose long-term contracts on anyone. You can talk with us today to learn how we can work for your business needs.
Benefits of Salon POS Software
Salon POS software has many benefits for owners and managers. It helps them manage their salon business operations efficiently. Here are some of the key advantages of using Salon POS software:
- Appointment Scheduling: A good salon POS will include appointment scheduling features. These allow clients to book appointments online or via mobile devices, streamlining the booking process, reducing no-shows, and optimizing the salon’s appointment calendar.
- Efficient Client Management: Salon POS software keeps a detailed record of client profiles, including contact information, service history, preferences, and purchase history. Thus, the salon staff can provide personalized services and recommend products or plans/services based on past interactions, which helps enhance the client relationship further.
- Inventory Management: Salon POS software tracks inventory levels in real time. It automatically updates stock counts as products are sold or used during services. This helps salon owners maintain optimal inventory levels, avoid stockouts or overstocking, and identify fast-moving or slow-moving products.
- Sales Tracking and Reporting: Salon POS software generates comprehensive sales reports, providing insights into revenue performance, top-selling services/products, client trends, and staff productivity. These analytics help salon owners make informed decisions, identify growth opportunities, and optimize business strategies.
- Payment Processing: Salon POS software facilitates secure payment processing, accepting various payment methods such as cash, credit/debit cards, mobile payments, and gift cards. Integrated payment processing streamlines transactions, reduces errors, and enhances the customer checkout experience.
- Employee Management: Salon POS software includes features for managing staff schedules, tracking employee performance, and calculating commissions or bonuses. This improves workforce management, ensures adequate staffing levels during peak hours, and incentivizes staff to deliver exceptional service.
- Marketing and Loyalty Programs: Many Salon POS software solutions offer built-in marketing tools and loyalty programs to attract new clients and retain existing ones. These features may include email/text marketing, customer referral programs, and loyalty points/rewards systems, helping salons increase customer retention and drive repeat business.
- Accessibility and Mobility: Cloud-based Salon POS software allows salon owners and staff to access business data and manage operations remotely. Mobile-friendly interfaces enable on-the-go management, enabling salon owners to stay connected and control their business at all times.
- Compliance and Security: Salon POS software helps salons comply with industry regulations and data protection standards by securely storing client information, maintaining transaction records, and implementing encryption and authentication measures. This ensures the confidentiality and integrity of sensitive data, protecting the salon and its clients.
- Customization and Scalability: Salon POS software can be customized to suit each salon’s specific needs and preferences, with options to add or remove features as the business grows. Scalable solutions accommodate expanding salon operations, whether opening new locations, adding services, or increasing staff capacity.
Conclusion
Salon POS software offers a comprehensive solution for managing salon operations, enhancing customer experiences, and driving business growth. By using salon POS software’s features and capabilities, salon owners can streamline workflows, increase efficiency, and focus on delivering exceptional services to their clients.
