Running a successful salon today requires more than just excellent beauty services, it also demands smart management tools. From booking appointments and tracking sales to managing staff and building strong customer relationships, a Beauty Salon POS (Point of Sale) system can transform the way your business operates. The right software not only saves time but also boosts efficiency, enhances the client experience, and helps your salon thrive.
In this guide, we’ll explore the Top 5 Beauty Salon POS software solutions that can help you streamline daily operations, increase revenue, and stay ahead in the competitive beauty industry.
Highlight:
- A beauty salon POS software supports daily operations by managing appointments, sales, inventory, and staff in one system.
- Key tools for beauty salon POS include appointment calendars, staff tracking, flexible checkout, inventory monitoring, and built-in loyalty and marketing features.
Why Beauty Salons Need Salon POS Software?
Salon operations involve more than just providing services. Booking, staff coordination, inventory tracking, and payment handling all demand attention, and running these processes separately often leads to confusion, delays, and missed revenue.
That’s where salon POS software fits in. It brings everything into one place, from scheduling to checkout. Instead of relying on manual tools that increase the risk of double bookings or stock issues, salon teams can stay on track and respond fast to client needs.
With salon POS software, you can manage daily tasks with more consistency – setting appointments, recording client preferences, tracking product usage, and processing payments without interruptions. It keeps your workflow steady and lets you maintain a higher standard of service without added stress.
Key Features to Look For in a Beauty Salon POS Software
These features form the foundation of a reliable salon POS software. They support both daily operations and long-term client relationships.
Smart Appointment and Calendar Management
Effective scheduling is at the heart of salon success. A smart POS system should include a dynamic, drag-and-drop calendar that simplifies appointment creation and adjustment. Features to prioritize include:
- Real-time calendar syncing across staff profiles and devices
- Automated reminders via SMS, email, or push notifications to cut no-shows
- Support for multi-service, multi-staff bookings in a single session (e.g., cut + color)
- Online booking integration, so clients can book anytime
- Waitlist and walk-in tracking to fill last-minute availability
- Color-coded calendars for easier service and staff visibility
- Service buffer times to avoid back-to-back overlap
This not only decreases no-shows but also optimizes staff utilization and enhances client satisfaction.
Staff Management and Commission Tracking
A well-structured POS system empowers salon managers to track staff performance and compensate fairly. Look for the following:
- Role-based permissions to secure sensitive client and business data
- Built-in time tracking, so staff can check in and out directly from the system
- Automated commission calculations, with adjustable rules for services and product sales
- Performance dashboards showing bookings, sales, and average ticket value per team member
- Staff booking limits or time-off settings
- Service restrictions per employee (e.g., junior stylists not assigned to advanced treatments)
This fosters a culture of accountability, boosts employee morale, and confirms transparency in compensation.
Integrated Payments and Checkout Flexibility
An intuitive, fast, and secure checkout process is significant for delivering a seamless client experience. Your POS system should support:
- Compatibility with all major payment types (cards, mobile wallets, cash)
- Split payment options for shared services or group bookings
- Customizable tip prompts at checkout
- Gift card handling, discount code acceptance, and promotional pricing
- On-account payments for clients with open balances
- Automatic tax and service charge settings
Efficient checkout means decreased wait times, increased client trust, and higher revenue through upsells and gratuities.
Real-Time Inventory Management
Retail product sales contribute significantly to salon profits, so your POS should include comprehensive inventory tools:
- Live stock counts across service stations, storage, and multiple locations
- Low-stock alerts and automatic reorder triggers
- Vendor management and purchase order generation
- Barcode scanning and batch tracking for product expiry monitoring
- Usage tracking by appointment to monitor product waste
- Inventory variance reports to spot shrinkage or miscounts
With these tools, you avoid stockouts, increase product turnover, and maintain an organized, profitable retail section.
Client Profiles and Digital Records
Accurate client records lead to better service and stronger relationships. Salon POS software should make it easy to track and reference client history in real time. Look for features that include:
- Centralized client profiles with past appointments, preferred services, and favorite stylists
- Notes on hair or skin conditions, product sensitivities, and service preferences
- Digital consent forms stored securely under each client’s profile
- Before-and-after image storage to track results and share progress
- Purchase history for both services and retail products
- Service tags (e.g., color correction, first-time client, VIP) for quick identification
- Custom fields for tracking referral sources, goals, or special requests
These tools give your staff the right information at the right time, reducing guesswork and improving every visit.
Detailed Reporting and Business Insights
Powerful beauty salon POS software turns raw data into actionable insights. Look for:
- Breakdown of sales by service, product, and employee
- Client visit frequency and retention tracking
- Service trends to guide training or promotional focus
- Profitability insights by campaign, stylist, or service type
- No-show and cancellation trends
- Marketing campaign ROI reports tied to specific promotions
Using these analytics, you can make strategic decisions that drive long-term growth and customer loyalty.
Loyalty and Marketing Tools
Client retention should be a built-in strategy, not an afterthought. The best POS systems include:
- Flexible loyalty programs based on visits, spend, or referrals
- Automated emails or SMS campaigns triggered by client behavior
- Personalized offers tied to birthdays, anniversaries, or service history
- Social media and review follow-ups to generate feedback and visibility
- Reactivation campaigns for dormant clients
- Referral tracking with reward automation
These tools transform your client base into a community, boosting repeat visits and referrals.
Cloud-Based Access and Mobile App Compatibility
A modern salon requires flexibility in mobility and access. Top-tier POS solutions provide:
- Cloud-based access allows you to monitor and manage your salon from any internet-connected device.
- Mobile POS apps for both management and staff, enabling remote booking adjustments, client communication, and reporting.
- Offline mode, which guarantees the system continues to work even if your internet goes down.
- Push notifications for booking changes or low inventory
- Staff access controls on mobile devices
This setup supports salon owners and stylists who need to stay connected wherever they are.
Critical Support and Integration Features
Your salon POS software should run reliably and connect easily with the rest of your tools. These features keep everything working behind the scenes.
Let’s explore the must-have support and integration features you should look for.
- Customer Support
Fast support is non-negotiable. If something breaks, you need a team that responds without delay. Look for:
- 24/7 live chat, phone, and email support
- In-app help tools or a searchable knowledge base
- Support across different time zones, especially if your salon operates outside standard hours
- Onboarding sessions to get your team up to speed
- Dedicated account managers for multi-location salons
Strong support reduces downtime and avoids disruptions during peak business hours.
- Seamless Integrations with Third-Party Tools
Your POS system should work well with tools you already use. Important integrations include:
- Accounting software (like QuickBooks or Xero)
- Email and SMS marketing platforms
- eCommerce tools for selling retail products online
- Payroll systems for syncing staff hours and pay
- Calendar apps for syncing external bookings
- CRM platforms for deeper client insights
- Payment gateways that match your local providers
- Loyalty platforms for managing rewards across channels
These connections reduce manual work and give you more visibility across operations.
5 Best Beauty Salon POS Software
ConnectPOS
ConnectPOS is a cloud-based POS system trusted by over 2,000 businesses worldwide, including salons and spas. Designed to work across multiple industries, it adapts well to the specific needs of beauty businesses, balancing retail product sales, appointment-based services, and shift-based operations.
One of its standout strengths is flexibility across platforms. ConnectPOS runs on major eCommerce systems like Shopify, Magento, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, and Commercetools, making it a solid choice for salons that also sell beauty products online,
Key features that support salon operations include:
- Real-time synchronization of client data, sales, and inventory across locations
- Support for multiple payment methods, including mobile wallets and split payments
- Integrated loyalty programs with custom rules for point earning and redemption
- PWA (Progressive Web App) customer app for self-check-in, booking, and promotions
- Staff shift tracking with cash-in/out logs, making it easier to oversee front-desk activity
- Custom receipt printing, including stylist names, appointment details, and notes
- Offline mode that keeps transactions running even during internet outages
ConnectPOS also supports barcode scanning and product bundling, which is useful for salons that sell treatment packages or curated product sets. The system’s customizable interface lets salons tailor the POS layout based on services, staff roles, or seasonal promotions, streamlining the checkout experience without extra complexity.
ConnectPOS offers 4 pricing plans suitable for small to large businesses
- Standard: $49 per device/month
- Advanced: $79 per device/month
- Premium: $99 per device/month
- Custom option: flexible pricing
For those interested, ConnectPOS offers a free 14-day trial.
Lightspeed
Vend is the next option on our list of the best salon POS software. Lightspeed is well-known for its full-featured point-of-sale solutions and the integration with Timely, an appointment management software. In this way, salon bookings can be managed right in the POS system.
With Lightspeed, you can manage your business with an all-in-one tool. Its features include scheduling appointments, managing centralized inventory (e.g., for hair products or nail polish), or printing customized receipts. It works on any technological device (mobile or PC). Due to extensive features and higher pricing, Lightspeed is more suitable for larger businesses.
Vend has 3 pricing options
- Lite version ($99 per month billed annually or $119 billed monthly)
- Pro version ($129 per month billed annually or $159 billed monthly)
- Enterprise version (flexible price)
Square
Square is another POS provider that offers appointment management features – the solutions that salons and spas always look for. They launched Square Appointments, an integrated POS system and booking service.
This salon POS software offers a free online booking website and email reminders system for customer appointments. It also has Square Assistant online messenger for handling confirmations and rescheduled appointments. Another benefit of using Square is that it is free for a one-person business (e.g., an independent hairdresser). With a clean and simple user interface, Square minimizes the process of dealing with a management system in salons and spas.
The price depends on the number of staff your business has.
- 1 staff calendar: no monthly fee, 2.6% + 10¢ in-person processing fee
- 2-5 staff calendars: $50/month, 2.5% + 10¢ in-person processing fee
- 6-1- staff calendars: $90/month, 2.5% + 10¢ in-person processing fee
- 11 or more staff calendars: custom pricing
Salon Iris
Since 1999, Salon Iris has supported many beauty salons all over the world. It is salon management software, plus optional POS capabilities for businesses. Salon Iris’ features include a client loyalty system, reputation management, email marketing, etc. It works on Apple and Android devices and has dedicated hardware available.
However, businesses can only choose between 2 credit card processors (XCharge and CardConnect). If you don’t wish to use an integrated payment system, it is still possible to use other Salon Iris features.
Here are the Salon Iris’ pricing plans
- Basic (1 user): $29/month
- Deluxe (3 users): $59/month
- Premier (unlimited users): $109/month
- Platinum (unlimited users): $261/month
Clover
Clover is our last recommendation for your salon POS software. It offers most of the essential POS tools needed to run a spa/beauty salon, including compact hardware and other apps supporting spa/salon businesses. These apps are Salon Scheduler, Booker, and Appointments Pro.
With these apps, businesses can manage various staff calendars, send SMS appointment reminders, or set up appointments in increments. This way, Clover is designed to replace the old-fashioned POS terminals and is more suitable for beauty salons. To better accommodate customers, it also has built-in credit card processing.
Clover has different pricing options depending on the number of integrations you choose and your location. The standard package is $39.95/month with 2.3% + 10¢ built-in processing.
How to Choose The Best Beauty Salon POS Software for Your Business?
Finding the right POS system can make a noticeable difference in how smoothly your salon runs. But with so many options out there, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. The key is to focus on the tools that match how your salon operates.
1. Match Features With Daily Needs
Start by listing what your team handles every day: booking, payments, inventory, staff hours, client records. Then check if the POS system supports those functions without extra steps or manual work. Look for:
- Real-time appointment scheduling
- Support for multi-service and multi-staff bookings
- Inventory tracking by service usage and retail sales
- Staff performance tracking and shift reporting
- Client profiles with booking history and preferences
If a system misses out on any of these, it may slow your team down rather than support them.
2. Check Compatibility With Your Existing Tools
Many salons already use tools like accounting software, marketing platforms, or eCommerce stores. Make sure the POS system connects with these tools to avoid manual data entry or duplicate systems. Try to confirm if the POS can work with:
- Online stores (if you sell retail products)
- Payroll and accounting platforms
- Email or SMS marketing tools
- Calendar apps or CRM platforms
Smooth connections reduce errors and save hours of admin time.
3. Prioritize Ease of Use
Your team needs to learn and adapt quickly. A complicated system can slow things down and lead to mistakes, especially during busy hours. Choose a POS with a clear interface and minimal training time.
Tip: Ask for a product demo or free trial so your team can test the system in a real setting.
4. Consider Access and Mobility
Some salon owners work across multiple locations or manage bookings on the go. A system that works across devices—and continues working even without internet—can keep your business running from anywhere. Look for:
- Cloud-based access
- Mobile app compatibility
- Offline mode support
- Role-based logins for staff
5. Review Support Availability
When something breaks or needs adjustment, response time matters. Look into the level of support included, whether it’s live chat, email, or phone, and whether help is available during your business hours. Also consider:
- Training or onboarding support
- Access to help guides or video tutorials
- Multi-location or multi-user support, if needed
6. Think About Growth
Your salon might expand, add new services, or open additional locations. Choose a POS that can scale with you, rather than one that you’ll outgrow in a year. Look into:
- Multi-location support
- Add-ons for loyalty, marketing, or eCommerce
- Flexible pricing plans for different business sizes
A system that grows with you avoids the hassle of switching platforms later.
FAQs: Beauty Salon POS Software
- Can a beauty salon POS system help with appointment reminders?
Yes. Most beauty salon POS software includes automated SMS, email, or app-based reminders to reduce no-shows and enhance the client experience.
- Is beauty salon POS software easy to use?
Modern solutions focus heavily on user-friendly interfaces with drag-and-drop features, real-time support, and intuitive design, making onboarding quick and easy.
- Will the POS system help with marketing my beauty salon?
Absolutely. From automated email campaigns to loyalty programs and social integrations, POS systems now double as marketing powerhouses.
Conclusion
Choosing the right beauty salon POS software lets you manage daily operations, improve client service, and support long-term growth. With features like smart scheduling, staff and inventory management, and strong technical support, you can run your salon more efficiently and build a better experience for every customer.
If you’re looking for a POS solution that checks all these boxes and more, ConnectPOS is a top-tier option trusted by salons worldwide. Want to learn more? Contact us today, and let’s elevate your salon experience together.
