Remember the last time you walked into a salon and saw the receptionist juggling phone calls, flipping through a tattered appointment book, and frantically scribbling notes? Those days are quickly becoming a thing of the past.
Today’s top salons are really efficient, thanks to powerful Point of Sale (POS) systems that do everything from scheduling to inventory management with a few taps on a screen.
However, with the market flooded with options, choosing the right POS system for your salon can feel overwhelming. Should you opt for a generic or salon-specific solution? Is cloud-based better than local? And what about those must-have features for your unique business needs?
This article offers an in-depth comparison of top salon POS systems. We’ll explore advanced features tailored specifically for salons and provide clear selection criteria to help you make the right choice!
The essential features of salon POS systems
Running a salon isn’t just about great haircuts and perfect manicures. It’s about juggling appointments, managing inventory, and keeping your clients coming back for more. That’s why it’s so important to pick the right salon POS that’s packed with all the essential features, including:
- Multi-service appointment management: Modern POS systems excel at handling complex bookings. They can easily schedule multiple services with different stylists and varying durations, making your front desk operations easier than ever.
- Stylist-specific inventory tracking: Keep tabs on product usage for each stylist, both for services and retail sales. This feature helps you understand which products are popular and who your top-selling stylists are.
- Integrated payment processing: Cash, card, or a mix of both? No problem. Good POS systems can handle various payment types, including split payments for service and retail combinations.
- Client management: Think of this as your digital client rolodex, but much more powerful. It stores detailed service history, product preferences, and can even send automated rebooking reminders. It’s a great tool for personalizing your client’s experience and boosting retention.
- Mobile accessibility: Cloud-based systems allow your team to access important information from anywhere in the salon. Whether it’s checking a client’s history or adding a product to their bill, everything is just a tap away on a tablet or smartphone.
The Best Point of Sale
for WooCommerce
Your products, customers, orders & inventory automatically synced, always ready for you to sell your products anywhere!
Best salon POS systems compared
1. Jovvie – Best overall
Jovvie by BizSwoop is an excellent choice for salons seeking a flexible, feature-rich POS system without a hefty price tag. As a cloud-based system, Jovvie provides unparalleled flexibility. Users can access the system from any internet-connected device, eliminating the need for specialized hardware and allowing staff to work efficiently from anywhere in the salon. Its features include:
- Inventory management: Jovvie’s integration with WooCommerce simplifies product tracking and management. This feature helps salons maintain optimal stock levels and avoid any inventory-related issues.
- Native WooCommerce integration: While Jovvie doesn’t include built-in appointment scheduling, its direct integration with WooCommerce opens up a world of possibilities. Salons can easily incorporate plugins like BookingPress or WooCommerce Bookings to handle appointment scheduling, effectively creating a customized solution.
- Universal compatibility: Jovvie operates smoothly on iOS, Android, and all major web browsers. This versatility allows salon staff to use existing devices, reducing the need for additional hardware investments.
- Flexible payment options: As an official Stripe partner, Jovvie supports all payment methods, including cash, credit and debit transactions, and contactless options like Apple Pay and Google Pay.
- Employee access control: You can create individual cashier logins for team members and managers to help enhance security and efficiency in a salon environment where multiple stylists may need to access the POS system.
- Complete customer management: The system offers comprehensive customer management tools, allowing salons to track customer history and manage profiles, which personalizes the salon experience and maintains strong client relationships.
- Multilingual support: With support for 36 different languages, Jovvie caters to diverse clientele. This feature is particularly beneficial for salons in multicultural areas, ensuring clear communication with a wide range of customers.
Pricing
Jovvie offers a 30-day free trial, giving salons plenty of time to test its features. After the trial, the self-hosted plugin costs $19 per month, while the cloud-based solution is priced at $29 monthly. For those not using WordPress with WooCommerce, Jovvie also provides an all-in-one platform through its Jovvie One plan.
2. Clover – Best for customization
Clover is an all-in-one POS solution that lets salon owners manage everything from appointments to finances, all from a single dashboard. Its features include:
- Online bookings: Clover’s system handles client appointments and staff schedules smoothly, reducing booking mix-ups and saving you time.
- In-chair payments: Let’s face it: Walking to the front desk with wet nails or your hair in foils is pretty awkward. Thankfully, Clover’s handheld POS lets you take payments right at the styling chair. It’s convenient and adds a touch of luxury to your service.
- Tools to grow your business: Clover doesn’t just help you run your salon – it helps you grow it, too. Its Rapid Deposit feature provides immediate access to sales transaction funds, helping with cash flow management. And if you’re dreaming of expanding your salon or adding new services, Clover Capital helps fund your vision based on future credit card sales.
Pricing
For $120 a month over three years, you can get Clover’s Standard plan with a portable, handheld POS.
3. Square – Best for well-established salons
Square has evolved from its origins as a mobile card reader into a comprehensive POS solution that caters well to salons and spas. Here’s why it’s worth considering:
- Smart appointment management: Square Appointments handles scheduling efficiently. Clients can book online anytime, and it even integrates with your social media to help fill those empty slots.
- Time and effort protection: No-shows can be frustrating, but Square safeguards your business by allowing you to attach contracts to bookings. You can also set up no-show and cancellation fees to protect your revenue. Plus, Square sends out automated appointment reminders, helping to reduce last-minute cancellations.
- Hassle-free client management: Square automatically creates and updates client profiles, keeping track of preferences and history and making it easier to provide personalized service.
Pricing
Square offers a free plan with basic features. For more advanced functionality, their Advanced plan starts at $29 per month.
Get started with Jovvie and elevate your salon operations
Managing a salon without a proper POS system can be challenging. Scheduling conflicts, inventory issues, and financial tracking can become time-consuming tasks that slow down your business. A good POS system addresses these challenges by streamlining operations and improving customer management.
Jovvie is designed to address these needs for salons of all sizes. Its native integration with WooCommerce allows for easy customization to fit your specific requirements. The system’s compatibility with various devices allows you to manage your salon from anywhere. Additionally, Jovvie’s dynamic live inventory feature helps you stay on top of your stock levels in real time.
Want to see how Jovvie can improve your salon operations? Start your free trial today and experience the benefits firsthand!
The Best Point of Sale
for WooCommerce
Your products, customers, orders & inventory automatically synced, always ready for you to sell your products anywhere!
