The Right Salon Software for Every Stage of Business Growth
Choosing the right software for your salon isn’t just about convenience…it’s about profitability. And as your beauty business grows, your software needs will grow with it.
Whether you’re a solo stylist just getting started or a multi-chair salon owner planning to scale, having the right tools in place makes a massive difference in how efficiently and profitably you operate.
Let’s break down exactly what you need, based on where you’re at, and how to set yourself up for long-term success.
Stage 1: Solo Stylist or Booth Renter
🎯 Goal: Simplicity + Profit Awareness
At this stage, you want to keep things streamlined and affordable, but you still need a solid grasp on your numbers.
Recommended tools:
Square or Vagaro – for booking, payments, and basic reports.
Pretty Profitable DIY Course or our Chair Profitability Guide – to track revenue, expenses, and actual profit.
💡 You don’t need to overcomplicate things here. Your biggest win? Knowing how profitable your chair actually is.
→ Grab our free Chair Profitability Guide to get a clear look at what you’re really earning after expenses.
Stage 2: Growing to a Team-Based Salon
🎯 Goal: Organization + Delegation
Hiring support? Running payroll? Offering team incentives? You’ll need tools that help you manage operations without the chaos.
Recommended tools:
QuickBooks Online (if working with professional accountant) + Hubdoc – for more robust bookkeeping, receipt tracking, and financial reporting.
Gusto – for easy payroll processing.
Asana – for task management and team communication.
At this point, cash flow starts to matter even more. You want tools that let you see where your money’s going, and how to improve margins.
Stage 3: Scaling + Multi-Location or High Revenue
🎯 Goal: Efficiency + Strategic Growth
You’re now operating like a true CEO. The goal here is to automate, analyze, and scale, without losing control of your profit margins.
Recommended tools:
Boulevard or Vagaro– with integrations for marketing and analytics.
Gusto (with benefits) – to offer competitive compensation packages.
Custom spreadsheets – for higher-level financial analysis and decision-making.
Don’t Pick Software Just to “Have Something”
We see it all the time: salon owners sign up for software they never use, or worse, software that doesn't give them the insights they actually need.
When you're using the right tech at the right stage, you stop flying blind. You start tracking what matters. You build a business that works for you, not just the other way around.
Ready to Start with Profit First?
If you’re not sure what your chair is actually making you, after expenses, taxes, and team pay, you’re not alone. That’s exactly why we created our free Chair Profitability Guide. It walks you through how to calculate your real profit and gives you simple templates to track it all.
→ Download the Chair Profitability Guide here.
Let’s grow your beauty brand with numbers that actually support your vision!