When most of your clients are on their mobile device and are connected 24/7, offering online booking isn’t a luxury anymore, it becomes a requirement for a seamless customer service. Not having one could mean losing customers to your competitors who offer a convenient way to book their salon appointments.

You need online booking for two scenarios: for clients who want to book their salon visits during non-business hours and for those who prefer to book online only. Just how much of your customers fall under these two categories? FitSmallBusiness says 35% of clients like scheduling salon appointments during non-working hours and 25% of millennials only book their appointments online.

Online booking solutions seem like a smart marketing strategy that will help drive customer loyalty, but salons still shun it for two reasons: they can be expensive and complicated. You can pay anywhere from nothing to $1000 for the solution. It can also be difficult to learn to use, which can intimidate salon specialists who would rather specialize in their craft.

However, appointment books are quickly becoming a thing of the past and you would not want to lose customers just because you fear technology and its cost. It is far more costly once you start losing customers to your competitors who are much more available and forward-focused.  The reasons why you should get one is clear: It makes you accessible to more customers and enhances your brand image as you will perceived to be an up-to-date and cutting-edge salon.

How to Make Salon Booking Systems Less Expensive and Easy-to-Use 

If the cost and the hassle of learning technical skills are the only reasons why you haven’t included online booking systems in your business process yet, here are ways to address these challenges:

1. Make a list of features you’re looking for.

There are tons of online booking software programs out there and browsing through them can be overwhelming, especially if you’re not familiar with some technical terms. At the very least, your system should have the following features:

• Have a visual calendar
• Real-time booking—meaning your customers can book directly through the system and get their confirmation instantly
• Inventory management system
• Be able to process payments and support multiple payment options
• Be able to send customers reminders
• Can be integrated with your website
• Reporting features 

Other features that are not included in this list are a bonus and you may want to stick to the basics to help reduce the cost. Free online booking software programs lack most of these basic features, so it is best to only use free when you want to try the system out. Sagenda for example offers a free account with them, but it only offers an appointment scheduler feature. You need to start paying once you add new features. You can check this list of salon software programs with online booking features. The list includes reviews from actual users.

2. Check their support services.

For salon owners who want to make the process of using an online booking system easier for them and their staff, a 24/7 support service would be crucial. Check if the company offers free support, if they help with setting the system up, if they offer resources for learning how to use the software, if they provide training and how they provide support. Support should ideally be available via phone, emails, and in person.

3. Choose a price that fits your budget and your business needs.

There are usually three options to pay for your online booking software: you can pay a flat rate monthly, you can pay commissions only each time a booking is made, or you can charge it to your guest. It is best to go for the monthly plans when you already have a steady stream of clients because most companies have pricing plans based on your number of bookings.

However, if you are relatively a new salon, a commission-based pricing system would be ideal because you will only pay when bookings are made. Switch to monthly plans once you reach a certain number of customers per month. It is never advisable to charge the online booking fees to your customers as this will turn them off.

Technical doesn’t always have to be complicated and expensive. Companies that make booking software programs are doing their best to make their product user-friendly. By knowing your options and getting the right support, you can have a booking system that does the job without being costly.