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As a salon owner, you understand the importance of client satisfaction. But did you know that choosing the right salon point-of-sale (POS) system can have a huge impact on your success? Whether you run a hair salon, nail salon, barbershop or day spa, a specialised salon POS system can make your day-to-day smoother and help you grow your business more strategically.
The best salon POS system does more than process payments. It streamlines several priorities in one place: client profile management, automated appointment scheduling, inventory management and commission tracking. It can even support your marketing efforts.
And between the UK’s current economic uncertainty and shifting customer expectations, having an all-in-one solution is no longer a nice-to-have – it’s a must. So, how do you choose the best POS for salon operations that fits your needs? This guide breaks down what you need to know.
What is a salon POS system?
A salon POS system is a combination of hardware and software that helps beauty professionals manage their operations more effectively, from payments to self-serve bookings and customer relationships.
Unlike retail-focused POS systems, the best POS system for beauty salon management is designed with the unique needs of salon owners in mind. They address common pain points without the need for multiple tools with features like scheduling, real-time calendar syncing and sales reporting.
Why is it important to choose the right POS for your salon?
Choosing the right POS for your salon allows you to focus on delivering exceptional service and growing your business instead of feeling burdened by admin work. When you own a brow studio or skincare clinic, you require more than a checkout tool – a salon POS ties key processes and data together in a central hub. The result? You gain back time, enhance customer experience and build savvier marketing strategies.
Benefits of a salon POS system
Effective appointment scheduling
Ditch the pen and paper once and for all. A salon POS makes it easy to manage bookings while giving clients the flexibility to self-schedule. According to the Square 2025 Future of Beauty report, over half of consumers enjoy engaging with technologies like automated appointment reminders, mobile apps, automated payments and self-booking – and this is especially true for Gen Z and millennials.
Detailed client profiles
It’s been four weeks since your customer’s gel polish appointment. Thanks to your salon POS, you know this – and you target your customer with a gentle reminder and a promotion when they purchase a mani-pedi combo. The best POS system for beauty salon management lets you stay on top of customer history and preferences to optimise your marketing efforts.
Automated staff commissions
A salon POS platform takes the guesswork out of paying your team. For example, with Square Shifts, you can set up commission tracking and assign unique commission rates to each of your employees, whether you work with tiers or flat rates. If a lash artist completes a full set appointment, their name is linked to the transaction – and your POS calculates their payout automatically.
Inventory management adapted to your needs
If you own a spa business, you don’t need to manage inventory like a grocery store. But you need to know how much serum aestheticians use during facials so you can reorder. You also need to manage the sale of take-home skincare kits at the front desk. A POS system for beauty salons lets you manage both service-related and retail inventory seamlessly.
Business impact of choosing the right salon POS
Streamlines daily operations
Managing bookings, payments and inventory can be tedious and time-consuming, whether you own a solo makeup studio or run a busy hair salon with a full team of stylists. A salon POS streamlines operations and reduces the risk of errors. You can view the day’s appointments and know that your calendar is up to date despite last-minute cancellations. You can process a payment and look at a customer’s preferences all from the same screen.
Improves customer experience
In the world of beauty, customers appreciate a welcoming, personalised experience. With a salon POS system, you can track their history and preferences to tailor each visit, from preferred products to ideal massage pressure. Personalisation is also about what you do after a visit. The best salon POS systems let you offer flexible ways to pay, automated follow-ups and easy links to book the next appointment. All these small touches add up and build loyalty.
Helps manage staff schedules and commissions
Maybe you work with part-time laser hair removal technicians or barbers who rent booths from you. A salon POS lets you customise compensation structure accordingly. You can assign shifts, track hours, set different commission structures and calculate payroll and payouts. And since 88% of UK beauty business leaders told Square that training or coaching their employees is vital to their success, streamlining admin frees you up to focus on your team.
Tracks retail inventory in real-time
You don’t want to discover that you’re out of numbing cream right before a tattoo removal session or have to say no to a customer who wants to purchase moisturiser because you forgot to replenish your stock. A salon POS tracks service-related and retail inventory in real-time so you know exactly what to reorder and when.
“Because Seiso has both the retail and service side, it’s really hard to find one solution that does it all,” says Alison Zhou, owner of Seiso in London’s Fitzrovia. “Square helps us on all sides – the checkout, the stock and the service. It brings everything into one, and that’s what I love about Square.”
Supports business growth
A good salon POS system includes marketing tools that increase customer retention and expand your reach. Targeted email and SMS campaigns nurture relationships with existing customers. Tools like Square Loyalty help you reward regulars with special perks – like a free blowout after five visits.
You can also play with subscription offerings like monthly facial memberships to encourage consistent bookings and predictable revenue. Built-in analytics help you understand what’s working – and what’s not – so you can make decisions based on data instead of hunches (or at least validate your hunches).
Reduces manual work
A salon POS system reduces the need for manual work, which gives you more time for activities that move the needle. For example, with Square Appointments, you can customise a free booking website that runs on autopilot. You can let customers book with multiple staff members, set up cancellation policies and no-show protection and avoid double bookings, all without extra back and forth.
“Square Appointments allows me to take a step back, unlike taking bookings by email or messaging. Booking just happens behind the scenes without us having to lift a finger,” says Lois Williamson, founder and owner of Essex-based Si Belle.
Provides owners with more flexibility
A modern salon POS enables mobile and cloud access for maximum flexibility. If you operate multiple locations or want to manage your business remotely, all your data syncs in real-time.
With locations in Manchester, Leeds, Liverpool and London, Barber Barber owner Johnny Baba says that, when it comes to managing multiple locations, Square is especially important. “Having everything in one place – the appointments, the ePOS, the product sales, the fulfilment centre – everything talks to each other. It’s kind of like having a full team of people in an office in your pocket.”
Key features to consider when choosing a POS system for your salon
Not every POS platform is built with beauty businesses in mind. The right salon POS system should simplify your work and help you provide better service through specialised tools. Here are key features to look for:
- Flexible payment processing: Your POS should allow you to accept a wide variety of payment types with speed and ease, from debit and credit cards to mobile wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay. Clients expect a smooth checkout experience, especially if you sell high-end services – and they may also appreciate a buy now, pay later (BNPL) option for big-ticket purchases.
- Appointment scheduling and calendar integration: Built-in scheduling is essential when you operate a salon. A solid salon POS syncs all bookings in one calendar while allowing customers to book 24/7 from your website or Instagram page. A salon POS like Square Appointments does just that thanks to social media integrations, and it also sends automated confirmations and reminders to reduce the risk of no-shows.
- Inventory management for retail and supplies: From wax strips to lash cleansers and beard oils, you probably manage both retail and service supplies. And if you haven’t dabbled in retail offerings yet, you might want to keep that door open for the future. According to data from the Square Future of Beauty 2025 report, 43% of UK consumers have purchased products like shampoo or cleanser from a salon in the past year. Look for a salon POS that tracks and manages both types of inventory with features like low-stock alerts.
- Detailed client profiles and history: Having a returning customer repeat their preferences every time they visit erodes your relationship. On the flipside, small touches like remembering their exact colour formulas and skin concerns elevate the experience. A strong salon POS keeps a detailed log of client profiles and history. That way, you can also automate promos and booking reminders when you know it’s time for a customer’s next visit.
- Staff management tools: Hiring and retaining talented employees can be challenging in the beauty industry. Whether you work with full-time employees or contractors, your POS should support team scheduling and help you streamline payroll and commission payouts, along with staff-friendly features like automated timecards, shift swapping and tip or commission management. Not only do automated staff management tools make your life easier as a business owner, but they help keep your employees happy so they consistently deliver strong service.
- Integrated payments and contactless checkout: Seventy-six percent of debit card and 63% of credit card in-person payments in the UK are made with tap-to-pay transactions, according to research from UK Finance. With tools like Square Reader or Square Terminal, you can accept debit or credit payments in seconds right at the chair or checkout counter. And for customers who prefer to pay online, you can integrate payments into the booking process.
- Marketing tools to drive growth: You shouldn’t need separate platforms to promote your business. Tools like Square Loyalty and Square Marketing help you effectively communicate with existing customers and attract new ones. Get creative with birthday discounts, personalised rewards or seasonal promos, or send out custom, automated marketing campaigns to clients in minutes.
- Cloud access and mobile functionality: Being chained to the front desk isn’t necessary with a modern salon POS solution. Look for cloud access and mobile functionality so you can work anytime, from anywhere and always have access to the most up-to-date information, whether you’re checking inventory from home or looking at sales reports from a trade show.
- Support for multiple locations: If you manage more than one salon or hope to open more locations in the future, your POS should keep up with your growth. Square for Beauty centralises operations and adapts to your needs at different stages of your journey – even across cities or counties.
- Sales and performance reporting: A good salon POS system should give you access to in-depth sales and performance reports. You want industry-specific actionable insights, like which hairdressers are performing the best or what time of the day you’re busiest with self-tanning appointments. Look for a centralised hub, like Square Dashboard, which makes all your numbers easy to access and understand.
- Gift card and package management: Your salon POS should let you create and sell service packages, as bundling services is a no-brainer in the beauty industry. It should also give you the opportunity to offer both physical and digital gift cards, which help you boost revenue and attract new customers, especially during the holidays.
- Customisable service menus and pricing: A strong salon POS is flexible enough to adapt to your unique business and brand. It should allow you to quickly tailor or update your service list and pricing, including recommendations for add-ons.
How to set up the Square salon POS system
Square brings all the most important features of a beauty salon POS into one intuitive solution. Appointment scheduling that practically runs itself? Check. Marketing tools to capture the attention of beauty customers and keep them coming back? Check. Staff management solutions including commission tracking? Check.
If you’re ready to get started with Square for Beauty, follow these steps:
- Sign up for a free Square Appointments account.
- Verify your identity and link your bank account to receive payments.
- Add your business location(s). You can create unique business profiles with specific hours, add individual bank accounts to differentiate transfers and more.
- Set up online booking. There are two ways to do so: Create a simple, standalone booking page with Square Appointments, which can also be added to an existing website, or build a full-service site with Square Online. Both options are free, customisable and included with your Square Appointments subscription.
- Create and manage services and appointments. An appointment is a scheduled time when a staff member will complete a service. Learn more about creating and managing services.
- Download the Square POS app to take payments on your device. Not sure where to start in terms of hardware? Learn more about the mobile and stationary hardware that Square offers to help run your business however you need.
“With Square it’s just so easy to expand. I know if I were to get a third salon, I could literally press a few buttons and it would be sorted for me. It’s really good at allowing you to replicate things across different locations,” says Lois.
How to choose the right POS system for your salon FAQs
Is cloud-based POS better for salons?
Yes, a cloud-based POS is better for salons, as it allows you to manage your business remotely or manage multiple locations. All your data is synced in real-time and across locations instead of being stored on a local device.
Can a salon POS system handle VAT automatically?
Yes, a salon POS can handle VAT automatically. You can set up tax rates in your Square Dashboard, choose whether prices include VAT or have it added at checkout, and the system will then calculate VAT on each sale, show it on receipts and track it in your reports. Then you can easily export the data for your accountant or link it with accounting software to help with VAT reporting and compliance.
How much does a salon POS system typically cost?
In the UK, cloud-based POS systems cost anywhere between £0 to £120 per month for a software subscription, depending on the provider, the pricing model and features such as appointment booking, staff management and reporting. Hardware costs can range from around £0 to £40 for a card reader (depending on the brand and whether you want contactless, chip or swipe functionality) to around £100 to £700 for a full POS kit with a tablet stand or terminal.
There are also transaction fees to consider. Square POS pricing is transparent and competitive. You pay 1.75% per in-person transaction, 1.4% + 25p for online transactions with UK cards and 2.5% per transaction with manually entered card details.
Can a salon POS manage both services and retail sales?
A modern salon POS system should handle both seamlessly. Whether you’re booking a piercing appointment or selling a retinol serum, your POS should make it easy to sell both options in one place while managing product inventory and tracking service history.
