Running a Successful Business With Barbershop Software: The Ultimate Guide

From scheduling to payment processing, the right software serves as the foundation for a successful self-care business

Opening up your own barbershop starts with a series of key decisions. Where’s the ideal location? How can you recruit a talented team of employees? What’s your brand identity? While you’re figuring out the answers, consider one more critical choice: What software should you use?

The barbershop software you choose can either set you up for long-term success or make your job harder than it needs to be. The right software solution can streamline administrative processes while elevating the client experience — here’s what you need to know to make an informed decision.

Nail first impressions with barbershop scheduling software

Having the right technology in place during the booking stage goes a long way toward making a positive first impression. While the primary purpose of barbershop scheduling software is to allow clients to make appointments online, you should expect (and offer clients) more than the bare minimum. Not only should your booking information be easily accessible via your website and social media pages, but the booking page should reflect your brand identity to avoid confusion.

As experienced barbers know, appointments can take many forms and have multiple stages, so simply blocking off a window of time isn’t enough. Look for software that lets you create specific service categories and sort them by provider and price. This way, you’ll remove any friction in the booking process while ensuring your team is always properly prepared for the day’s appointments.

Remember that the more packed your calendar gets, the harder it is to manage your team’s time. Software features like Boulevard’s Precision Scheduling™ eliminate the need to play calendar Tetris by promoting clustered appointments that allow providers to get the most quality time with their clients, as well as incorporating transition, processing, and finishing times into the appointment. This can save you hours of administrative time while helping your team get the most out of their workdays — and your clients will appreciate the consideration, too.

Of course, building a lasting client relationship goes far beyond that first appointment. You can nurture that relationship by staying on top of ongoing communications like appointment reminders, follow-ups, and questionnaires that allow for more personalized service. If you’re picturing yourself stuck at your computer for hours on end sending emails, fear not — modern barbershop scheduling software can help with this, too. That way, you can spend more time doing what you love while your technology checks tasks off your to-do list.

To learn more about what to look for in barbershop scheduling software, check out Enhancing the Client Experience Through Your Barbershop Scheduling App.

Breeze through checkout using a modern POS solution

With the right barbershop management software, you can get every appointment started off on the right foot — but what about when it’s time to check out? Barbershop software also plays a significant role in point-of-sale (POS) operations, and that goes beyond simple payment processing.

Naturally, you’ll want to prioritize intuitive software that’s easy to operate for employees of all levels of tech-savviness. How can you tell if the solutions you’re considering fit the bill? Look for a clear, concise dashboard that puts all the information you need in clearly labeled menus just a click or two away. If you need to access your shop’s transaction history or study a sales report, you should be able to pull them up at a moment’s notice.

Every transaction that takes place at the POS is a valuable data point. Together, this data paints a clearer picture of how your business is doing. With real-time reporting built into your barbershop management system, you don’t have to track and analyze all of that information on your own; the software does it for you. This way, you’ll be able to make better business decisions — like increasing inventory of that product that keeps selling out.

Pair that smart software design with sleek hardware that allows for a variety of payment methods (without cluttering up the checkout counter). For example, Boulevard Duo hides a lot of functionality within its sleek frame; it instantly connects with your existing setup and lets clients swipe, dip, and tap credit cards and smartphones.

Find out more about what to look for in a barbershop POS by reading the full article: 6 Must-Have Features of a Barbershop POS System.

Using barbershop software to enhance your marketing strategy

These days, barbershop management system functionality goes far beyond checking in and cashing out. With the right solution, you can even use barbershop software to bolster your marketing efforts. Here are just a few ways it works:

• Loyalty programs: Loyalty programs are one of the best ways to cultivate client relationships. Use barbershop software to set up a points-based program and track it across multiple locations. Clients can then exchange points for discounts and special deals, further encouraging them to keep coming back.

• Email marketing: When it comes to return on investment for your marketing efforts, you can’t do better than email marketing — it delivers an ROI of $40 for every dollar spent. By choosing barbershop software with pre-built email templates and automated email campaigns, you’ll be able to tap into one of the most effective forms of marketing without any prior expertise.

• Word-of-mouth: Referral programs are another powerful tool in the barbershop owner’s toolbox. By creating such a program, you not only create another way to reward loyalty, but also transform your existing client base into brand advocates for your shop.

• Measuring progress: By leveraging real-time reporting, you can more easily see what marketing efforts are working and what strategies need retooling. Be sure to check the data often and measure your progress over time.

Get more marketing strategies and suggestions in The Barbershop Marketing Checklist: Ideas and Strategies That Work and Barbershop Ads: 7 Strategies to Promote Your Barbershop Business.

Choosing the right barbershop software is about so much more than self-booking or payment processing. Prioritizing comprehensive solutions like Boulevard can save self-care businesses 30 hours a month in administrative work — that’s a lot more time you can spend engaging with clients, leading your team, and making your barbershop a must-visit destination.