Checkout: Think of it as the final impression of the salon visit and an opportunity to thank each client for their business. It’s the last stop in the client journey, so you want an ideal sendoff back to their busy lives—only looking their best and feeling rejuvenated.
Why is a smooth checkout so important? Because you don’t want your clients to dread the payment process but instead see value in the investment they just made in themselves. You want them to step out with a smile and confidently become the ultimate billboard for your services. Besides, happy clients typically translate into better tips, more repeat business and retail sales, and maybe even a few referrals. Who doesn’t want that?
So, how do you make checkout a positive experience for your clients? Start by making it fast and a seamless completion of their services.
First, your salon point-of-sale (POS) software should be easy for you and your team to use and innately fit within your business’s workflow. Ultimately, you want easy access to client information, including their service ticket for their current visit, plus the ability to quickly recommend and add on retail and then check them out.
Aside from managing your client database, a good POS system can also track sales and commissions, client referrals, and rewards points. But its benefits don’t stop there. A well-integrated POS system can also manage your inventory, track retail sales, identify sales trends, and help you maintain a well-stocked inventory without overbuying. For instance, it can alert you when a product is running low or when a particular item is selling particularly well, allowing you to make informed purchasing decisions.
Embedded payment processing is another way to streamline the checkout process. With this feature, there’s no more double entry for the visit total, and reports are integrated, making end-of-day batching effortless. Your client can simply tap or swipe their card, and the payment is processed instantly. This feature saves time and reduces the chances of errors, ensuring a smooth and efficient checkout process.
Even better, use the card-on-file feature to safely store your clients’ credit card information to take deposits, enforce your cancellation policy, or provide a contactless checkout from anywhere: the front desk, chairside, or off-site. This mobile flexibility is especially beneficial for independents who handle every aspect of their business or service providers who sometimes work outside of the salon, like for weddings or other events.
And don’t forget about retail. Set up promotions for products the receptionist can recommend at checkout based on the services the clients just received. For example, for clients investing in the latest hair color trend, you definitely want to offer color care for at-home use.
To complete your client’s service and create a pleasant final step for their salon experience, add a friendly “thank you” and a warm invitation to come back soon, and send them off to flaunt their fresh new ‘do.
PRO TIP: Be sure to add your Google review link to your e-receipt so your clients can leave a review.
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