How to Create a Salon App in 2025

Are you a salon owner who is looking for ways to grow the business & sales? Well, building a salon app is your best bet in that case.

82% of salon customers prefer to book appointments using their smartphone, and 86% want to receive text reminders.

Seeing such a number, anyone would like to invest in this market.

This made a lot of people question “Can I build my own salon app?” The answer is yes.

With this curiosity in mind comes a lot of questions, such as how to create a salon app, the benefits of developing a salon app, and the cost.

Don’t worry, we are here to help.

This blog will help you to know about the answers to these questions. Thus, without any further ado, let’s get right into it:

What is a Salon App?

With the increasing use of smartphones, users, and businesses both shifted to mobile phones.

Nowadays, we have an app for every service, be it to order food, book a ride, or book a salon appointment.

Traditionally, people had to go to the salon and wait in long queues to book their salon appointments, but it’s no longer an issue, all thanks to the salon app.

The salon mobile app is a solution that allows customers to make their bookings, manage their salon schedule, and explore & enjoy new services.

Salon apps can help businesses improve operational efficiency, enhance customer experience, and expand their reach.

There are several salon apps present in the market including Fresha, Vagaro, Mindbody, and more.

What salon apps do is they provide the ease of seeing real-time availability and book slots from the comfort of homes.

Due to this, they are growing tremendously & even the growing market also paints a good picture of the salon's future.

A Quick Overview of the Salon App Market

The salon industry is changing at a very rapid pace.

More salons are nowadays using software solutions in booking, payments, and customer management.

This has led to the growth of the market. Here, let's dive into the market stats depicting the bright future of the market.

• Spa and Salon Software Market

The global salon software market was valued at USD 726.82 million in 2022 and is projected to reach USD 2,768.53 million by 2032, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14.31% during the forecast period.

• Salon Services Market

The global salon services market was valued at $215.65 billion in 2022. It is projected to grow to $383.88 billion by 2030, with a CAGR of 7.55%.

• Hair Salon Services Market

The hair salon services market is projected to grow from $195.32 billion in 2023 to $267.02 billion by 2032, with a CAGR of 3.53%.

This growth and rising numbers are what drive investors to an experienced mobile app development company to get a salon app that paves the way with innovation.

Speaking of which, let’s take a look at some of the different types of salon apps you can build.

Types of Salon Apps: Take a Look

Do you want to develop a salon app? Then, decide which type you want.

Here, we will be going through the diverse types of salon apps that you can make.

1. Salon Booking App

A salon booking app is one of the most common types of salon apps. It helps salons manage client appointments efficiently. Some popular features included in this category are real-time availability, automatic reminders, and easy scheduling. Famous salon apps in this category include Booksy, Mindbody, and Acuity Scheduling.

2. Home Service Spa App

A home service spa app is a solution that connects users with different trained professionals who can provide spa service at home. Homier and Thumbtack are some of the common home service spa apps.

3. Hair Salon App

It is said that hair salons produced $91.23 bn in revenue, showcasing the huge potential and scale of this sector. The hair salon app makes it easy for businesses to improve their operations, target hair salon operations, improve user experience, and their salon revenue. StyleSeat, & SVAYO are one of the examples of the same.

4. Nail Salon Apps

Nail Salon Apps can help salons with client booking, scheduling, inventory management, and more. These salons provide different services including nail services, nail art parlors, and salons that offer the right type of manicures.

5. Appointment Scheduling Software

Appointment scheduling software is digital tools that allow businesses to manage appointments, reservations, and bookings. It can automate the process and allow customers to book appointments online.

6. Salon App Consulting Software

Our salon consulting services help you grow and become more streamlined. From optimizing operations and enhancing staff training to increasing retention and marketing, you find unique solutions that match your specific needs.

Now, as we are done with this. You might be wondering why to develop a salon app. If yes, the next section is for you.

Why Develop a Salon App?

So why should you develop a salon app for your business? Is that what your mind wanders to.

A dedicated app would make all the difference between now and how you will manage your salon and connect to your clients.

Here are solid reasons why it's worth the investment.

► Streamline Your Salon Operation

Managing a salon without using a proper tool can be the most boring and error-prone process.

An appointment booking app automates bookings, scheduling, and payment processing, saving you time and limiting the scope for human errors.

Automation of your activities helps you concentrate on what matters: growing your business.

Whether you are learning for knowledge or planning to make a salon app, automation alone is a game-changer.

► Reinforce the Customer Experience

Now, the salon app is all about making things easy, yes? Well, we wish that were the case, because honestly, it's more than that, it’s about making a better experience for your customer.

The features of easy booking, appointment reminders, and online payment allow clients to book, pay, and review services right from their phones.

Ease of use encourages returning clients, and in the end, this will boost your retention rates.

Want to know how to develop a salon app that delights your customers? Focus on simplicity and personalization.

► Boost Revenue with Online Booking

Salon apps help drive more bookings, one of the greatest benefits of building one.

Clients can book 24/7 without having to call in between business hours, boosting convenience and in many cases, increasing your salon's revenue by filling up more time slots.

Automated reminders will also cut down your no-show rates, this is what is a secret to your successful business.

► Customer Loyalty & Retention

A salon application can help to develop customer loyalty by integrating features such as loyalty programs, rewards, and personalized offers into it.

Booking exclusive deals or points per booking may make the client feel valued.

And the higher the usage of the app, the more they are engaged with your brand.

If you develop a salon application that's equipped with features like loyalty programs, it will bring clients back for more and eventually encourage them to be regular customers.

► Managing Employees Effectively

Create a salon app and you improve the client experience but you are also enhancing the staff management.

The app will help track appointments and manage the schedule of the staff while avoiding situations of over-booking.

You will also receive real-time updates on availability so that you can ensure a workable load for everyone.

If you ask how to create a salon booking application that helps manage your team, then surely it will have staff scheduling and communication functionalities.

► Get Ahead of Competition

In this business of cutthroat competition, an app is something that sets you apart from salons that are surviving solely on traditional methods.

An app will prove to your customers that you are not only tech-savvy but also committed to giving them the best service.

In case you have second thoughts about developing a salon app, always remember "Doing it before anyone else will give you leverage to stand out and attract more clients”.

Get to Know Key Challenges to Build a Salon App

Building a salon app seems easy, but just like every other development project, it has its set of challenges.

Knowledge of these obstacles is paramount to deciding the right way, you would build your salon app to work seamlessly for you and your clients.

Here are some key challenges you might face when creating your salon app:

Challenge 1. Defining the Right Features

One of the first dilemmas you will find when you plan to create a salon app is what to build in and what not to.

You'd like your app to be useful, but you don't want to overwhelm your customers with too many options to consider.

Booking, payment processing, and customer profiles are an absolute must, but what about loyalty programs or inventory management?

Deciding which features to emphasize is what will make an app successful, and it's the one point at which most aspiring app developers and investors get particularly stuck when they begin asking how to create a salon app.

Challenge 2. Seamless User Experience (UX)

Nobody likes a cumbersome application and an app that is hard to navigate.

If your salon app's design is not user-friendly, you are almost bound to create frustration and push customers away.

So, when you are learning how to make a salon app that people love, this is by creating a clean, simple interface that will be a breeze to use.

Functionality meets design although that's a key priority, it's quite tricky to get the right balance.

Challenge 3. Integration with Existing Systems

A salon app has to work in harmony with your other systems—be that your POS system, customer database, or inventory management software.

Getting these integrations right can be a real technical challenge-especially if you are working with legacy systems.

Make sure to let your development team know how to integrate these tools as you're figuring out how to develop a salon app for use.

Challenge 4. Data Security & Payment Processing

Security is a major concern when you are dealing with customer data and payment information.

Your application needs to be secure enough to ensure your clients' personal details as well as payment methods.

The right payment gateway and robust encryption are a must.

It is definitely tough to get everything just right, but it is pretty important if you are making a salon app that a customer can rely on.

Challenge 5. Cross-Platform Compatibility

You probably have users on both iOS and Android, so you want the salon app that you are developing to be compatible with both platforms.

A cross-platform application can take more time as compared to one developed for a single platform.

However, it cannot be avoided if you want to reach out to the maximum audience.

Cross-platform compatibility is a huge challenge in knowing how to create a salon app.

Now, let's first focus on overcoming the challenges presented above to attain an ideal salon app.

Going forward, zero in on what will make your app stand out. For this purpose, we talk about some of the features that can fulfill user expectations.

Must-Have Features to Incorporate in Your Salon App

A salon app is a game-changer for your business and makes things convenient for yourself and your clients.

It can streamline several operations, increase customer satisfaction, and thus generate much revenue.
Here are some of the essential features to integrate into the salon app to help take your business to the next level.

♦ Online Booking System

An online booking system should be part of your service if you prefer to make scheduling appointments uncomplicated for your clients.

This allows your customers to book, reschedule, or cancel appointments through their phones and at any time of the day. When developing your salon app, the booking process must be seamless and intuitive. You can include service, staff preferences, and real-time availability.

All are perfect for convenience! 

♦ Clients Profiles & History

The best way to ensure that clients are connected and loyal is by building a customized experience.

Start with client profile integration into your app, enabling your team to track their service history and preferences and even past purchases. Such enables your team to offer tailored recommendations.

Now, you might wonder how to develop a salon app that gives a sense of belonging.

The more your clients feel appreciated and valued, the better will be their overall experience and the more likely they are to keep coming back for it.

♦ Loyalty Programs and Rewards

Along with the loyalty program, it's a good way to make your clients come back again and again and at the same time encourage them to bring along others.

You can offer rewards for repeat visits, for social media shares, or even for birthday promotions.

With this feature, you will be able to retain more customers and win a new client list. The more value your customers feel they are receiving in return, the better you can expect a return on your investment. It is one of the simplest yet most effective marketing ideas for your salon.

♦ Payment Integration

Safe and secure payment Integration is a must.

It is a convenient option so that a client can pay for service, product, or even tips directly from the app without having to be fished out of their wallet. This could speed up checkouts and improve your cash flow.

This is one of the main key benefits of a salon app: everything will become smoother and more efficient.

♦ Real-Time Notifications and Reminders

Of course, life gets busy, and sometimes, clients forget an appointment.

With push notifications, your app can automatically remind clients that they have an appointment coming soon so as not to miss the date.

You can later use notifications to inform customers of new services or to prompt leaving a review after an appointment.

Wondering how to build a salon app that keeps clients in the loop? Include this feature.

Your customers will appreciate the reminder at the right time, and you will start to see changes in attendance.

♦ Staff Management and Scheduling

Employees may pose as a nightmare to manage schedules.

With a salon app, all the scheduling, shift management, and availability are dealt with in one place.

You also have the added freedom of allowing employees to amend their shifts or even trade shifts directly through the app.

When you create a salon app, do not forget to include this critical feature for both operational efficiency and staff happiness.

♦ Service Menu and Pricing

Clients want to know exactly what they are going to get and what it costs.

Your salon app should feature a comprehensive, updated service menu with detailed descriptions and transparent pricing.

This sets one up to make sure everything is displayed in clear detail that potential customers need before booking, hence an accomplishment of confidence in their decision.

This reduces confusion and unnecessary calls. It forms the best part of how to make a salon app, providing transparency and convenience, and all this helps push sales.

♦ Social Media Integration

Social media can be a fabulous tool for salons.

This enables your app to encourage clients to share their experiences, before-and-after photos, or purchases of products directly to their social media profiles.

Through such integrated options, your business receives more exposure, and feelings of loyalty are built with the community of followers.

With the help of this feature, you can turn your clients into brand ambassadors.

♦ Online Store for Products

Many salons sell retail products, like shampoos, conditioners, styling tools, and skincare.

Your salon app must have an e-commerce feature that enables customers to buy products directly from their cell phones.

This can generate revenues and create return visits even when the clients are not physically visiting the salon.

This can make booking an appointment even easier. How? If there's an online store where they can purchase from, it would be easy for the clients to book a service.

♦ Rating and Reviews System

If you want a salon app with several revenue-generating activities, then this aspect should be included in your app.

You need a ratings and review system within your application, allowing customers to give their opinions about their experience with your salon; you'd then work towards developing more trust with new clients.

Testimonials are a good way to get insights into what clients love about your services.

And, when you build a beauty salon app, it is invaluable feedback that will help you grow and succeed in the business.

With such features, you would have been halfway to building a beauty salon app that makes customers happy and keeps the business afloat.

How to Create a Salon App? - Step-By-Step Salon App Development Process

The process of developing a salon app includes different key steps that will ensure your app is both functional and user-friendly. 

Let’s get into the salon app development process without any further ado:

Step 1: Define Your Objectives and Features

Before you dive into development, the first step in how to create a salon booking app is to define your goals.

What problem will you solve for your clients? Do you need an online booking system, loyalty rewards, or a payment gateway? Consider what features will differentiate your app.

By stating the core features, you are making the road to the development of the entire process.

This will mean that your salon app will deliver everything your clients are looking for. 

After you have a well-strategized plan, you will be ready to embark on the next stage of developing an application for the salon.

Step 2: Design the User Interface

Whether you want to create a hair salon app or a beauty salon app, the design of your salon app has much to do with its success or failure. 

Clients expect an intuitive, attractive, and easy-to-navigate interface. During development, ensure that the user experience or UX should be simple and efficient.

The fewer clicks for a client to make a booking or make a payment, the better.

Make sure your design expresses your salon brand. So, it looks and feels friendly & familiar.

This marks the start of how your clients will be using your salon app.

Step 3: Develop Your App

This step is very technical, this is where the development of an actual salon app occurs.

This is where the coding happens and where all the features you outlined start to take form.

Your developers can craft the backend infrastructure (servers, databases), and the frontend interface that your users will be interacting with.

It's pretty important to keep your app's performance fast and reliable.

Features such as real-time booking, push notifications, and payment processing must be developed and tested thoroughly without a glitch under any condition.

Step 4: Test the App

Testing is one of the most important steps in the process of how to create a salon app. You don't want to release something buggy or unreliable.

Take it off from basic functionality testing; does the booking system work as expected? Are payment integrations smooth?

Once the fundamentals are addressed as well, usability testing comes.

Is it easy for everyone to work with your app? Does it look amazing on various devices and screen sizes? Testing ensures the app has no bugs and is all set for launch, therefore important to focus on this to make the app functional and error-free.

Step 5: Launch Your Application

Once you finish testing, it's now time to launch your app. However, do not just publish it without any future anticipation; plan on some marketing ideas to promote your new app.

 Share the launch on social media, email newsletters, and your website to get the word out.

This launch moment is pretty crucial, and a strong marketing push can create early downloads and word of mouth for your application.

You will also want to receive feedback on early users in order to address problems that are likely to crop up fast.

This phase is essential for ensuring that your app does well post-launch-it initiates the journey of continuous improvement.

Step 6: Ongoing Maintenance and Updates

After launching your salon app, the work doesn't end here.

To ensure a relevant mobile app for others, you must keep it updated with new features and enhancements.

Regular maintenance helps in fixing bugs, improving security, and ensuring compatibility with the latest mobile operating systems.

Here customer feedback will be very important.

Whether adding a new feature or optimizing an existing feature, the idea is to make sure that your app works seamlessly and provides the best experience for your clients.

Often, regular updates depict your commitment to improving the experience of customers.

By following these steps, you’ll be well on your way to create an app that not only makes managing your salon easier but also enhances the experience for your clients.

Top Salon Apps: Take Inspiration

From smooth appointment scheduling to smooth payment processing, top salon apps do everything,

With the following seven top salon platforms, find inspiration that takes your business to new heights if you are looking to create your salon app.

1. Fresha

Fresha is an all-in-one salon management app that allows appointment, payment, and even marketing management.
It is free to any salon regardless of size and allows clients to book online. Then, you'll be able to manage your loyalty program, send reminders, and run promotions.

2. Mindbody

It's an all-in-one salon, spa, and fitness software that provides booking, payment processing, client management, and various marketing tools.

Mindbody is designed to promote growth with intuitive tools, allowing your clients to book online and have personalized experiences. It is good for fast-growing businesses.

3. Vagaro

Vagaro is a very multi-featured salon app that includes scheduling, POS, client management, and marketing tools in one.
It makes it easy for clients to book appointments via online web booking or within the app.
No matter what you have in mind- from scheduling, payments, to marketing- Vagaro will make easy everything for both you and your customers to stay in touch.

4. Salon Iris

Salon Iris is a fantastic salon management application that streamlines appointment and payment processes, customer records, and payroll.

It has loyalty programs and inventory features, making it a perfect all-in-one solution for salons.

If you need to come up with a salon app idea that contains management of the business and tools for engaging customers, then Salon Iris is the most suitable inspiration that ensures satisfactory customers.

5. Booksy

Booksy is just one of the many popular apps that are specifically designed to facilitate salon scheduling and client management.

This online booking facility offers easy handling of payments, reminders, and offers.

Making use of Booksy's built-in marketing tools allows us to hold clients with notifications and special deals.

6. Square Appointments

Square Appointments allows small businesses to integrate appointment scheduling, payment processing, and calendar management into one user-friendly interface.

Clients can book online, and you can manage everything from your mobile device.

If you are interested in building a simple, reliable, and efficient app for salons, Square is ideal for small salons and solo practitioners who require straightforward functionality.

7. Phorest

Phorest is fully equipped with tools covering all parts of a salon - from booking and POS to marketing automation, accompanied by client loyalty programs, reviews, and mechanisms for feedback to keep the client.

If you are focusing on building relations with customers, Phorest is the best tool for you.

Now, to build something similar, one of the main considerations is cost. Let’s find out about it in the next section:

How Much Does It Cost to Create a Salon App?

This would cost between $10,000 and $130,000 to develop a salon app. All of this depends on different factors & your project needs.

Those apps with the most basic features like booking of appointments and management of clients stand at the lower end.
Online payments or management or connecting to social media may certainly add more dollars to the pricing.

Custom design, UX, and platform, that is, iOS/Android also impact the bottom line. Cost entails not only short-term costs but also long-term costs: such as Maintenance and support services over time.

How JPLoft Can Help You Build a Salon App?

The salon market is growing fast. The craziness for apps is more than ever.

As the market grows, day by day, it becomes critical to have a friendly, & efficient app for a salon.

JPLoft is a salon app development company that focuses on creating salon apps, and its staff provides professional service towards building a customized salon app according to your needs.

Whether your salon is small and local or more numerous, we'll be helping you develop an application that streamlines booking, enhances the user experience, and increases efficiency for your business.

We have an expert team to make your salon business stand out in such fierce competition, with smooth designs, robust features, and easy navigation.

So, what are you waiting for, let’s connect!

Wrapping it Up!

The salon app in this digital world, would prove helpful in streamlining operations and attracting customers.

Features such as online booking, appointment reminders, and customer management enhance efficiency and experience through the right kind of functionalities, thus bettering client satisfaction.

JPLoft will guide you with its expertise in the salon app development process as per your requirements and budget,

Let's help you build the most advanced salon app that keeps you one step ahead in this extremely competitive field.