In a busy salon in Nairobi or Mombasa, clients walk in, stylists work on several at once, and money arrives by M-Pesa and cash. At the end of the day the owner has a notebook and an argument about who earned what. A salon management system Kenya owners can trust records which stylist did each service, so commission is worked out the moment the client pays.
This article covers what such a system does for salons, spas and barbershops.
What a salon management system does
It is a till built around people. As salon POS you tap the services, pick who served the client and take payment. Everything else, commission, stock and reports, follows from that. See the salon, spa and barbershop page.
POS by stylist, with M-Pesa
Tap the services, such as braids, a cut or a manicure, pick the stylist, and take M-Pesa, cash, card or a split. The M-Pesa code is recorded and every receipt shows who did the work. For a hair salon software setup this removes the guessing. A nail salon POS works the same way, with the technician as the person picked.
Commission worked out for you
Set each person's rate as a percentage or a flat fee, and a different rate on any service or product. For example, 40% on braids and KES 200 per haircut. Returns take their share of commission back automatically. See each person's clients, sales and commission for any month, record what you paid and export to Excel.
Barbershops and spas
A barbershop management system needs the same: pick the barber, ring up the cut and the beard trim, take M-Pesa. Each barber can see their own clients and commission if you give them a login. A spa management system or massage spa software handles massages, facials and packages at any price, with therapists on commission.
Salon inventory
Salons also sell shampoo, oils and beauty products. Sell them from the same till with stock that adds up, so salon inventory is not a separate notebook. See inventory.
Appointments and bookings
For salon appointment management, a booking is made at the till: pick the client, the services, the stylist and the day and time, and take a deposit if you ask for one. The booking waits as a held sale and turns into the sale when the client comes in. The deposit is kept on the client's account and counted at payment. Under Reservations you see the day's bookings and can mark each one done. Salons can also be found on Wananchi Mart, where clients pick a service and a time.
Reports and more branches
Sales and commission per person by month, and payouts recorded. If you open another salon, each branch has its own staff and till, and you see all of them from one login. See branches and staff and the prices.
What changes for the owner
Without a system, commission is worked out at month end from a notebook, and mistakes cause arguments. With one, each stylist can see their own clients and earnings, and you record the payout when you pay. Fewer disputes mean happier staff and less staff turnover, which matters when clients follow a favourite stylist.
You also see which services make money. Perhaps braids bring the most revenue but haircuts bring the most clients; the monthly reports show both. Products sold at the till are counted off stock, so you notice when shampoo is running low before a client asks for it. The M-Pesa code on each sale makes it easy to match payments against your statement at the end of the week. And if you run salons in two towns, each branch keeps its own staff and till while you see everything from one login. See payments and reports.
Tips for a smooth start
Start small. Add your best-selling items or main services first and sell for a week before loading everything. Ask each staff member to use their own login so records show who did what. Check the dashboard every evening for a few minutes: sales, cash and anything that looks odd. Keep your records honest from day one and the reports become more useful every month. If you get stuck, support is available on WhatsApp. You can see the prices and sign up free to try it with your own business before you commit.
Frequently asked questions
Can I pay stylists a percentage or a flat fee? Yes, per person and per service.
Does it take M-Pesa? Yes, with the code on the sale.
Do stylists need a login? No, only if you want them to see their own sales.
Does it take bookings? Yes. Book appointments at the till with the stylist, day, time and an optional deposit, and see them under Reservations.
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