Published on May 09, 2025 6 min read

Best Software to Manage Your Beauty Business Smoothly

In a beauty business, time is everything. If your schedule is disorganized or hard to manage, it shows that clients notice delays, double bookings, or long wait times. The good news is there are tools built just for this kind of work. They help keep your calendar full, your team in sync, and your business on track without needing to keep everything in your head or scribbled on a notepad. Each software below offers something different. Whether you run a small studio or manage multiple stylists, there's a match for you.

What Is the Best Scheduling and Management Software for Beauty Businesses?

Fresha

Fresha is one of the few tools that doesn't ask for a monthly fee, which makes it an easy choice for small salons or solo professionals who want solid features without recurring costs. It covers all the basics—online booking, appointment reminders, client notes, retail sales, and inventory tracking.

Clients can book through your website or the Fresha marketplace, and their interface makes rebooking just as simple as the first visit. You only pay when a brand-new client books through their platform. The dashboard gives a clear overview of your day, and the automatic reminders help cut no-shows without you needing to follow up manually.

Vagaro

Vagaro is built for businesses that expect to grow or already have a few moving parts to manage. It offers tools not just for scheduling but also for classes, memberships, payroll, and detailed business reports. If your salon offers multiple services—from facials to fitness classes—Vagaro can keep them all under one roof.

The app supports video consultations, mobile check-ins, and even fitness tracking for wellness businesses. The calendar view is clean, and switching between staff schedules or service types takes just a click. It also lets you customize your booking page with your own branding, which is a nice touch for businesses trying to maintain a certain image.

GlossGenius

GlossGenius is geared toward solo professionals who want something sleek, modern, and easy to use. The design is polished, and the app feels like it's made for people who care about style—perfect for beauty. It handles payments, booking, and client notes and even offers a customizable website that you can use to show off your services.

What stands out most is how fast everything works—appointments are easy to book, confirmations go out automatically, and payments are processed quickly without needing to open other apps. There’s also a built-in analytics feature that shows which services are your best-sellers and when you’re busiest.

Square Appointments

If you're already using Square for payments, Square Appointments can feel like a natural next step. It syncs with your Square system, so you can handle booking, payment, and even tipping from one place. It includes no-show protection, waitlist options, and automated texts. You can also charge cancellation fees or ask for a card on file.

The system works well for businesses with a steady flow of appointments, and the mobile app means you don’t need to be tied to a computer. It’s a good choice if you want something dependable, especially if taking payments is a big part of your daily routine.

Boulevard

Boulevard is designed for premium salons and spas that want their client experience to be just as polished as their services. This software goes beyond the basics with smart scheduling tools that adjust to each staff member’s timing and pace. It can even make room for late arrivals or last-minute appointments without causing a scheduling mess.

Boulevard also offers advanced reporting, marketing tools, and client segmentation features so you can tailor offers or reminders. It doesn’t come cheap, but for businesses that want to impress from start to finish, Boulevard has the right mix of function and style.

Acuity Scheduling

Acuity Scheduling is straightforward and fast. It’s often used by professionals across many industries, but it works especially well for beauty services that don’t need all the bells and whistles. You can create custom forms for clients, offer add-ons to services, and send reminders without lifting a finger. It integrates smoothly with calendars like Google or iCal, so everything stays in sync.

If you’re someone who prefers to set things up once and not think about it again, Acuity makes it easy to do just that. The platform feels light but dependable, which is great for those who want minimal fuss.

How to Use Fresha Like a Pro

Once you’ve signed up and set your business hours, the first thing to do on Fresha is create your service list with clear names, durations, and pricing. Add your team members and assign them the services they offer. Upload a logo or photo to make your booking profile feel personal, and link your Fresha calendar to your website or social pages. Don’t forget to turn on appointment reminders—they’re automated but customizable. Set up client intake forms if you want to gather specific info before visits. And while you’re at it, make use of Fresha’s built-in reviews feature. Clients can leave feedback right after appointments, which helps bring in new bookings without any extra effort.

To stay organized day to day, use the calendar view to track gaps in your schedule and the reports section to see how business is trending. You can mark no-shows, collect payments, and restock inventory—all from the same dashboard. If a client hasn't visited in a while, Fresha will gently nudge you to follow up. These small features help you stay on top of your business without feeling overwhelmed. The more consistently you use it, the easier it gets. Over time, it almost becomes your daily routine.

Conclusion

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to choosing the right scheduling and management software for a beauty business. It depends on how you work, how many people are on your team, and what kind of client experience you want to offer. Some tools keep it simple and clean, while others give you deeper features to run every part of your business from a single dashboard. What matters most is that it makes your day easier, not more complicated. Start with what fits your current needs, and make sure it’s something you’ll actually enjoy using—because the smoother your system runs, the more time you’ll have to focus on your clients.