You Don’t Need 5 Apps to Get Paid: Busting Myths on Salon and Spa Payments

Square for checkout. Venmo for tips. Dubsado for invoices. QuickBooks for taxes. Cherry for Buy Now Pay Later. Tracking expenses in excel. Does this sound like a typical day at your salon or spa? It doesn’t have to be! In fact, bouncing between a dizzying array of apps just to get paid and manage your salon or spa's finances can not only lead to inefficiencies, but result in lost profits and wasted time. 

If you’ve been wondering if there’s a better way, we’ve got good news: there is. 

This article will bust the myth that you need a separate tool for every payment type. Through this comprehensive guide, we’ll explain how a single, integrated platform can revolutionize your operations, from bookings and checkouts to invoices and advanced payment options, saving you time, money, and administrative headaches.

Running a business is hard enough, but the right tool can make it easier. 

Why using multiple apps for your business can be a problem

Your booking site is down. Your stockouts never got reordered. You’re missing payments. You’re on hold with three different customer service reps for three different management apps, all while clients are in your lobby, patiently waiting for their services. If this is already what a regular day at your self-care business is like – or you’d rather prevent this scenario from happening altogether – then you need a system that can handle it all. 

Fragmented systems can impact your professional growth and lead to a number of issues: 

• Time drain: Manual data entry is prone to human error. Trying to toggle back and forth between different apps, documents, and interfaces can increase the chances of making mistakes and exacerbating reconciliation issues. 
• Hidden costs: Each app comes with its own subscription fees, some of which can lead to surprise charges for certain features or use. Paying a la carte for each platform also means you may miss out on bundles or savings. 
• Data silos: Separate databases prevent a clear, unified view of revenue and performance, leading to an increase in errors, forgotten payments, and inaccurate reporting.
• Fragmented client experience: Customers love a smooth, streamlined experience that requires little to no effort on their part. Paying for a service with a credit card and then having to switch over to another third-party app just to tip can be a hassle. While you don’t want to stand over your clients while they figure out their percentages, there’s also a chance they may leave your establishment and forget. 
• Chasing payments: Do you really want to spend your days chasing after money owed or consistently leaving money on the table due to manual tracking errors and delayed payments? 

Common misconceptions about needing multiple apps

You don’t actually need an app for every thing – not when one app comes with everything you need. Here, we lay out a few common misconceptions about using multiple apps to manage your business. 

Booking tools can’t handle payment processing

While it’s true not every point-of-sale (POS) system is also equipped with features like appointment reminders or client profiles, there are a few all-in-one platforms on the market specifically designed to support every facet of your salon or spa business. You especially shouldn’t need multiple apps to manage different kinds of payments, either. Whether you swipe, dip, or tap, there should only ever be one tool to handle them all. 

Standalone apps offer better rates

Subscribing to multiple apps means you’ve got multiple charges coming in every month – $5 here, $15 there – they may seem like small amounts initially, but they can start to add up over time, especially when you need more features or want to expand your team. 

Migrating data is too complicated

Moving everything into a singular system isn’t as daunting as it seems. It can take a bit of effort, but is ultimately worth the payoff of having your most crucial tools unified under one roof. In some cases, the right platform can even help do this for you. 

Save time and prevent admin headaches with an all-in-one payment system 

Software has come a long way in terms of managing payments and other financial data for your salon or spa business. One great, comprehensive system can completely change the game for your operations and lead to a variety of benefits: 

• Clean organization: A unified system simplifies admin and saves time. With booking, payments, and client management all in one place, you can streamline your day-to-day without the need to juggle tools or toggle between apps. 
• Boosted efficiency: Auto-calculate sales tax, expenses, costs, earnings, and reconcile with payroll all from one platform, making tax season a breeze. No manual math or gathering endless stacks of documents required.
• Cost savings: Get a more transparent view of payment processing rates to better avoid hidden charges or sneaky fees you may overlook from juggling several different subscriptions. 
• Financial clarity: Unlock powerful insights with payment data that syncs across your business, giving you a clear view of revenue, costs, and profitability – plus valuable insights on top clients, spending habits, and more to help understand your financial health and inform future decisions. Plus, the right app will let you set and track earning goals that update in real-time so you’re never behind on where you stand. 

GlossGenius Payments: your complete solution for every transaction

GlossGenius is an ideal solution for all things payments, starting with comprehensive payment acceptance. With GlossGenius, you can offer a variety of payment methods such as chip or tap for in-person purchases, Plus, additional methods like Apple Pay, Google Pay, Buy Now Pay Later (Affirm, Afterpay, and Klarna), or card-on-file, making it simple to take payments from any device and anywhere – whether that’s in the chair, at the front desk, or on the go. You can choose from sleek hardware options with our Tap and Go or Pro Reader, or use Tap to Pay for iOS and Android with just a phone, no extra hardware needed. Got a walk-in or retail purchase you need to ring up? GlossGenius has you covered with Quick Sale to help process transactions fast. 

And with a low, flat processing rate of 2.6%, you never have to worry about surprise charges or overpaying on transaction fees for Tap to Pay, card-on-file, or manual entry methods. 

GlossGenius also offers ways to protect your revenue and help your business grow. And the best part? You can do all of this from your phone, laptop, or tablet, with all of your data always synced to one place to provide a convenient way to track your success. 

Some other benefits of GlossGenius include: 

• Less wasted time and money dealing with no-shows and fraud using built-in deposits, card-on-file rules, custom cancellation policies, and 100% chargeback protection. GlossGenius is also PCI compliant, and offers live support to its users. 
• Free same-business-day transfers and instant payouts in under 1 minute so you never have to suffer through a holiday or weekend without your hard-earned cash. 
• Automatic rebooking reminders at checkout (that you can customize) to keep your calendar packed and increase client retention.
• Google review requests included in every receipt to capture your client testimonials, boost your reputation, and entice new customers to your door. 
• Synced inventory in real-time to keep your product stock automatically updated after every checkout so you never have to worry about stockouts or over-ordering. 
• Targeted marketing campaigns advertising services to your most valuable clients based on their booking and purchase history. 
• Robust staff management tools that allow you to monitor top performers by retention, new clients, and retail sales.
• Separate bank accounts for booth renters, so everyone’s finances stay organized. 
• Plus, every payment you process boosts your eligibility for financing (up to $250k) to reinvest in your business growth. 

GlossGenius Invoices: seamless payments for every scenario

GlossGenius Invoices completes the payments suite, giving you the flexibility of a standalone invoicing tool without needing to add another platform. It empowers users to easily create, customize, and deliver digital invoices, making payment requests clear and efficient for clients, while also providing them the freedom to pay from their own devices. 

Ready to take advantage of GlossGenius Invoices? Here’s how it works:  

• Easy creation: Navigate to the Invoices page through the GlossGenius app and click "Create invoice”. Fill in all the required information (client name, date of service, items purchased, deposit, due date). 
• Flexible sending and payment: Once you’ve created your invoice, you can save as a draft or send directly to the client via text or email. The client receives a notification including a GG-hosted link they can follow to your branded website to send secure payments. 
• Effortless Management: You can filter your invoices by status, allowing you to easily search through and manage your payments, send reminders for upcoming payments due, or void invoices altogether. 

You can use invoices for any service, but some of the most common uses include: 

• For custom jobs or services where payment isn’t collected on the spot, such as bridal makeup deposits
• When custom materials require upfront payment, like ordering special hair extensions so they’re delivered in time for the appointment
• When you need to charge a no-show fee to a client without a card on file
• When clients want to order products between appointments
• To offer itemized breakdowns or a buy now, pay later schedule to maintain a smooth client experience 

Say goodbye to wasted time chasing payments and potential money left on the table with itemized bills and automated follow-ups, which keep your business looking professional no matter how clients decide to pay. Plus, GlossGenius lets you track invoices at a glance, so you can always get paid on time. 

Simplify your salon payments, maximize your potential

An app that can handle your bookings and your payroll? That can manage your inventory and your staff schedule? That can migrate your data from your old platform and keep it search-friendly? It’s not unheard of. It’s GlossGenius. 

With both your revenue and reputation on the line, juggling multiple apps to manage your payments is far too risky a gambit. However, with a unified system like GlossGenius, you never have to worry about any of your data being out of reach – everything about your business is right there at your fingertips, just a click away. 

Disclaimer: This information is provided for general educational purposes only. For legal, cybersecurity, or compliance advice specific to your business or situation, please consult a professional.

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