10 Best Salon Accounting Software To Manage Your Finances

Key takeaways

• The best salon accounting software combines financial tracking, payroll management, and tax tools in one platform designed specifically for beauty, wellness, and health businesses
• Pricing typically runs $7.99–$375 per month, plus payment processing fees of about 2.19%–3.5% per transaction depending on the provider
• When payment fees feel unpredictable and keep chipping away at your profit, a flat rate makes budgeting (and growth) so much easier. GlossGenius delivers a comprehensive salon-specific solution with a predictable flat processing rate, helping businesses save an average of $8,000 annually on processing fees (GlossGenius platform data).
• Look for software with automated tax calculations, commission tracking for staff, and integrations with your existing booking system to reduce admin time

What is salon accounting software?

Salon accounting software is specialized financial management tools designed for beauty, wellness, and health businesses to track income, manage payroll, and handle tax obligations. Unlike general accounting software like QuickBooks or Xero, these platforms understand the unique financial complexities of running a salon, spa, or medspa.

The core capabilities include:

• Income and expense tracking across services, retail, and tips
• Commission-based payroll that automatically calculates staff earnings
• Tax management for 1099 contractors and quarterly filings
• Inventory tracking for retail products and professional supplies
• Financial reporting with salon-specific metrics like revenue per service
• Integrated payment processing that connects transactions to your books automatically

Salon accounting software vs. general accounting software

General accounting software like QuickBooks and Xero can technically work for salons, but they require significant customization. You'll spend hours setting up commission structures, tip tracking, and contractor payment workflows that salon-specific tools handle out of the box.

Salon accounting software understands that your stylists might earn hourly wages plus commission plus tips — all in the same pay period. It knows that booth renters need 1099s while employees need W-2s. These nuances matter when tax season arrives.

Who needs salon accounting software?

Independent stylists and booth renters managing their own books benefit from simple, affordable options that track income and expenses without complexity.

Small salons with 2–10 staff need commission tracking, basic payroll, and financial reporting to understand profitability by staff member.

Growing salons with 10+ staff require robust payroll automation, inventory management, and multi-location support as operations scale.

Multi-location businesses need centralized financial oversight with location-specific reporting and enterprise-level controls.

If you're still tracking finances in spreadsheets, you're likely spending 10+ hours weekly on admin that software could handle automatically.

Quick comparison: Best salon accounting software at a glance

Leading options include GlossGenius, FreshBooks, Vagaro, and Mangomint, each suited to different business sizes and priorities.

How much does salon accounting software cost?

Most platforms cost between $7.99 and $375 per month, plus processing fees of roughly 2.19%–3.5% per transaction. Your total cost depends on business size, required features, and transaction volume.

Subscription pricing models

1. Basic tier ($7.99–$35/month): Simple bookkeeping, expense tracking, and basic reporting. Best for independent stylists tracking income and expenses.
2. Mid-range tier ($24–$99/month): Adds payroll, commission tracking, inventory management, and integrated payments. Suitable for small to medium salons with staff.
3. Premium tier ($165–$375/month): Enterprise features including multi-location support, advanced analytics, API access, and dedicated support. Designed for growing and established businesses.

Most platforms charge per location rather than per user, though some add fees for additional staff calendars. Annual billing typically saves 10–20% compared to monthly payments.

Payment processing fees compared

Processing fees often exceed subscription costs for busy salons. A business processing $20,000 monthly pays $400–$700 in processing fees alone.

GlossGenius's fixed rate with no per-transaction fee makes costs predictable regardless of average ticket size, and it reports meaningful annual savings versus fee-heavy processors (GlossGenius platform data).

Hidden costs to watch out for

Beyond advertised pricing, watch for these common add-on charges:

• Setup or onboarding fees ranging from $0 to $500+
• Cancellation fees or long-term contract requirements
• Per-user fees for additional staff calendars ($9–$20/month each)
• Payroll add-ons charged separately from base subscriptions
• Hardware costs for card readers and terminals ($0–$300+)
• Marketing feature upgrades for email campaigns or text messaging
• Premium support tiers for priority assistance

When software becomes a stack of add-ons and surprise charges, planning becomes harder and admin work expands. GlossGenius includes payroll, marketing tools, and unlimited appointment reminders in its subscription plans with no hidden fees.

What to look for in salon accounting software

Prioritize automated tax calculations, commission-based payroll, built-in payments, and strong financial reporting. Use the criteria below to assess each one:

Price and value

Cost matters, but value matters more. A $24/month platform that saves 10+ hours weekly on admin delivers better ROI than a $7.99 option requiring manual workarounds.

Look for transparent pricing with no hidden fees. Understand what's included at each tier versus what costs extra. Many solutions offer free trials — use them to test whether the software actually reduces your workload.

Data security and compliance

You're storing sensitive client information, payment details, and employee records. Your software must have robust security protections.

Select established platforms fully compliant with PCI standards for payment data. If you operate a medspa handling health information, HIPAA compliance becomes essential. Verify the provider's data encryption, backup procedures, and breach notification policies.

Core accounting features

At minimum, your software needs complete income and expense tracking. This includes tools to capture daily sales, process payments, organize receipts and invoices, track payroll and inventory, calculate taxes, and run financial reports.

Top systems connect bank and credit card transactions automatically, eliminating manual data entry. Look for automatic categorization that learns your spending patterns over time.

Tax management and 1099 support

Most stylists qualify as independent contractors, requiring specialized 1099 tax forms. Filing quarterly salon taxes can be extremely confusing and time-consuming.

The strongest platforms reduce this burden by auto-calculating payroll taxes and estimated quarterly payments. Some support direct e-file integration with government agencies. If you have booth renters, ensure the platform tracks their payments separately for year-end 1099 generation.

Integration capabilities

Your accounting software shouldn't exist in isolation. Choose programs offering abundant third-party app integrations.

Connect to payment processors for POS transactions. Integrate booking systems to sync appointment data with revenue. Link ecommerce platforms for unified inventory control. Tools like Zapier enable custom integrations with hundreds of additional apps.

If you're already using QuickBooks or Xero for business accounting, verify the salon software can export data in compatible formats.

Ease of use

Even the most powerful program fails if your staff finds it too complex to adopt. Prioritize solutions with intuitive interfaces that minimize learning curves.

Look for mobile optimization so you can check finances from anywhere. Role-based dashboards let staff see only what they need. Customizable features mean you're not forced into workflows that don't match how you operate.

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10 best salon accounting software options in 2026

As an overall pick, GlossGenius pairs comprehensive financial tools with a predictable flat processing rate that saves businesses an average of $8,000 annually (GlossGenius platform data). Here's our complete breakdown of the top options:

1. GlossGenius
2. Salon Accounting
3. FreshBooks
4. Mindbody
5. Vagaro
6. Meevo
7. Phorest
8. Mangomint
9. Acuity Scheduling
10. DaySmart

1. GlossGenius

GlossGenius is an all-in-one option for businesses that want to grow revenue while reducing admin work. GlossGenius is designed for a fast learning curve, with a modern interface and mobile-first workflows built for beauty, wellness, and health businesses. Many customers report about +26% first-year revenue growth (GlossGenius platform data).

What sets GlossGenius apart is how beautifully its financial tools integrate for a unified salon workflow. When your finances are scattered across tools, you lose hours stitching together numbers and second-guessing what's accurate. GlossGenius uniquely consolidates payments, expense tracking, and custom analytics into one salon-focused system.

When statements don't match what you expected and receipts pile up, it's too easy to lose time (and money) cleaning up the details. GlossGenius offers a transparent fixed processing rate with no surprises on your statement, plus robust expense digitization and interactive reports depicting granular business metrics from multiple angles.

Real results: KrisColorsHair doubled their revenue and achieved a 99% client rebooking rate using GlossGenius's integrated financial and booking tools.

When you're buried in DMs, manual booking, and endless admin, it's hard to stay focused on the work that actually brings in revenue. GlossGenius was created specifically for beauty, wellness, and health to solve those pain points with booking management, client records, inventory control, and staff payroll—connected in one platform that automates tiresome administrative tasks.

Find easy tools to capture daily sales, process payments, track invoices, manage payroll, organize receipts, calculate taxes, and run detailed financial reports.

GlossGenius notable features

• Complete accounting suite with automated reporting
• Built-in payroll with commission and tip tracking
• Inventory management with barcode scanning
• Same-business-day deposits at no extra cost
• Tax assistance and 1099 support
• Full-featured mobile app

Pros

• Fixed processing rate can reduce annual processing costs substantially (GlossGenius platform data)
• All-in-one platform eliminates need for multiple subscriptions
• Intuitive interface designed specifically for beauty, wellness, and health businesses
• No hidden fees or surprise charges

Cons

• May have more features than independent stylists need
• Requires commitment to integrated ecosystem for full benefits

GlossGenius pricing

GlossGenius offers transparent pricing starting at $24/month for the Standard plan. This includes all core financial features plus unlimited appointment reminders and client notifications.

The Gold plan starts at $48/month and adds waitlist management, liability waivers, and advanced marketing tools. The Platinum plan starts at $148/month and includes priority support and enterprise features for growing businesses.

Payment processing uses a flat 2.6% rate with no per-transaction fees; with reported annual processing savings, the ROI can be immediate (GlossGenius platform data).

2. Salon Accounting

Salon Accounting is purpose-built bookkeeping software for beauty businesses on a tight budget. The platform streamlines income and expense tracking while simplifying quarterly sales tax payments.

Upload receipts to securely store them within the app and easily integrate your bank account for real-time accounting. Salon Accounting also provides financial reports to help you make informed business decisions.

If you need appointment scheduling, Salon Accounting offers this service as an additional module.

Salon Accounting notable features

• Easy income and expense tracking
• Connect bank and credit card accounts to auto-import transactions
• Mobile receipt scanning for on-the-go expense organization
• Quarterly sales tax reminders with estimated payments calculated
• Optional appointment scheduling integration

Pros

• Most affordable option at $7.99/month for basic features
• Simple interface focused on core bookkeeping needs
• Good for independent stylists tracking basic finances

Cons

• Limited features compared to all-in-one platforms
• Appointment scheduling costs extra
• No integrated payment processing

Salon Accounting pricing

This software is affordably priced at $7.99 per month for basic financials. Adding appointment scheduling raises the cost to $14.99 per month. Quarterly tax preparation features come in at $21.99 per month.

3. FreshBooks

FreshBooks is a popular general accounting software option that can work well for salons needing robust bookkeeping capabilities. With abundant tutorials and responsive customer support, it's a solid choice for an intuitive yet full-featured accounting system.

FreshBooks enables growing beauty businesses to start with basic financials like invoicing, expenses, and reporting. You can then scale capabilities as needed — upgrading to advanced bookkeeping, bill pay, mileage tracking, inventory control, and more.

FreshBooks notable features

• Double-entry accounting following GAAP standards
• Customizable chart of accounts and advanced bookkeeping
• Accounts payable with bill and vendor management
• Inventory management tracking stock, sales, and cost of goods sold
• Expenses and mileage tracking
• Bank reconciliation automation and reporting

Pros

• Widely used with extensive support resources
• Scales from basic to advanced accounting needs
• Strong invoicing and accounts receivable features

Cons

• Not salon-specific — requires manual setup for commissions
• No integrated booking or scheduling
• Payment processing at 2.9% + $0.30 is higher than salon-specific options

FreshBooks pricing

FreshBooks offers three transparent pricing tiers: Lite at $23/month for up to 5 clients, Plus at $43/month for up to 50 clients, and Premium at $70/month for unlimited clients. Payment processing runs 2.9% + $0.30 for standard transactions.

4. Mindbody

Mindbody is a comprehensive option for larger wellness businesses already using their booking software. The accounting features integrate seamlessly for unified financial management.

You get access to the Mindbody Marketplace, where consumers search for services. Additional features like AI chatbot support and marketing automation expand Mindbody's feature set beyond scheduling and payments.

Founded in 2001, Mindbody provides wellness businesses with specialized software covering almost every operational area. They also offer financing options through Mindbody Capital, which provides merchant cash advances with no interest, no applications, and no credit checks — just a flat fee — to help beauty entrepreneurs grow.

Mindbody notable features

• Robust reporting dashboard showing key salon metrics
• Sales reporting with income breakdowns by service, product, employee, and location
• Payroll management with shift scheduling and overtime tracking
• Staff performance metrics
• Inventory monitoring with automated reorder alerts
• Payments that sync directly to reporting and records

Pros

• Comprehensive all-in-one platform for large operations
• Marketplace exposure to millions of potential clients
• Strong brand recognition in wellness industry
• Unlimited users included — no per-user charges as you build your team

Cons

• Starting price of $99/month per location is higher than most alternatives
• Higher processing rates compared to some competitors (2.99% + $0.30 card present; 3.60% + $0.30 online)
• Can be complex for smaller operations

Mindbody pricing

Mindbody pricing starts at $99 USD/month per location for the Starter plan. Your subscription price increases based on adding new locations, not adding new people to existing locations. Payment processing runs 2.99% + $0.30 for card-present transactions (tap, dip, or swipe) and 3.60% + $0.30 for online and manual entry payments. Processing is available with no monthly fees, no minimums, and industry-leading fraud detection tools. Businesses on the Starter plan or higher may qualify for a discount based on processing volume. All prices are VAT/GST exclusive.

5. Vagaro

Vagaro provides comprehensive financial tools integrated with their appointment booking app at a budget-friendly price point. The platform focuses primarily on scheduling but includes solid accounting features for small businesses.

You'll have access to reporting, payroll management, and credit card processing. Vagaro also offers a marketplace to help you gain new clients.

Vagaro notable features

• Intuitive calendar and booking app
• Accounting and bookkeeping suite
• Custom reports for sales, payments, payroll, and inventory
• Integrated payroll with commission tracking ($34/month plus $5 per employee)

• Rent collection tools with recurring booth charges and deductions

Pros

• Low monthly subscription cost
• Competitive processing rates for high-volume businesses
• Good marketplace for client acquisition
• 30-day free trial to test the platform

Cons

• Processing rates vary based on volume (2.2% + $0.19 for under $4,000/month; 2.6% + $0.10 for over $4,000/month)

• Keyed-in transactions charged at higher 3.5% + $0.15 rate
• Additional $0.06 fee for Tap to Pay transactions on top of base rate
• Payroll is an additional cost of $34/month plus $5 per employee (US businesses only)

Vagaro pricing

Software plans start at $23.99 per month for one bookable calendar. Additional staff calendars cost $10/month each. Payment processing runs 2.2% + $0.19 per dip and tap for transactions under $4,000/month, or 2.6% + $0.10 per dip and tap for transactions over $4,000/month, plus an additional $10/mo fee. Tap to Pay purchases cost an additional $0.06 per transaction. Keyed-in transactions are charged at 3.5% + $0.15. Vagaro Payroll is available for US businesses at an additional cost of $34/month plus $5 per employee.

6. Meevo

Meevo is salon management software with a broad feature set that includes bookkeeping and reporting capabilities. The platform is tailored specifically for hair salons, spas, and medspas.

Security controls support compliance and help protect client data. Meevo is a 100% HIPAA-compliant platform, making it particularly suitable for medspas handling sensitive health information.

The platform includes 150+ reports in the base package for budgeting, forecasting, and financial analysis.

Meevo notable features

• Easy tax tools with sales tax tracking
• Custom sales reports by staff, service, and products
• Salon performance metric tracking (KPIs)
• Client retention reports
• HIPAA-compliant data handling
• Goal setting with automatic calculations and employee Goals Dashboard

Pros

• 150+ built-in reports for comprehensive analysis
• HIPAA compliance for medspas
• Strong security and data protection
• AI-powered features including natural language commands via Convobar® and AI booking assistant

Cons

• Custom pricing requires sales consultation
• Subscriptions are based on annual contracts with 30-day notice required
• May be more complex than smaller salons need

Meevo pricing

Meevo uses custom pricing based on business size and needs. Subscriptions are based on an annual contract, with a Monthly Subscription Plan requiring just a 30-day notice, and an Annual Subscription Plan requiring 30-day notice by the 11th month. Embedded payments with transparent, competitive rates are available as an additional subscription. Contact their sales team for specific quotes.

Related Reads: Top 10 Best Meevo Alternatives for Salons

7. Phorest

Phorest is salon management software originating from Europe with international feature support for businesses operating across regions. With thousands of spas and salons served worldwide, they offer extensive international features.

Founded in 2002 in Dublin, Phorest set out to transform the salon experience through better booking and business management systems. Financial tools are seamlessly built-in to remove bookkeeping headaches.

Phorest notable features

• Sales reporting for services, retail, payments, and cancellations
• Stock management with orders, transfers, consumption, and wastage tracking
• Staff productivity and ranking reports
• Client retention rate tracking with advanced retention dashboard
• Salon growth forecasting based on KPI analytics
• HIPAA-compliant digital consultation forms
• Goal setting with real-time tracking via PhorestGo app

Pros

• Strong presence in European and global markets
• Free training for life — comprehensive onboarding and additional training sessions at no extra cost, including for new staff
• Good for salons with 3+ staff
• All plans include tailored system setup with data import of clients, staff, services, products, and more

Cons

• Pricing not publicly disclosed — no free trial offered
• Card terminal requires $30/month access fee
• May be overkill for very small operations

Phorest pricing

Phorest offers tiered solutions designed for salons and medspas with 3+ staff. Payment processing runs 1.4% + $0.10 per transaction plus a $30/month card terminal access fee. Phorest does not offer a free trial but provides full demos at a time that suits you. Contact their sales team for custom quotes.

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8. Mangomint

Mangomint is a cloud-based solution that supports salon bookkeeping with an emphasis on modern interface design and automation features. The software receives strong reviews for its intuitive interface.

As an all-in-one system built specifically for salons and spas, Mangomint offers effective financial tools from payroll processing to custom sales analysis reporting.

Mangomint notable features

• Easy income and expense tracking
• Intelligent automation for repetitive tasks via Automated Flows
• Clean, modern interface design
• Mobile-friendly for on-the-go management
• Free data import and 1:1 onboarding assistance
• Built-in payroll processing ($50/month + $8 per worker)

Pros

• Highly rated user interface and experience
• Strong automation capabilities
• Cancel anytime with no long-term contracts
• Free data migration handled by a dedicated onboarding manager

Cons

• Higher starting price at $165/month
• Premium positioning may exceed budget for smaller salons
• Fewer marketplace features than some competitors

Mangomint pricing

Plans range from $165 to $375 monthly depending on staff count. The Essentials plan at $165/month works for smaller teams, while Standard at $245/month and Unlimited at $375/month serve larger operations. Payment processing runs 2.45% + $0.15 for in-person transactions and 2.90% + $0.20 for virtual transactions. Businesses processing over $50k/month may qualify for custom rates. Payroll processing is available as an add-on at $50/month plus $8 per worker.

9. Acuity Scheduling

Acuity Scheduling is a popular general-purpose appointment booking app with helpful financial capabilities through integrations. This is a scheduling-first platform rather than a native accounting software option.

Easily connect to Zapier, Stripe, Square, PayPal, or Google Analytics. This can support syncing and exporting data between tools. The platform works well for businesses that want to keep their existing accounting software while adding better scheduling.

Acuity Scheduling notable features

• Income tracking through payment integrations
• Expense management via QuickBooks Online integration
• Partial and advance payments support
• Loyalty tools and packages
• Branded scheduling pages

Pros

• Affordable starting price at $20/month
• Extensive third-party integrations
• Good for businesses with existing accounting systems

Cons

• Not a standalone accounting solution
• Requires separate software for full bookkeeping
• Payment processing handled through third parties

Acuity Scheduling pricing

Monthly rates start at $20 for the Emerging plan (1 calendar), $34 for Growing (6 calendars), and $61 for Powerhouse (36 calendars). Annual billing saves 20%. No credit card required for the 7-day free trial.

10. DaySmart

DaySmart Salon software aims to be an all-in-one beauty business platform incorporating financial tools alongside booking and marketing. The company claims users can save up to 6 hours per week on administrative tasks.

This platform works with both independent contractors and full-service salons. They offer online booking, POS, automated marketing, and more from one system.

DaySmart notable features

• Accounting capabilities with built-in reports
• Attentive customer support
• Product inventory, cost, and distribution tracking
• Automated marketing tools
• Online booking integration
• AI-powered Business Advisor for data-driven decisions in plain language
• Simple website builder with AI-assisted content creation

Pros

• Reasonable starting price at $29/month
• Claims significant time savings on admin
• Works for both independents and full salons
• Free data migration included with all plans
• 14-day free trial available (DaySmart Spa)

Cons

• Per-user fees add up for larger teams ($9/month each additional user)
• Processing rates not publicly disclosed
• Interface may feel dated compared to newer options

DaySmart pricing

Plans start at $29/month for the Basic plan. Deluxe runs $69/month with 3 users included ($9/month each additional). Deluxe Growth is $149/month. Premium is $199/month with 6 users included ($9/month each additional). Premium Growth offers unlimited users with contact-for-pricing. All plans include free data migration.

Best salon accounting software by business size

The right choice depends on business size: individual beauty business owners often want simplicity, while growing teams need stronger payroll and multi-user controls.

Best for independent stylists and booth renters

Top pick: GlossGenius Standard (starting at $24/month)

Independent stylists need software that tracks income and expenses without overwhelming complexity. GlossGenius Standard provides complete financial tracking, payment processing at a predictable flat rate, and automated appointment reminders — everything an individual business owner needs to look professional and stay organized.

Budget alternative: Salon Accounting ($7.99/month)

If you're strictly focused on bookkeeping without needing integrated payments or scheduling, Salon Accounting offers the basics at the lowest price point.

Best for small salons (2–10 staff)

Top pick: GlossGenius Gold (starting at $48/month)

Small salons with staff need commission tracking, team scheduling, and payroll capabilities. GlossGenius Gold includes all Standard features plus waitlist management, liability waivers, and tools to manage multiple service providers.

The built-in payroll handles commissions, tips, and hourly pay automatically — no manual calculations or separate payroll subscriptions required.

Budget alternative: Vagaro ($23.99/month + $10/staff)

Vagaro offers solid team management at a lower base price, though costs increase with each additional calendar and processing rates vary based on volume.

Best for growing and multi-location salons

Top pick: GlossGenius Platinum (starting at $148/month)

Growing businesses need scalability, advanced reporting, and priority support. GlossGenius Platinum delivers enterprise-level features while maintaining the intuitive interface that makes daily operations smooth.

Premium alternative: Mangomint ($165–$375/month)

For salons prioritizing interface design and willing to invest in premium software, Mangomint offers strong automation and a polished user experience.

Enterprise alternative: Phorest or Meevo (custom pricing)

Multi-location operations with complex needs may benefit from Phorest's global capabilities or Meevo's HIPAA compliance for medspas. Both require custom quotes.

How to choose the right salon accounting software

To choose a platform, weigh budget, staff size, required integrations, and any must-haves like commission tracking or multi-location support.

Questions to ask before choosing

Before committing to any platform, work through these evaluation questions:

• What's my monthly budget for software subscriptions and payment processing combined?
• How many staff members need access to scheduling and financial tools?
• Do I need integrated payroll or will I handle that separately?
• What's my average transaction size and monthly processing volume?
• Do I need multi-location support now or in the near future?
• What existing tools (QuickBooks, booking apps, marketing platforms) must integrate?
• How important is mobile access for managing finances on the go?
• Do I have HIPAA compliance requirements for medspa services?

Making the switch: What to expect

Transitioning from spreadsheets or another platform typically takes 1–2 weeks. The switch usually includes:

1. Week 1: Import your client list, set up services and pricing, and connect your bank account for automatic transaction syncing.
2. Week 2: Train staff on the new system, run parallel operations if needed, and verify financial data is tracking correctly.

GlossGenius offers free data transfer service and dedicated onboarding support to make the transition smooth. Many teams are fully operational within days rather than weeks.

The key is committing to the new system rather than maintaining old habits. Once your staff sees how much time automated features save, adoption happens naturally.

Grow your salon with the right financial foundation

After reviewing all these options, the right choice depends on your specific situation. All tools aim to organize finances, but notable differentiators in reporting, automation, payment processing, and customization reveal which is ideal for your operation.

For a complete all-in-one accounting and insights system purpose-built for beauty, wellness, and health businesses, GlossGenius stands out. With +75% client retention rates, +26% first-year revenue growth, and $8,000+ in annual processing savings (GlossGenius platform data), the platform delivers measurable results.

The integrated singular platform concentrates essential ownership tasks and creates welcomed simplicity. GlossGenius elevates and combines critical components to facilitate salon success.

Start your free 14-day trial to experience a uniquely unified financial services ecosystem — no credit card required.

Stripe Capital offers financing types that include loans and merchant cash advances. All financing applications are subject to review prior to approval. In the US, Stripe Capital loans are issued by Celtic Bank and YouLend provides Stripe Capital merchant cash advances.

Frequently asked questions about salon accounting software

What is the best accounting software for a hair salon?

GlossGenius is the best accounting software for hair salons because it combines financial tracking, payment processing, and payroll in one platform designed specifically for beauty, wellness, and health businesses. The consistent flat-rate pricing and integrated booking tools eliminate the need for multiple subscriptions while helping businesses see an average of 26% revenue growth in their first year (GlossGenius platform data).

How much does salon accounting software cost?

Salon accounting software costs range from $7.99 to $375 per month depending on features and business size, plus payment processing fees typically between 2.19% and 3.5% per transaction. Basic bookkeeping tools start under $10/month, while comprehensive all-in-one platforms with payroll and marketing run $24–$165/month for most small to medium salons.

What is the difference between salon accounting software and salon bookkeeping software?

Salon accounting software and salon bookkeeping software are essentially the same thing, both referring to tools that track income, expenses, and financial transactions for beauty businesses. Some platforms use "bookkeeping" to describe basic expense tracking, while "accounting" may imply more comprehensive features like payroll, tax management, and financial reporting.

Do I need salon-specific accounting software or can I use QuickBooks?

You can use QuickBooks for basic salon accounting, but salon-specific software like GlossGenius handles industry-specific needs like commission tracking, tip management, and 1099 contractor payments more efficiently. General accounting software requires manual setup for commission structures and doesn't integrate with booking systems, meaning more administrative work for you.

What accounting features do salons need most?

Salons benefit most from income/expense tracking, commission-aware payroll, 1099 tax support, and payments that reconcile automatically. Additional valuable features include inventory tracking for retail products, financial reporting by service provider, and bank account connections for automatic transaction importing.

Is there free salon accounting software?

Fresha offers a salon management platform starting at $19.95/month for independent professionals with basic accounting features, though it charges payment processing fees of 2.29% + $0.20 per card-present transaction (plus $0.10 per Tap to Pay authorization). Fresha offers a 7-day free trial. Zolmi also offers a free tier with limited features. For most businesses, paid options like GlossGenius provide better value through lower processing rates and more comprehensive tools.

How do I track booth rental income in salon accounting software?

Most salon accounting software tracks booth rental income through recurring charge features that automatically deduct rent from stylists' earnings or invoice them separately each month. GlossGenius and Vagaro both offer rent collection tools with automatic deductions, making it easy to manage booth renter relationships without manual tracking.

What is the best POS system for a salon with accounting features?

GlossGenius offers the best salon POS system with integrated accounting, featuring a predictable percentage rate, automated financial reporting, and seamless connection between payments and bookkeeping. The platform processes payments while simultaneously updating your financial records, eliminating double-entry and reconciliation headaches.

Can salon accounting software handle payroll for commission-based employees?

Yes, salon accounting software like GlossGenius, Vagaro, and Mangomint includes payroll features that automatically calculate commissions, tips, and hourly pay for staff with mixed compensation structures. GlossGenius includes payroll in its subscription plans, while some competitors charge extra — for example, Vagaro Payroll costs $34/month plus $5 per employee, and Mangomint Payroll costs $50/month plus $8 per worker.

How do I switch from spreadsheets to salon accounting software?

Switching from spreadsheets to salon accounting software typically takes 1-2 weeks and involves importing your client list, setting up services and pricing, connecting your bank account, and training your staff on the new system. GlossGenius offers free data transfer service and dedicated onboarding support to make the transition smooth for businesses of any size.

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.

All prices and feature comparisons are as of February 2026. GlossGenius has no affiliation, sponsorship, or endorsement with the other companies mentioned in this article or their affiliates. All trademarks, logos, and brand names are used for identification purposes only and remain the property of their respective owners.