As a barber, we know you’re short for time, and we know that the thought of transitioning over to booking software could seem pretty overwhelming. That’s why you need software for your barbershop that is more than just a calendar, but actually, a reliable business partner.
But, why do I need a booking system?” We hear barbers up and down the nation ask the same questions. Sam, Lead Stylist from Daimon Barber in Stratford-Upon-Avon, discusses his top 5 reasons for why barbers need booking software.
1. Manage Your Time Better
*“A booking system not only enables you to book customers in for their trims and their hot towel shaves, it also enables you to help manage your time. With Vagaro, you can schedule time in your calendar for personal appointments, and can clearly state employee working hours & days, plus so much more!” *Says Sam.
2. Move with the Times: Go Digital!
Acquiring new customers enables your business to grow. But if you’re using a physical diary or other pen & paper methods to book, you’re actually limiting your potential, and it’s time to take the barbershop business plan back to the drawing board. No one wants to jump through hoops to complete a small task. Sam has a good point when he asks:
Wouldn’t you much rather focus on the people sitting in the chair in front of you than spend time scheduling appointments?
If you answered yes, make your job easier by going digital with the most efficient & effective software for your barbershop. Integrating new technology into your barbershop business plan may seem like a hassle, and perhaps an unnecessary one, but the benefits of using a platform like Vagaro far outweigh the initial transition from using pen & paper to digital tools. If you choose the right technology, making the switch can be easy, even for non-techies. Look for a platform that assists you from imports & training, all the way through to a customer service team that’s available whenever you need them.
3. Make it Easier for Clients
Clients, especially new ones, do not want to spend time calling a shop to gain more information about your list of barber services, or to find out how much you charge for a cut & shave.
Sam explains that *“acquiring a booking system takes all of those awkward conversations out of the picture.” *
The quality of your customer experience should be an integral part of your barbershop business plan, because it highly pertains to client retention. What’s more, happy customers make recommendations of exceptional businesses to their friends, so you want to make sure your customer raves about how easy you are to access! Hairdresser’s journal quotes that a huge “46% of bookings are made outside of business hours.” Simply put, if you don’t have an online booking system for your barbershop, you could potentially be losing out on a ton of business if you are not readily available to be booked.
4. Protect Your Income
It’s easy to forget appointments, but Vagaro allows me to send a text to my customers the day before, or even an hour before their appointment, and it has significantly reduced no-shows. If there are no-shows, the deposit helps protect any money lost from it.
You can also pay money out, as well as accept money in. Manage your payroll, rent collection and all your barbershop admin from your fingertips with Vagaro Pro.
5. Elevate your business
Sam knows a thing or two about taking business—and success—further by elevating the barbershop client experience. For him, it’s apparent that overall business health begins & ends with his clients, so making the process, from start to finish, as streamlined as possible has big payoffs.
Pen and paper just seems so old-school nowadays. Times have changed and you want to go along with them. The barbering industry has become a lot more high-end; men are much more accustomed to receiving a nice shave or a more luxurious treatment than just a haircut. It’s important to present your business as professionally as possible.
Now that you are completely clear on why you need to add barber booking software to your barbershop business plan. Start your 30-day Free trial today!
