labs@atheron:~/industries/salons-spas$ book --deposit --rebook --commission

Salon and spa apps

Fuller chairs, fewer no-shows.

No-shows leave chairs empty, the booking platform keeps your clients and charges per booking, and commission is worked out by hand every pay period. We build the booking apps, staff tools and dashboards that keep your book full and your clients yours, connected to the point of sale you already use.

Start a project See the example projects

// what you are up against

The problems we hear most.

Empty chairs from no-shows

A missed appointment is an hour of a stylist's time lost, and without deposits there is little to stop it happening again.

A platform that keeps the client

Rented booking platforms charge per booking or per seat, and the client list sits in their system, not yours.

Commission by hand

Service and retail commission is worked out from reports each pay period, and every stylist checks the figures.

Gift cards that stop at the door

An independent salon's gift card only works at one location, so it competes poorly with chains.

// example projects

Systems we could build for you.

Each one is hypothetical, labelled as such, and priced live from our rate card. Open any of them in the estimator and make it yours.

Example projectWeb appMobile app

Booking with deposits and memberships

Hypothetical. Not a client, not a result.

// The problem

A group of salons books through a rented platform, loses hours each week to no-shows, and cannot sell the monthly memberships its clients ask about.

// What we would build

A booking website and iOS and Android app in the salon's own brand: services and stylists chosen online, deposits and cancellation rules, rebooking reminders, memberships and packages, all connected to the point of sale.

// What is in it

Services, stylists and times booked online
Deposits and cancellation rules you set
Rebooking reminders timed to each service
Memberships and packages billed each month
Client records kept in your own database
Connected to your point of sale

// Stack

Next.js
React Native
PostgreSQL
Stripe
Point of sale interface
DigitalOcean

// estimate

Build: ≈ US$124,000 to US$190,000, delivered within 29 weeksCAD 176,700 to 270,200
Hosting: ≈ US$344 a monthCAD 490 a month
Support: ≈ US$2,500 a monthCAD 3,565 a month

Prices in your currency are estimates from today's Bank of Canada rate. All invoicing is in CAD or USD.

Timeline by milestone

Discovery: 2.9 to 3.4 weeks
Design approved: 8.4 to 14.4 weeks
Core features: 1.9 to 2.9 weeks
Full build: 0.9 to 1.9 weeks
First build on devices: 2.9 to 5.4 weeks
Testing and fixes: 0.4 to 0.9 weeks
Store submission: 0.9 to 1.4 weeks
Launch: 0.9 to 1.4 weeks

Outside our hands, and added to the calendar

App store review: 1 week
Interface access from your point of sale or booking vendor: 1 to 4 weeks

How it is paid

Deposit 20%: CAD 35,340 to 54,040
Discovery 9.2%: CAD 16,256.40 to 24,858.40
Design approved 9.2%: CAD 16,256.40 to 24,858.40
Core features 7.6%: CAD 13,429.20 to 20,535.20
Full build 5%: CAD 8,835 to 13,510
First build on devices 20.1%: CAD 35,516.70 to 54,310.20
Testing and fixes 2.5%: CAD 4,417.50 to 6,755.00
Store submission 6.7%: CAD 11,838.90 to 18,103.40
Launch 9.7%: CAD 17,139.90 to 26,209.40
Holdback, 30 days after launch (10%): CAD 17,670 to 27,020

Start from this example

Example projectWeb appMobile app

Staff app with schedule and commission

Hypothetical. Not a client, not a result.

// The problem

Stylists check their schedule by text, keep client notes on paper and dispute commission each pay period because nobody can see how it was worked out.

// What we would build

A mobile app for stylists and therapists: their day, client notes and before and after photos with consent, and commission on services and retail shown as it is earned, from the point of sale's own sales.

// What is in it

Each stylist's day, with client notes
Before and after photos, with the client's consent
Commission on services and retail, shown as earned
Time off and swaps requested in the app
Owners set commission rules once

// Stack

Next.js
React Native
PostgreSQL
Point of sale interface
DigitalOcean

// estimate

Build: ≈ US$92,100 to US$141,000, delivered within 26 weeksCAD 131,200 to 200,700
Hosting: ≈ US$176 a monthCAD 250 a month
Support: ≈ US$2,500 a monthCAD 3,565 a month

Prices in your currency are estimates from today's Bank of Canada rate. All invoicing is in CAD or USD.

Timeline by milestone

Discovery: 4 to 4.5 weeks
Design approved: 4.5 to 7.5 weeks
Core features: 2 to 3 weeks
Full build: 1.5 to 2.5 weeks
First build on devices: 4 to 5.5 weeks
Testing and fixes: 0.5 to 1.5 weeks
Store submission: 1.5 to 2 weeks
Launch: 1.5 to 2 weeks

Outside our hands, and added to the calendar

App store review: 1 week
Interface access from your point of sale or booking vendor: 1 to 4 weeks

How it is paid

Deposit 20%: CAD 26,240 to 40,140
Discovery 9.2%: CAD 12,070.40 to 18,464.40
Design approved 9.2%: CAD 12,070.40 to 18,464.40
Core features 7.6%: CAD 9,971.20 to 15,253.20
Full build 5%: CAD 6,560 to 10,035
First build on devices 20.1%: CAD 26,371.20 to 40,340.70
Testing and fixes 2.5%: CAD 3,280.00 to 5,017.50
Store submission 6.7%: CAD 8,790.40 to 13,446.90
Launch 9.7%: CAD 12,726.40 to 19,467.90
Holdback, 30 days after launch (10%): CAD 13,120 to 20,070

Start from this example

Example projectWeb app

Multi-location dashboard

Hypothetical. Not a client, not a result.

// The problem

The owner of six salons sees bookings, retail and staff hours in separate reports, and cannot tell which location's chairs sit empty.

// What we would build

A dashboard that reads bookings, the point of sale and staff hours into one model, so the owner sees chair use, rebooking rate, retail per client and revenue per stylist by location.

// What is in it

Chair and room use by location and day
Rebooking rate and no-shows
Retail per client and per stylist
Revenue per stylist against hours
Exports for the accountant

// Stack

Next.js
PostgreSQL
dbt
Booking and point of sale interfaces
DigitalOcean

// estimate

Build: ≈ US$34,200 to US$52,300, delivered within 13 weeksCAD 48,700 to 74,500
Hosting: ≈ US$176 a monthCAD 250 a month
Support: ≈ US$1,000 a monthCAD 1,425 a month

Prices in your currency are estimates from today's Bank of Canada rate. All invoicing is in CAD or USD.

Timeline by milestone

Discovery: 2.9 to 3.4 weeks
Design approved: 2.4 to 3.4 weeks
Core features: 1.4 to 2.4 weeks
Full build: 0.9 to 1.4 weeks
Testing and fixes: 0.9 to 1.4 weeks
Launch: 0.9 to 1.4 weeks

Outside our hands, and added to the calendar

Interface access from your point of sale or booking vendor: 1 to 4 weeks

How it is paid

Deposit 30%: CAD 14,610 to 22,350
Discovery 6.6%: CAD 3,214.20 to 4,917.00
Design approved 6.6%: CAD 3,214.20 to 4,917.00
Core features 20%: CAD 9,740 to 14,900
Full build 13.3%: CAD 6,477.10 to 9,908.50
Testing and fixes 6.6%: CAD 3,214.20 to 4,917.00
Launch 6.9%: CAD 3,360.30 to 5,140.50
Holdback, 30 days after launch (10%): CAD 4,870 to 7,450

Start from this example

Example projectWeb app

Move off a rented booking platform

Hypothetical. Not a client, not a result.

// The problem

A day spa has outgrown its rented booking platform: fees rise each year, the booking flow looks nothing like the spa, and exporting the client list is awkward.

// What we would build

A booking site of the spa's own, designed around its rooms, therapists and packages, with the client list, history and future bookings moved across from the old platform and checked before it is switched off.

// What is in it

Clients, history and future bookings moved and checked
A booking flow designed in the spa's own look
Rooms, therapists and equipment booked together
Packages, gift cards and deposits
Both systems side by side until you are ready

// Stack

Next.js
PostgreSQL
Stripe
Point of sale interface
DigitalOcean

// estimate

Build: ≈ US$71,100 to US$109,000, delivered within 18 weeksCAD 101,200 to 154,700
Hosting: ≈ US$176 a monthCAD 250 a month
Support: ≈ US$2,500 a monthCAD 3,565 a month

Prices in your currency are estimates from today's Bank of Canada rate. All invoicing is in CAD or USD.

Timeline by milestone

Discovery: 2.9 to 3.4 weeks
Design approved: 3.9 to 6.4 weeks
Core features: 2.4 to 3.9 weeks
Full build: 1.4 to 2.4 weeks
Testing and fixes: 0.9 to 1.4 weeks
Launch: 0.9 to 1.4 weeks

Outside our hands, and added to the calendar

Interface access from your point of sale or booking vendor: 1 to 4 weeks

How it is paid

Deposit 20%: CAD 20,240 to 30,940
Discovery 7.7%: CAD 7,792.40 to 11,911.90
Design approved 7.7%: CAD 7,792.40 to 11,911.90
Core features 23.3%: CAD 23,579.60 to 36,045.10
Full build 15.5%: CAD 15,686.00 to 23,978.50
Testing and fixes 7.7%: CAD 7,792.40 to 11,911.90
Launch 8.1%: CAD 8,197.20 to 12,530.70
Holdback, 30 days after launch (10%): CAD 10,120 to 15,470

Start from this example

Example projectWeb appBlockchain

Gift cards shared by independent salons

Hypothetical. Not a client, not a result.

// The problem

Independent salons and spas in one town want a gift card clients can spend at any of them, and none wants a rival or a card company to hold the balance.

// What we would build

One gift card across the member businesses, with each sale and redemption recorded on a private permissioned ledger every member runs a node of, so balances are shared and each member is settled from one record. If a business association runs the card and everyone trusts it, a database is simpler, and we will build that.

// What is in it

One card and balance across every member
Sold and redeemed through each point of sale
Settlement between members from the shared record
No member can add or change a balance alone
Rules for joining and settling agreed by the members

// Stack

Next.js
PostgreSQL
Hyperledger Besu (private, permissioned)
Point of sale interfaces
DigitalOcean

// estimate

Build: ≈ US$111,000 to US$170,000, delivered within 24 weeksCAD 158,600 to 242,600
Hosting: ≈ US$344 a monthCAD 490 a month
Support: ≈ US$2,500 a monthCAD 3,565 a month

Prices in your currency are estimates from today's Bank of Canada rate. All invoicing is in CAD or USD.

Timeline by milestone

Discovery: 2.9 to 3.4 weeks
Architecture: 0.4 weeks
Design approved: 3.4 to 5.9 weeks
Core features: 1.4 to 2.4 weeks
Full build: 0.9 to 1.4 weeks
Devnet: 2.4 to 4.4 weeks
Testing and fixes: 0.4 weeks
Testnet: 2.9 to 3.4 weeks
Launch: 0.9 to 1.4 weeks
Mainnet: 0.9 to 1.4 weeks

Outside our hands, and added to the calendar

Interface access from your point of sale or booking vendor: 1 to 4 weeks

How it is paid

Deposit 20%: CAD 31,720 to 48,520
Discovery 2.5%: CAD 3,965 to 6,065
Architecture 6.7%: CAD 10,626.20 to 16,254.20
Design approved 2.5%: CAD 3,965 to 6,065
Core features 7.5%: CAD 11,895 to 18,195
Full build 5%: CAD 7,930 to 12,130
Devnet 20.2%: CAD 32,037.20 to 49,005.20
Testing and fixes 2.5%: CAD 3,965 to 6,065
Testnet 13.4%: CAD 21,252.40 to 32,508.40
Launch 2.5%: CAD 3,965 to 6,065
Mainnet 7.2%: CAD 11,419.20 to 17,467.20
Holdback, 30 days after launch (10%): CAD 15,860 to 24,260

Start from this example

Example projectWeb appAIFrontier model

Booking assistant

Hypothetical. Not a client, not a result.

// The problem

A busy salon misses calls while every stylist is with a client, and the questions are always the same: is there time today, how much is a colour, can I move my appointment.

// What we would build

An assistant on the website, chat and text that answers from the salon's own service menu and prices, books and moves appointments through the booking system, and hands anything unusual to the front desk. It uses a frontier model through its API: the service menu is public and the volume is moderate.

// What is in it

Answers from your service menu and prices
Bookings and changes through your booking system
Deposits taken by your payment page, never in chat
Replies in the client's language
Handoff to the front desk with the conversation

// Stack

Frontier model API
Next.js
PostgreSQL with pgvector
Booking system interface
DigitalOcean

// estimate

Build: ≈ US$96,300 to US$147,000, delivered within 21 weeksCAD 137,100 to 209,600
Hosting: ≈ US$558 a monthCAD 795 a month
Support: ≈ US$2,500 a monthCAD 3,565 a month

Prices in your currency are estimates from today's Bank of Canada rate. All invoicing is in CAD or USD.

AI route: Frontier model
Model running cost: ≈ US$383 a monthCAD 545 a month

Timeline by milestone

Discovery: 2.9 to 3.4 weeks
Specification and evaluation plan: 0.4 weeks
Design approved: 2.4 to 3.4 weeks
Core features: 1.4 to 1.9 weeks
Full build: 0.9 to 1.4 weeks
Working pilot: 3.9 to 6.4 weeks
Testing and fixes: 0.9 to 1.9 weeks
Launch: 0.9 to 1.4 weeks
Production: 0.9 to 1.4 weeks

Outside our hands, and added to the calendar

Interface access from your point of sale or booking vendor: 1 to 4 weeks

How it is paid

Deposit 20%: CAD 27,420 to 41,920
Discovery 2%: CAD 2,742 to 4,192
Specification and evaluation plan 10.2%: CAD 13,984.20 to 21,379.20
Design approved 2%: CAD 2,742 to 4,192
Core features 6.2%: CAD 8,500.20 to 12,995.20
Full build 4.1%: CAD 5,621.10 to 8,593.60
Working pilot 30.7%: CAD 42,089.70 to 64,347.20
Testing and fixes 2%: CAD 2,742 to 4,192
Launch 2%: CAD 2,742 to 4,192
Production 10.8%: CAD 14,806.80 to 22,636.80
Holdback, 30 days after launch (10%): CAD 13,710 to 20,960

Start from this example

// by service

Go deeper on one kind of work.

Pages for the services we have the most to say about in this industry.

~/apps

Salon booking apps

Booking apps with deposits, rebooking and memberships, and staff apps with schedules, client notes and commission, for hair salons, beauty studios and day spas.

~/ai

Salon booking assistant

A booking assistant on a frontier model that answers from your salon's own service menu, books and moves appointments through your booking system and hands anything unusual to the front desk.

~/chains

Shared salon gift cards

One gift card across independent salons and spas, with sales and redemptions on a private permissioned ledger each member runs a node of, so balances are shared and each member is settled from one record.

~/data

Salon group dashboards

A dashboard for salon and spa groups that reads bookings, the point of sale and staff hours into one model, showing chair use, rebooking rate, retail per client and revenue per stylist by location.

~/rescue

Own your booking

Moving a salon or spa off a rented booking platform onto a booking site of its own, with clients, history and future bookings moved across and checked before the old platform is switched off.

// questions

What buyers in this industry ask us.

Do you work with single salons and studios?

Yes. A booking site or a booking assistant suits a single salon, and the estimator shows the range for your scope.

Do you work with med-spa front offices?

Yes, for booking, forms and admin. The software makes no medical or treatment claims.

How do payments work?

A deposit to start, then payments at agreed milestones, with 10% held until 30 days after launch. The deposit is a smaller share on larger projects.

Who owns the code?

You do, once the work is paid for.

// other industries

Nearby industries.

~/retail

Retail and e-commerce

Headless storefronts with shopping apps, customer service agents, authenticity certificates for resale and Discord drop bots.

See the examples

~/sports-fitness

Sports and fitness

Member apps for gyms and studios, movement analysis models, fan bots for Discord and Telegram, and season tickets with fair resale.

See the examples

~/marketing

Marketing and advertising

Campaign dashboards with client portals, brand voice models, impression reconciliation ledgers and referral campaign bots.

See the examples

All industries

// where we work

Find your market.

We work from Kelowna with clients across Canada, the United States and further afield. Each market page covers working hours, hosting, the privacy law that applies, and prices in your currency.

Every market

// next

Not quite your project?

Tell us what you have in mind. We will come back to you with a range and the questions that would narrow it. Or book a call and talk it through.

Start a project Book a call