The best salon management software.
Once you have chairs, commissions, retail and maybe a second location, a booking app isn’t enough. We re-weighted our hands-on scores for payroll, inventory, reporting and multi-location control — the parts that decide whether the back office runs itself or eats your Sundays.
Just need a calendar and online booking? Start with our hair-salon booking picks →
Top 3 picks for salon management
What matters most for salon management
Payroll & commissions
Splits by service and retail, tiered rates, tips handling and a payroll export — or every pay period turns into a spreadsheet night.
Inventory & retail
Back-bar and retail tracking, low-stock alerts, purchase orders and real margin reports built into the same POS.
Reporting & analytics
Revenue by staff and service, rebooking and retention rates, and clean exports your accountant will actually accept.
Multi-location control
One client database across shops, roll-up numbers for the owner and per-location permissions so managers see only their site.
How the top 5 compare for management
| PLATFORM | FROM | MULTI-LOCATION | BUILT FOR | SCORE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vagaro | $30/mo | Yes | All-in-one management | 8.9 |
| Mangomint | $165/mo | Higher tier | Automation & reporting | 8.3 |
| Boulevard | $176/mo | Core feature | Multi-location teams | 8.1 |
| Mindbody | $129/mo | Yes | Wellness chains | 7.4 |
| Zenoti | Custom | Core feature | Enterprise groups | 6.9 |
Scores re-weighted for management criteria — payroll, inventory, reporting and multi-location. Feature availability varies by plan tier; always confirm with the vendor. Estimate your salon’s true monthly cost →
Salon management software FAQ
What’s the difference between salon booking and salon management software?
Booking software runs the calendar and online appointments. Management software adds the back office on top — payroll and commission splits, inventory and retail, detailed reporting and, once you grow, multi-location controls. If a shared calendar and online booking are all you need today, start with our hair-salon booking picks and upgrade later.
Which platform handles payroll and commissions best?
Vagaro (8.9) is the standout on value: payroll and commission splits are in the base plan from $30/mo. Mangomint (8.3) and Boulevard (8.1) handle them well too, but sit at $165–$176/mo and are aimed at busier or multi-location teams. Run your own numbers →
Do I need management software to run multiple locations?
For two or more shops you’ll want roll-up reporting, one shared client database and per-location permissions — things a single-chair booking app usually can’t do. Boulevard and Zenoti are built around multi-location; Vagaro and Mindbody support it at lower cost. Confirm multi-location is included on the specific plan tier before you commit.