1. Write down what slows you down.
Start with the last working week. Were you answering booking messages between clients? Looking for a form? Checking who was using a room? Chasing a deposit?
Choose your three biggest frustrations and test those first. A long feature list matters less than whether the software handles the jobs you do every day. If you work alone, focus on the booking journey and your own diary. If you run a team, ask each person what they need to see.
2. Price a normal month.
Use your actual team size and appointment pattern. Record the subscription, VAT where applicable, extra users, payment processing, messages and optional services. Keep booking commission separate from card processing: they pay for different things.
For any marketplace fee, ask which clients qualify and whether it applies once or on repeat visits. Do not multiply a new-client commission by all your bookings. Equally, do not assume a low starting subscription covers every member of your team.
Our UK salon software comparisons link to current published prices for Fresha, Booksy and Treatwell. They are written by Covered Beauty, so use the source links to check the details yourself.
3. Book as a client, on your phone.
Add two or three treatments with your real durations and prices. Set your hours, then open the public booking page on a phone. Can you understand the treatment, find a suitable time and see the deposit before committing?
Check what happens after the booking too. Is the confirmation clear? Is the appointment in the right diary? If you use consent forms, go through the form as a client and find the completed version as a practitioner. Only run a payment test in a supported test mode, or with a deliberate payment you are prepared to make.
4. Look beyond the calendar.
A diary tells you when someone is coming. A useful client record helps you prepare for their visit. Check how you find their previous appointments, add a treatment note and review a signed form.
For a team, check who can access what and how the shared diary works. For stock, packages or specialist treatments, try the exact workflow you need. Ask about anything that is unclear instead of assuming it is included.
5. Plan the move before cancelling.
List what must come with you: client details, future appointments, treatment notes, signed forms and any outstanding balances. Ask both providers what can be exported and imported. A spreadsheet of names is not the same as a complete treatment history.
Choose a changeover date. Keep a secure copy of your exports, check a sample of migrated records and account for every future booking. Then update your website and social booking links. Cancel the old service only when you have checked the move and its cancellation terms.
6. Know what happens if you leave.
Ask who can use your client list, how you download records and when cancellation takes effect. Read the data processing agreement and the support arrangements. You should be able to understand the answer without a sales call.
Covered Beauty’s promise sets out its commitments on client marketing, exports and cancellation. Solo is £9/month for one practitioner; Salon is £19/month for up to five. Both have zero booking commission. Stripe processing fees and optional extras are separate.
Your trial checklist.
- Add treatments, prices and working hours.
- Try the booking journey on a phone.
- Find the appointment and client record.
- Complete and review a consent form.
- Check the cost for your whole team.
- Confirm the migration and cancellation details.
Keep notes as you go. The best system for you is the one you can use confidently on a busy day.