The Bookatu blog
Practical, no-nonsense advice for service businesses. Cutting no-shows, building steady income, getting found online, and keeping more of what you earn.
Set up payments for your salon: it really does take two minutes
Connecting payments sounds technical, but it isn't — it's a short, guided form from Stripe. Here is exactly what you will be asked, why, and how to get from "started" to "ready to take deposits" in one sitting.
Sell Session Packs and Stop Chasing Payments: A Calmer Money Setup for Trainers and Coaches
Per-session billing makes your income lumpy and your week stressful. Here is how prepaid session packs and a simple "who owes me" board help you get paid up front, keep clients showing up, and stop chasing cash.
Booking Software for Hair Salons: A Plain Guide
A plain guide to booking software for hair salons: your own branded booking page, synced stylist calendars, deposits that stop no-shows, and 0% commission.
Take Online Reservations and Design Your Floor Plan Online: Fewer Phone Calls, Fewer No-Shows
A visual floor plan plus online booking lets guests reserve a real table while you are busy, cuts the calls your host has to answer, and gives you the reminders that keep tables filled. Here is how it works and what the research says.
Booking Software for Barbershops: Keep 100% of Every Cut
A plain guide to booking software for barbershops: your own branded booking page, deposits that stop no-shows, payouts straight to your bank, and 0% commission.
Get paid into your own bank account: how 0% commission keeps the money yours
Booking marketplaces can take a cut of every appointment and sit on your cash for days. Here is how 0% commission and Stripe Connect put the money in your own bank account, in your own name, and clean for tax time.
How automated reminders cut no-shows (and win back your evenings)
No-shows quietly drain your week. Here is how automated appointment reminders cut them down, what a good reminder actually says, and how to back it up with deposits and a few small habits.
Deposit and cancellation policies that protect your time
A clear deposit and cancellation policy is the quiet rule that keeps your calendar honest. Here is how to write one, word it kindly, and let your booking system do the enforcing.
Turn one-time clients into regulars with memberships
A happy first-timer is still a coin flip to return. Salon memberships turn that coin flip into a routine, and give you predictable income while they do it. Here is how to build one clients actually want.
Packages vs memberships: which grows your revenue?
Both bring cash in upfront and pull clients back, but they grow your revenue in different ways. Here is how to read packages vs memberships and pick the one that lifts your takings.
How an AI receptionist books clients while you work
You cannot answer every message while your hands are full. An AI receptionist for salons replies for you, answers the common questions and turns enquiries into bookings, even after hours.
Get found on Google: local SEO for salons and studios
A practical guide to local SEO for salons and studios, covering your Google Business Profile, reviews and online booking, so nearby clients find you and book before they call anyone else.