Why a good point of sale is indispensable
A point of sale is much more than a device to process payments. For salons it is the core of your financial administration. Every treatment, every product sold and every payment goes through your till.
In the Netherlands and Belgium you are legally required to correctly register your revenue. A good point of sale does this automatically and saves you hours of manual administration. Moreover, it gives you direct insight into your daily revenue and performance.
Choosing the right point of sale is therefore one of the most important decisions you make as a salon owner. The wrong choice leads to frustration, errors and missed income.
What to look for when choosing
Not every point of sale is suitable for salons. You need specific features that match the way a hair or beauty salon works. When making your choice, look for the following points:
- Integration with your salon software and online diary
- Support for card, cash, gift vouchers and split payments
- Automatic VAT calculation and tax reports
- Ability to register products and services separately
- Clear daily and monthly closing
- User-friendly interface that works quickly during busy periods
- Cloud-based system so you have access everywhere
Point of sale vs salon software
Many salon owners use a separate point of sale alongside their salon software. This leads to double work, inconsistent data and more chance of errors. The ideal solution is salon software that has point-of-sale functionality built in.
MyWest combines diary management, client management and point-of-sale functionality in one platform. When a client checks out, the treatment and payment are automatically linked to the client profile. So you always have a complete picture of your revenue and client history.
By having everything in one system, you prevent discrepancies between your diary and your till at the end of the day. Everything balances automatically.
Costs and implementation
The costs of a point of sale vary widely. A standalone till solution easily costs €30–€100 per month, plus the purchase of hardware such as a card terminal and receipt printer. On top of that, transaction fees per payment are often charged.
When you choose an integrated solution like MyWest, you save on double subscription costs. The point-of-sale functionality is included in your salon software, meaning you only need to manage and pay for one system.
Plan sufficient time during implementation to set up the system. Enter all your services and products with the correct prices and VAT rates. Train your staff so everyone can work smoothly with the system.