{"id":967,"date":"2020-06-05T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-06-05T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.daysmart.com\/salon\/uncategorized\/free-salon-software-2\/"},"modified":"2024-12-22T14:57:58","modified_gmt":"2024-12-22T14:57:58","slug":"free-salon-software-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.daysmart.com\/salon\/blog\/free-salon-software-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Free Salon Software?!? How Can That Be?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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You may have seen offers for free salon software. It\u2019s only natural to consider that option, I mean, it\u2019s free, right? Free software \u2013 a great way to go, or too good to be true?<\/span><\/p>\n

As a salon owner, you need to track clients, book appointments, and schedule stylists. But there\u2019s more to it than that \u2013 you have inventory to manage, taxes to report, marketing campaigns to run. Having the help of efficient software with <\/span>multiple features<\/span><\/a> to stay on top of all of this is crucial to your success. After all, the more you can automate, the more time you have to develop staff and engage with clients. <\/span><\/p>\n

What a deal! Especially if you are just starting out as a salon, any free business tool seems like a must. You may know the old saying \u201c<\/span>you get what you pay for<\/span><\/i>\u201d \u2013 but that saying has been updated for the tech-driven times in which we live:<\/span> \u201c<\/span><\/i>If the service is free \u2013 then you are the product!\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Read on to learn more about what this really means \u2013 for you and your business \u2013 and why it\u2019s probably best to invest in relationships with legitimate software companies than to grab free solutions that may put your business at risk.<\/span><\/p>\n

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1. <\/b>Predatory Payments<\/b><\/h2>\n

Integrated <\/span>credit card processing<\/span><\/a> is a great advantage for modern small businesses, especially as more customers switch to card payments or insist on contactless payments. \u201cFree\u201d software solutions frequently require you to use \u201ctheir processor\u201d, and because this integration is mandatory, you will not have much opportunity to negotiate the processing rate. High rates can cost your business thousands, and small fees, like 10 cents per transaction, may not sound like much, but they can take a big bite out of your product margins, especially if your transaction volume is high. <\/span><\/p>\n

Many of these providers will entice businesses with low introductory rates, which escalate over the life of the contract and early termination fees can hinder your ability to get from under these burdensome contracts. You may also experience high processing equipment leasing fees. Always be sure to thoroughly read the terms and conditions, or even better \u2013 use a trustworthy software service with a credible credit card processing partner.<\/span><\/p>\n

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2. Selling Your Data<\/b><\/h2>\n

Ask yourself why people would put so much effort in building a software solution and then simply give it away. How can they make money if they\u2019re giving it way? Well, one way you may be paying them is with your data. There is real value in collecting the purchase history of your clients, and many providers of free solutions are selling your transaction data. There have been thousands of apps caught tracking customers and \u201cstealing data\u201d and unless you\u2019re an expert, there\u2019s no easy way to tell which ones are guilty (although it\u2019s usually the free ones)! <\/span><\/p>\n

Three considerations when it comes to software and keeping your business data private:<\/span><\/p>\n