Best Salon, spa & gym software in India (2027)

Many systems can, through the WhatsApp Business API, but setup varies. Some send from a shared vendor number, others require you to register your own number with an approved provider. Ask who owns the number, whether template messages need approval, how message credits are charged, and whether reminders fall back to SMS if WhatsApp delivery fails.

The software needs a single client database across outlets so that a package bought at one branch shows its remaining sessions anywhere. Check how revenue is attributed between branches for reporting and commissions, and whether the redeeming branch can see the original bill. Test this during the trial rather than accepting a verbal assurance.

Cloud salon software depends on connectivity, though some apps keep a cached appointment book or allow offline billing that syncs later. Ask exactly what works offline, whether bill numbers stay sequential after sync, and whether UPI QR payments can still be recorded. A mobile hotspot as a backup is a sensible precaution either way.

Good salon software lets you set separate commission rates for services and product sales, and often slabs that rise once a stylist crosses a monthly target. Check whether commissions are calculated on bill value before or after discounts and GST, and whether shared services between two stylists can be split.

Ask where data is hosted, who in your team can view or export the client list, and whether exports are logged. Role-based access should prevent junior staff from downloading the full database. Under India's data protection law you remain responsible for client data, so consent for marketing messages should also be recorded.

Most salons run it on an existing laptop, tablet or phone. A thermal receipt printer, a barcode scanner for retail products and a tablet at reception are common additions. Check the list of supported printers before buying, and confirm whether the vendor supplies hardware or leaves you to source it locally.

Support depends on the vendor. Most integrate with a list of fingerprint and face-recognition devices from specific manufacturers, sometimes only certain models. Ask for that list before buying hardware, confirm whether the integration is cloud-based or needs a local PC running, and check whether turnstiles or door locks can be triggered by membership status.

Good software records a freeze with start and end dates and extends the membership automatically, while blocking gym access during that period. Check whether you can limit freeze days per plan, charge a freeze fee, and see a report of members currently frozen so staff do not chase them for renewal.

Many gym systems include payment links or a member app connected to a payment gateway, accepting UPI, cards and net banking. The renewal then updates the plan without staff intervention. Ask about gateway charges, how failed payments are handled, and whether the receipt carries GST details automatically.

Most platforms offer a trainer login or app where sessions are marked against a client's PT package, reducing the remaining count. Check whether the member must confirm the session, which prevents disputes, and whether trainer commissions are calculated from logged sessions or from package sales.

For small studios it often is. Members scan a code at the entrance with their app, or staff scan the member's code. It is cheaper than a device but easier to misuse, since a code can be shared. Gyms with unmanned entry usually prefer biometric or face recognition linked to a turnstile.

Look for reports that list active members with no check-ins over a chosen number of days. These allow staff to call or message them before the plan lapses. Software that combines attendance with renewal dates helps you focus retention effort where it is most likely to work.