You didn’t open this guide because spreadsheets are your hobby. You opened it because you need one place to see what’s in stock, who used it, and what to reorder — before Friday turns into a supplier sprint and emergency ordering. Whether you’re sketching your opening-day checklist or already juggling a busy salon across multiple locations, the pain points are the same: sudden stockouts of bestsellers, cash stuck in slow moving products, messy inventory tracking, and too many “Did anyone order this?” moments.
So here’s the plan — a tour of salon inventory management software that shows what actually matters day to day. We’ll compare tools head-to-head with real pricing, pros/cons, and best-fit use cases — with a spotlight on core functionality: clean stock counts and inventory tracking you can manage in just a few clicks, a booking system that plays nicely with your stock, and a salon POS system with integrated credit card processing that won’t slow checkout.
backbar = professional-use supplies at the station;
retail = products you sell to clients;
POS= point of sale (checkout and payments);
CRM = client records and notes;
POs = purchase orders.
1) General salon software suites (Vagaro, Square Appointments, Fresha, GlossGenius, Rosy, Zenoti, Boulevard)
All-in-one platforms that combine online booking, appointment management, a salon POS system at checkout, CRM for client profiles, integrated marketing tools, and an inventory module. For most salon owners, this covers the core: inventory tracking, low-stock alerts, basic purchase orders, sometimes barcode scanning — plus automated reminders and Google Calendar sync to keep client appointments tight.
2) Specialized salon inventory tools (Suplery, Vish, SalonScale)
Built to control backbar usage (the professional supplies used during services) and product cost. Vish and SalonScale pair with Bluetooth scales to weigh bowls and refine formulas; Suplery adds an in-app supplier marketplace so you track counts and place orders in just a few clicks. These tools turn waste into data and make parts-and-labor pricing straightforward.
3) General inventory / accounting systems (Intuit QuickBooks)
Accountant-grade inventory management software for POs (supplier orders), valuation, COGS (cost of goods sold), and FIFO/FEFO (stock-rotation rules — first in/first out; first-expire/first-out) — powerful for financials, but not salon-workflow-native, so it’s often used alongside a salon suite.
Desktop is where managers set rules and run the numbers — reports, purchase orders, vendor terms, analytics, and catalog edits.
Mobile/tablet is where the action lives — scan barcodes at the station, weigh bowls in the color room, log backbar usage, and run a quick stock count between clients. Modern salon inventory management software supports both so a busy salon can streamline operations without switching tools mid-shift.
Want the fundamentals step by step? See our primers:
• Salon inventory management: a guide to a successful business
• Beauty salon inventory management strategy: How to develop one
If your backbar or treatment room still runs on vibes and sticky notes, that’s quiet money slipping out of your cash drawer.
Best for: Owners who want stock control and procurement on the same screen to streamline operations across multiple locations.
Friendly tip: If daily tasks are time-consuming, Suplery’s stock count flow and inventory tracking help reduce costs and save time without switching your entire stack.
Pro tip: Streamline your inventory ordering and discover hidden savings by applying smart reorder strategies → Salon inventory tips: how to find hidden savings
Best for: Color-heavy salons that want waste down, margins up, and pricing that reflects grams used.
Say goodbye to inventory chaos! Our salon order planner tool lets you set precise reorder points, track products effortlessly — save time. Download now to simplify your salon operations!
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Best for: Teams that want the dollar value of every bowl visible in real time — and clean, transparent client receipts.
Pro tip: Struggling with backbar costs? Dive deep into the details and boost profits using clear, actionable inventory tactics → Cut inventory costs in salon: save on salon inventory & optimize stock
Best for: Solo pros and small salons that want POS + booking + inventory in one easy place.
Best for: Multi-location groups that need centralized purchasing, controls, and deep analytics.
Pro tip: Running multiple locations? Centralize and optimize inventory management across all your salons with these proven strategies → Beauty salon inventory management strategy: how to develop one
Best for: Independent stylists and boutique teams that want speed, style, and enough inventory to stay stocked.
Best for: Small–mid salons that want “almost everything” — including serious inventory — at a fair price.
Pro tip: Want to ensure stock accuracy and prevent emergencies? Learn simple inventory management techniques for stress-free salon operations → From stock chaos to profit: 6 salon inventory case studies
Best for: Small salons that value stability, salon-native workflows, and straightforward inventory.
Best for: Pros who want new clients from a marketplace and simple product sales tracking.
Pro tip: Maximize your inventory efficiency and minimize dead stock by implementing these expert salon inventory control tips → Salon inventory tips: how to find hidden savings
Best for: Upscale brands and mid-market chains that want polished UX plus centralized controls.
Best for: Teams that want modern booking + payments, broad adoption, and decent inventory without monthly fees.
Pro tip: Keep your stockroom lean and profitable with smart inventory management practices tailored specifically for beauty businesses → Beauty salon inventory management strategy: how to develop one
Best for: Owners who want accountant-grade inventory valuation and true COGS across the whole business.
Software | Best for | Typical price | Backbar usage | In-app supplier ordering | Multi-location controls | Notable rating |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Suplery | Inventory + marketplace | Free tier | Manual/est. | Yes (marketplace POs) | Yes | Newer; positive feedback |
Vish | Waste cuts, parts-and-labor | $100–$300/mo + scale | Yes (scale) | No | Yes | ~ 4.5–5.0/5 |
SalonScale | Cost per bowl, accountability | $55–$199/mo (+ $49 add-on) | Yes (scale) | Add-on | Some | ~ 4.8–5/5 |
Vagaro | Value all-in-one | $25–$150/mo | Manual/recipes | POs to vendors | Yes | 4.7/5, 3,400+ |
Boulevard | Premium salons/med-spas | Custom (premium) | Manual/recipes | POs | Yes | 4.6/5, 336 |
Zenoti | Enterprise chains | $400+/mo | Manual/recipes | POs, transfers, audits | Yes | 4.2–4.4/5, 1,000+ |
Fresha | Free core + marketplace | $0 core (fees apply) | Manual/recipes | POs/basic | Yes | 4.8/5, 1,439 |
Square Appointments | Free/low-cost POS + booking | $0–$69/location | Manual | Basic | Yes | ~ 4.5/5 |
GlossGenius | Independents, boutiques | $24–$49/mo | Manual | Basic | Limited | 4.8/5, 260+ |
Rosy | Salon-centric simplicity | $29–$90/mo | Manual | POs | Some | 4.6–4.9/5, 145+ |
Booksy | Marketplace bookings | ~$30–$40/provider | Manual | Basic | Some | 4.2–4.5/5 |
QuickBooks | Accounting-grade inventory | $85+/mo | Manual | Full POs/bills | Advanced | 4.3/5, 8,000+ |
Your next move: If you want to see stock, place orders, and stop Friday emergency runs — without juggling five tabs — try Suplery. It stitches the wins from this guide into one workflow so you can replace intuition and sticky notes with live counts, smart alerts, and purchase orders you can fire off in just a few clicks.
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There isn’t a single “best” — it depends on your shape. For feature-rich value with robust inventory and purchase orders, many salons pick Vagaro. For small teams and creators who want something beautiful and simple, GlossGenius shines. If you want a free or lean start, Square Appointments and Fresha have generous free cores and free scheduling. Multi-location chains often standardize on Zenoti or Boulevard. If backbar control and color waste are your priorities, look at Vish or SalonScale. If you want inventory plus supplier ordering in one place, Suplery puts stock control and procurement on the same screen.
From $0 on free tiers (Fresha, Square core) to roughly $25–$150/month for SMB all-in-ones (Vagaro, GlossGenius, Rosy, Booksy). Specialized backbar systems (SalonScale, Vish) typically $55–$200+ per month, plus scales/hardware. Enterprise platforms (Zenoti, Boulevard) are usually $400+/month per location. Expect payment processing, marketplace, or add-on fees (marketing, loyalty).
For “POS + booking + inventory” in one, Vagaro is strong on stock control and POs; Square Appointments is a refined POS with integrated credit card processing and a slick card reader; Fresha offers a free core; GlossGenius is mobile-first for small teams. Chains with complex operations gravitate to Zenoti or Boulevard. If your biggest leak is backbar, pair your POS with Vish or SalonScale.
Suplery merges real-time stock tracking with an integrated supplier marketplace. You set min/max, get low-stock alerts, compare vendors, and place orders without leaving the app. Multiple locations see parity and transfers at a glance. Because Suplery has a free tier, you can layer smart procurement onto your current booking system and salon POS.
Use a simple formula: reorder point = average daily usage × lead time (days) + safety stock. Example: you use 5 tubes/day, delivery takes 4 days, and you want 10 tubes of safety stock → 5×4 + 10 = 30. Set minimum at 30 and maximum near 60 so alerts and POs trigger on time. If demand is spiky, add a 10–25% buffer.
Backbar hits COGS per service and belongs in a parts-and-labor model: measure usage (grams/ml) and either bill transparently or bake it into service pricing. Retail drives top-line — you want clean SKUs, barcode sales, returns, bundles, and a faster inventory turnover. For backbar, weigh color bowls to stop over-mixing. For retail, automate replenishment and track client profiles to recommend the right products.
Run one full audit quarterly, then do cycle counts weekly using ABC analysis: A-items weekly, B-items bi-weekly, C-items monthly. A mobile salon inventory app with barcode scanning turns a two-hour pain into a 20-minute walk-through. Automated reminders help teams remember their daily tasks without nagging.
Tighten controls: role-based permissions, mandatory notes on adjustments, and a weekly variance review. Kill dead stock in 30–60 days with bundles, BOGO, staff incentives, or inter-store transfers. Upstream, renegotiate MOQs and lead times, switch to FEFO for expiring items, and stop auto-reordering long-tail SKUs. Track waste by stylist and product; a simple leaderboard can drive revenue and behavior change.
Start with inventory turnover (target ~ 4–6× backbar; 8–10× retail), stockout rate, days of supply, retail sell-through, waste %, COGS as % of service revenue, GMROI, and on-time supplier delivery. For salon owners with multiple locations, add transfer volume and count accuracy by site. Tie client appointments and retail recommendations to KPIs to improve client retention.
Your booking system should support online booking, appointment booking reminders, and ideally Google Calendarsync. Your salon inventory management software should update counts when products sell at POS and when you record backbar usage. Tools like Square or Vagaro let you add a booking widget to your website and ring retail at checkout, while a usage tool (Vish/SalonScale) keeps the color room honest. Together they streamline operations and reduce costs — fewer emergency runs, fewer empty shelves, fewer “left guessing” moments.
Last updated on Aug 27, 2025
This is a brand-new, comprehensive guide detailing salon inventory management software for 2025.
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