Starting your own salon is exciting, but also overwhelming. There's so much to arrange: a logo, a way for clients to book, payments, accounting... Where do you begin?
In this article, we've collected the best tools for starting salon owners. From free options to affordable paid tools – everything you need to look professional from day one.
Logo and branding
A good logo gives your salon a professional look. Fortunately, you don't need to spend hundreds on a designer right away.
Canva (free / paid) – The most popular tool for DIY design. Choose from thousands of templates, adjust colors and fonts, and download your logo in high quality. Perfect for social media posts too.
Looka (paid, starting at €20) – An AI-powered logo maker. You answer a few questions about your style, and you get dozens of professional logos to choose from.
Hatchful by Shopify (free) – Simple logo generator with templates specifically for service businesses. Limited options, but completely free.
Fiverr (starting at €5) – If you'd rather have someone else do it, you'll find logo designers from €5. For €30-50 you'll often get better quality and more revisions.
Tip: Want to create a logo with AI? Use a prompt like: "Create a minimalist logo for a nail salon called [name], with soft pink and gold colors, elegant and feminine." Tools like Midjourney or DALL-E can give you creative starting points.
Website and online presence
Do you need a full website? Not necessarily. What matters is that clients can find and book you. Here are your options:
Bookura booking page (free) – With Bookura you get a professional booking page that you can fully style with your own colors, logo, and photos. You don't need a separate website. Clients see your treatments, prices, and availability, and book directly. For many salon owners, this is enough.
Linktree (free) – A simple page with links to your Instagram, booking page, and more. Ideal as a link in bio.
Wix or Squarespace (starting at €10/month) – If you do want a full website with multiple pages, portfolio, and blog. User-friendly, no technical knowledge needed.
Instagram as homepage (free) – Many successful salons don't have a website at all. A well-maintained Instagram profile with clear info in the bio and a link to your booking page works just as well.
Booking system
An online booking system saves you hours per week. No more back-and-forth messaging, no double bookings, no forgotten appointments.
Bookura (free to start) – Made specifically for salon owners. Easy to set up, looks professional, and grows with you. Includes automatic reminders, online payments, and accounting integration.
Why we recommend Bookura: you can start for free, you don't need technical knowledge, and everything is designed for the workflow of a salon owner.
Payments
Cash is fine, but increasingly clients want to pay by card or online. Here are the most popular options:
Mollie – The most widely used payment provider in the Netherlands and Belgium. Works seamlessly with Bookura. Clients pay via iDEAL, card, or other methods. You pay a small fee per transaction.
SumUp (from €39 one-time) – A compact card reader for physical payments. Handy if clients want to pay by card on location.
Tikkie (free) – Sending a payment request for small amounts. Works but is less professional than a real payment system.
Our advice: Start with Mollie via Bookura. Clients pay directly when booking, you have certainty, and everything is automatically in your administration.
Accounting
Administration isn't fun, but unavoidable. With the right software, it takes only 15 minutes per week.
Moneybird (free for small users) – The most popular accounting software for self-employed professionals in the Netherlands. Simple interface, beautiful invoices, and integrates with Bookura.
e-Boekhouden (starting at €9.50/month) – Affordable alternative with good support.
InformerOnline (starting at €5/month) – Budget option with the basics.
Tip: Connect your booking system to your accounting software. With Bookura + Moneybird, invoices are automatically created for every payment. Zero manual work.
Social media and marketing
You don't need to be on every platform, but some tools make your life easier:
Canva (free / paid) – For social media posts, stories, and promotional materials. Has templates specifically for beauty and wellness.
Later or Planoly (free to start) – Schedule Instagram posts in advance. Saves time and keeps you consistent.
CapCut (free) – Easy video editing for TikTok and Reels. No experience needed.
ChatGPT (free / paid) – Stuck on captions, bio text, or email replies? AI can help. Try: "Write 5 Instagram captions for a nail salon promoting a summer discount."
Communication with clients
WhatsApp Business (free) – Separate from your private WhatsApp, with automatic responses and business profile. Almost essential for client contact.
Automatic reminders – Most booking systems (including Bookura) send automatic appointment reminders. Reduces no-shows by up to 50%.
Product suppliers
Depending on your niche, you'll buy from different wholesalers. Here are some well-known options in the Benelux:
Hair: Cosmo Prof, Hagel, Sibel
Nails: Nail Parfait, Mega Beauty Shop, NSI
Beauty: Beauty Coiffure, Salonartikelen.nl
Tip: Compare prices and watch for promotions. Many wholesalers offer starter packages at a discount.
Useful apps on your phone
- Google Calendar – Backup for your appointments (Bookura syncs automatically)
- Google Drive – For contracts, receipts, and backups
- Notes app – For quick notes about clients
- Calculator – For quick pricing calculations
- Your bank app – Keep an eye on incoming payments
What do you really need to start?
Not everything at once. Here's the minimum to get started:
- A simple logo (Canva or Looka)
- A booking page (Bookura)
- WhatsApp Business for client contact
- A payment method (Mollie via Bookura)
- Basic accounting (Moneybird)
That's it. Five tools to start professionally. Everything else can come later as you grow.
Conclusion
You don't need expensive software or a marketing agency to start professionally. With the right combination of free and affordable tools, you can get started tomorrow.
The most important thing is to keep it simple. Start with the basics, learn what works for you, and expand when needed.
Want to arrange your booking, payments, and administration in one go? Start for free with Bookura.