Running a beauty business means wearing a lot of hats—artist, consultant, therapist, entrepreneur…but chasing your calendar shouldn’t be one of them. With Acuity Scheduling, you can book appointments, collect payments, and keep your schedule running smoothly, all while giving your clients the polished, professional experience they expect.

Whether you’re behind the chair, behind the scenes, or behind the brush, this guide will help you set up scheduling for your beauty business and get time back to focus on your craft.

From missed calls to more clients: Why scheduling software matters

Building a successful beauty business that runs without the chaos takes great technique and great systems. You know the pain of late arrivals, last-minute cancellations, or back-and-forth calls trying to confirm an appointment. These things chip away at your time, cost you money, and sacrifice client trust.

But when you add smart scheduling software like Acuity into the mix, you can simplify booking workflows and automate the small stuff. Now everyone shows up, everyone gets paid, and everyone is wowed by the standout results. You can expect:

Fewer no-shows with automated appointment reminders.
Better time management with clear availability, padding, and appointment types.
More revenue per client with add-ons, packages, and subscription services.
Happier clients who keep coming back (and bring their friends).
Less admin time, so you can reclaim your evenings or finally eat lunch.

The top scheduling tools that beauty pros trust

From hair and makeup to tattoos, your talent makes people look and feel amazing. Your scheduling software should do the same for your business. These flexible features are favorites across the beauty industry because they deliver real value for both you and your clients:

Appointment text message reminder — Text reminders

Cut down on no-shows with automatic text message reminders that keep clients on time. The default message is: “You have an upcoming appointment with [Business Name] on [Date time]. Sent via Acuity.” After you verify your business information and phone number, you can customize your text message reminders to fit your brand and give clients what they need to know—when and where to show up, how to access your space, pre-care instructions, or what to bring.

Acuity Scheduling mobile app — Mobile app

Life behind the chair doesn’t mean glued to a desk. Use Acuity’s mobile app to check your schedule, communicate with clients, accept payments, and manage your day from anywhere. It’s built for the non-stop pace of salons and independent artists on the move.

Client intake form for hair appointment — Custom intake forms

No more guessing games. Client intake forms help you collect important details like allergies, inspiration photos, style preferences, or service history when they book, so you’re ready *before* they walk in. Plus, get clients to agree to your cancellation policy up front.

Online payment screen for appointment — Payment links and tap-to-pay

Take deposits to secure bookings or collect payment in full. Use tap-to-pay on your phone (with the Acuity mobile app) or a card reader at checkout. Or, send a secure link straight to your client’s mobile device. Acuity’s payment flexibility fits how you like to get paid.

Adding a tip during online checkout — Tips at checkout

Not everyone has cash on them these days, but you can still make it easy for happy clients to say thanks. Enable tipping during online or in-person checkout to swap the awkward convos for smooth service, from start to finish.

How to set up Acuity Scheduling for your beauty business

Ready to get your online booking system up and running? These steps mirror what you’ll do in the product, with pro tips along the way to maximize your scheduling setup from the start.

Prefer to follow along visually? Watch an on-demand webinar to get set up with confidence, or explore our YouTube tutorials to see Acuity in action.

Here’s how to go from “just signed up” to “fully booked” in no time:

1. Design your scheduling page

Your online booking page should feel like an extension of your brand. Acuity makes it easy to make a stunning first impression. Use the style editor to:

Generate a color palette based on your logo or an image of your choice, or choose your favorite preset
Select a stylish font
Check your work as you bring your vision to life with live preview
Automatically match your Squarespace website (if you have one)

Customizing online booking page in Acuity

2. Create your services

Set up your appointment types (blowouts, lash fills, brow tinting, beard trims—whatever you offer) and define each one with:

Clear names and descriptions
Duration and pricing
Buffer time (hint: adding negative appointment padding will overlap sessions, so you can get your next client prepped while your last is finishing up.)
A branded image or icon to enhance the listing
Which intake forms should be completed when clients book this service
If you have shared resources, like a specific room for the appointment type

Pro tip: Color-code appointment types (visible only to you) for an easier calendar view.

3. Customize your availability

Whether you’re full-time or balancing bookings with other gigs, have standard business hours or unique ones, you’re in control of your availability. Choose your preferred working hours, keeping in mind that you can:

Set general business hours that repeat, or alternate weekly, for your whole calendar
Assign specific hours to each appointment type, like offering hair color only in the mornings and cuts in the afternoon
Block out personal time with just a few clicks

“Acuity gives us full control over our calendars and scheduling systems. At the beginning of the year, we plan out our whole year of training dates and block off the days needed. We can open specific dates and set how many months in advance clients can book appointments”

— MP, Permaesthetics

4. Set scheduling limits

Use scheduling limits to decide when clients can book, edit, or cancel their appointments. Optimize your schedule further by adjusting controls for:

Booking windows: the maximum days in advance and minimum hours before an appointment that clients can book
Cancellation windows: the minimum time needed to cancel or reschedule the appointment (if you allow changes)
Start time intervals: the start times based on your preferences or appointment durations
Appointment volume: the maximum number of appointments you can accommodate per time slot, day, or week
Time zones: set the time zone of your scheduler to default to your business time zone or the client’s time zone to ensure everyone shows up at the right time

Pro tip: Try the look busy and minimize gaps settings to hide some of your availability from clients. This can help prevent scattered downtime for maximum efficiency, or make you look busier and more in-demand when you need to.

5. Connect a payment processor

Connect your preferred payment processor (Stripe, Square, or PayPal) to begin accepting payments through Acuity. Then decide how you want clients to pay for your services.

Require deposits or full payments at booking to lock in client commitment
Send payment links via text or email for ultimate convenience
Easily charge in person after service with quick and contactless checkout tools
Create and send custom invoices that match your brand

Learn more about connecting a payment processor.

6. Set up a cancellation policy

Want to avoid last-minute cancellations and no-shows? Set a scheduling limit for cancellations, then create an intake form to lay out your cancellation policy with a checkbox question. To confirm their appointment, clients will be required to check the box and agree to terms.

“It was time-consuming to manually track appointments, confirm bookings, and enforce my policies. Acuity not only automated this process but also helped implement my late fee and no-show policies, ensuring clients respected my time. This improved my workflow and helped me maintain the exclusive experience I strive to provide.”

— Tommy Reynoso, The Lash King

7. Add your staff

If you have front desk or operations staff, or a team of multiple stylists, artists, or technicians, invite them as contributors to help manage appointments. Or, give them individual calendars* so clients can book the right person. You can:

Add users as contributors with limited access
Pool staff availability for certain services (e.g., “First available stylist”)
Manage who can edit appointments or communicate with clients

(*Additional calendars available on select plans.)

8. Automate appointment notifications

Keep everyone informed and reduce back-and-forth communication with Acuity’s automated appointment notifications for clients and staff.

Staff notifications

If you haven’t yet, download the mobile app for iOS or Android and enable push notifications to get instant alerts about bookings. You can also receive email notifications and reminders about booking activity, SMS notifications and reminders about appointments (depending your plan type), and summary emails about appointments in the day or week ahead.

Client notifications

Send clients appointment confirmation emails, reminders, cancellations, reschedules, follow-ups, package or gift certificate orders, and subscription updates. These email notifications are on by default with ready-to-use templates.

To better reflect your brand, edit the default text to match your voice and include relevant pre-appointment instructions. Protect your time further with SMS reminders* that cut through the noise of crowded inboxes. (*Available on select plans.)

“Acuity helps me make the most of my time. Clients can reschedule without my input, while I can automatically send reminder and follow-up emails and quickly access client contact info.”

— Carlin Unkle, CARLINCUTS

Tips to boost beauty bookings (and your bottom line)

Now that your foundation’s set, here’s how to turn your calendar into a well-oiled, revenue-generating machine.

Add a link in bio

Add your booking link to your social media bios where your clients are already hanging out. Make "Book Now" posts part of your regular content schedule.

Offer first-time discounts

Entice new clients to try your services by setting up a coupon code in Acuity. You choose the rules—percent or dollar off, limited time or usage, only applicable to certain services.

Create irresistible add-ons

Suggest products and upgrades like deep conditioning treatments, nail art, or aftercare kits right in the booking flow to upsell automatically and increase revenue.

Promote packages and gift certificates

Offer service bundles or gift cards that can be booked and redeemed online to retain clients and attract new ones. Perfect for holidays, birthdays, and other special occasions.

“I never thought about implementing packages for my business until I noticed the feature available on Acuity. Now I have 7-8 clients that only purchase packages. These packages have made a huge impact on my revenue.”

— Ambria Little, A Little Gelly

Ask for reviews

After a successful appointment, follow up with an email asking clients to leave a review on your external platform of choice. Set it up once to build credibility and social proof on autopilot.

Connect to your website and favorite apps

Acuity works with what already works for your business. Make it effortless for visitors to book appointments from your website by embedding your scheduler directly, or adding an eye-catching booking button or bar.

Connect your booking system to your third-party calendar, email marketing platform, or other applications to create more seamless workflows and client moments that convert. Learn more about using integrations.

You bring the talent, Acuity brings the time-saving tools

You’ve got the skills, the drive, and the passion. Now, you’ve got the right tools. Acuity helps you book more clients, get paid faster, and run your beauty business without burning out behind the scenes.

This guide is your first step. From here, you’ll be booking beautifully and making time for the parts of your business (and life) that matter most.

Ready to get started?

Start your free trial or log in to customize your Acuity setup today.

Get started

Frequently Asked Questions

Absolutely. Salon booking software like Acuity helps reduce no-shows, streamline scheduling, improve client experiences, and free up your time to focus on what matters most. It’s perfect for all beauty professionals, including hair salons, barbershops, nail technicians, makeup artists, and tattoo studios.
The best salon booking app offers flexibility, ease of use, and support for both solo stylists and multi-staff salons. Acuity lets you customize everything, from services to staff calendars to client notifications.
Yes. Acuity is built for solo stylists, teams, and salons with multiple chairs or locations. Assign availability per staff, auto-assign appointments, and sync calendars seamlessly.
To set up online scheduling, start a free trial with Acuity Scheduling. Create your services, set your availability, customize your booking page, and connect your calendar and payment processor. Clients can then book directly online at their convenience.
Absolutely. Acuity lets clients view your availability and book appointments online without the back and forth. You stay in control of your schedule while giving clients the flexibility they expect.
Yes. Acuity includes customizable email confirmations and reminders in every plan, plus SMS reminders to reduce no-shows and late arrivals with select plans.
If you charge for your services, it’s easy to collect payment through Acuity. You can accept payments fast at the time of booking or in person, collect deposits, send payment links, or issue branded invoices. Acuity integrates with Stripe, Square, and PayPal.
Some scheduling apps offer free plans, but they often come with limitations. Acuity offers a free trial, so you can explore our features risk-free. Affordable plans are available based on your business needs.