Are you getting fewer clients due to the high rate of no shows and last-minute cancellations?
You’re not the only one. Currently, this is the biggest silent profit killer in beauty salons across the UK.
What we see every week here at Cleartwo are excellent salons with devoted clients and yet, they have systems that are not performing as expected. Does that sound like you?
The hidden cost of missed appointments in UK beauty salons
No shows are not just irritating, but they also make your business lose money.
As reported by Professional Beauty, UK salons lost more than £2.6 million in missed appointments over a single summer.
This is not just a small leak. This is a hole in your bucket.
On average, the no-show rate for most salons hovers around 3 to 4 percent. It may sound small, but by missing those appointments frequently, you could be silently losing months of your hard-earned profit.
Consider a treatment costing £60 for an hour. If you miss three appointments a day, that would be £180 lost. Now, multiply this amount by the number of days in a week, which is five, and then multiply it again by the number of weeks in a year, which is about fifty. That should give you a clearer picture.
The root cause of the issue
This is the usual scenario on the ground:
- Clients forget
- Life gets busy
- Messages get missed
- No deposit means no real commitment
This is where changing systems comes into play. Not adding more staff. Not working longer hours. Just better systems.
CRM for beauty salons UK explained properly
You may be wondering, “Isn’t my booking system enough?”
Allow me to clarify.
A booking system handles appointment scheduling, while a CRM focuses on relationship management.
A useful salon CRM features the ability to access the client record, which includes visit preferences, spend amount, visit frequency, and communication details. It will follow up with the client, send reminders, and will also give a gentle notification that something should be done.
This is what makes the difference between merely filling today’s diary and building next year’s revenue.
CRM vs booking system. The actual difference
Booking systems are all about scheduling.
CRM software is all based on the client.
Using a functional CRM, you can automate reminders, handle deposits, launch loyalty programs, and trigger follow ups without the need of manually chasing clients.
This is business automation taking the heavy task off your hands.
Must-have CRM features for every UK salon
You don’t need all of the features. You just need the right ones.
- Online bookings
- SMS reminders
- Deposits handling
- Loyalty rewards
- Client history
- Automated follow ups
- Review requests
The addition of these features can, when done right, reduce no shows by as much as 70%.
For instance, a salon client that we had in Manchester employed the use of automated SMS reminders and deposit requirements. After three months, the no shows went down from 15 percent to below 5 percent. The takeaway from this case? Choose a single process, do it correctly, and then watch client retention soar.
Top CRM platforms for UK beauty salons in 2026
Let’s declutter the information. These are the platforms that salon owners really care about.
Fresha
Fresha is famous and there is a reason for that.
The pricing in the UK starts at £15 to £20 per month.
It comes with the option to book, send reminders, and deposit, which further no show protection is built in.
It’s a good fit for small to medium teams who want something that is good to go.
You will see their official pricing on Fresha’s website.
Phorest
Phorest focuses on expansion.
Pricing in the UK is typically from £80 a month.
No limit on users. Marketing tools that ensure clients come back. Client insights that help you see who is loyal and who you need to pay attention to.
Best for salons that are serious about customer retention and branding.
Timely
Timely is straightforward and efficient.
Pricing in the UK is usually between £20 and £40 a month.
It handles bookings, reminders, and reporting without being complicated.
It’s a great option for independent practitioners or small teams.
If honesty is what you are looking for, check the reviews on Software Advice.
Zoho CRM
Zoho is not specifically for salons, but it does have great power.
Pricing runs from free to about £35 per user per month.
This is the area where custom CRM systems outperform.
Perfect if you want to manage all the workflows and integrations yourself.
Official pricing is available at Zoho’s site.
GoHighLevel
This is a marketing-first CRM.
Pricing starts around £75 a month and climbs higher with features.
Strong automation with AI solutions, and pre-programmed follow-up sequences.
Best for salons that run digital marketing solutions at scale.
Simple Comparison Table
| Platform | Price (UK) | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Fresha | £15 to £20 per stylist | Simplicity and ready-to-go setups |
| Phorest | £80 plus | Growing teams and retention focus |
| Timely | £20 to £40 | Solo salons and small teams |
| Zoho CRM | Free to £35 per user | Custom workflows and integrations |
| GoHighLevel | £75 plus | Automation-heavy salons |
Common salon workflow that actually works
This is the flow we see working on the ground:
- Lead books online
- Instant confirmation sent
- SMS reminder 48 hours before
- Deposit secured
- Post-visit follow up
- Review request sent
We had a client in Birmingham follow this workflow. Within three months, they cut no shows from 15% to under 5%. The lesson? Stick with one simple process, get it right, and watch your retention climb.
Implementation costs. Let’s be honest
This is where many owners get stuck.
- The software itself isn’t the main cost. Setup is.
- Expect between £0 and £500 depending on complexity.
- SMS credits usually cost around 2p per message.
- Training matters. Skip it and the tool will fail.
How to choose based on your salon size
Let’s get practical.
- Solo or chair renter: Keep it simple. Timely or Fresha.
- Small team: Fresha or Phorest depending on growth plans.
- Multi-location: Phorest or Zoho, with the proper setup.
It’s not just about features; it’s about making sure your team actually uses the software.
Where Cleartwo fits into this
The real talk is this: Tools don’t fix businesses. Implementation does.
At Cleartwo, we help salons connect their CRM with websites, payments, and digital marketing.
That includes CRM integration, business automation, cloud CRM setup, and IT support for businesses.
We also support e-commerce marketing, web development services, and IT security for SMEs.
If your CRM needs to connect with your site, our web development services cover that.
If you want smarter follow ups, our CRM solutions are built for real usage.
And if you want automation done properly, our AI automation team gets this sorted.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best CRM for beauty salons UK in 2026?
There is no single best. Fresha and Phorest lead for salons, while Zoho suits custom needs.
Can CRM software really reduce no shows?
Yes. Automated reminders and deposits can cut no shows by over half.
Is salon CRM software expensive?
No. Most UK options start under £40 per month.
Do I need IT support to set this up?
Not always, but proper setup saves time and stress in the long run.
When should I upgrade from a booking system?
When follow ups, retention, or growth start to feel messy.
So, are you ready to stop the leaky, hard-earned revenue, by no shows? Let’s work together and I get this sorted. Discuss with Cleartwo and set up a CRM that really helps your salon to grow.
