Best CRM's For Barber Shops in 2023
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Hello fellow barbers, James here! With over two decades of experience in this industry, I've worked in every type of barbershop imaginable - from the old school, single-chair setup to the buzzing multi-location enterprises. But regardless of the size or style of the shop, there's one thing that's been a game-changer in the way we do business today: CRM systems.

In my time, I've seen and worked with more than a dozen different CRM systems. Some were a breeze to use, others felt like I was trying to solve a Rubik's cube blindfolded. But each system, no matter how brilliant or frustrating, taught me something new about what a barbershop really needs from its CRM.

Take Squire, for example. Among the various systems I've tried or seen in action, Squire stands out in one particular area: customer loyalty programs. The way it engages customers and keeps them coming back is truly top-notch. I've seen firsthand how a solid loyalty program can transform a casual walk-in customer into a regular, and Squire nails it every time.

In this article, I'll share my experiences and insights, honed from years of working in the trenches. We'll explore the world of CRM systems, highlighting key features, pricing, pros, and cons, and using real-life examples from my time in the barber's chair.

Let's dive in, and find the one that fits your shop like a well-worn barber's cape. Let's get started!

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II. The Role of CRM in the Barber Shop Industry

When I first started managing a barbershop, I quickly realized that keeping track of all the operations manually was a herculean task. That's when I first came across CRM software and it truly changed the game for us. There are three main components to focus on. Don't get lost in the noise, just focus on these three:

A. Streamlining Booking and Appointments

We began our digital journey with Square Appointments. This platform transformed the way we handled bookings. Our old method was using a ledger book and manually writing down appointments - it was time-consuming and prone to mistakes. Square Appointments allowed our customers to book their slots online, even after business hours, which was a game-changer. This system reflected the real-time availability of slots, which ensured no double bookings and maintained an organized schedule.

B. Enhancing Customer Relationships

As our barber shop grew in popularity, maintaining personal relationships with our increasing client base became challenging. Square Appointments was great, but we realized we needed a more comprehensive CRM system. That's when we transitioned to Fresha. Fresha allowed us to maintain detailed profiles for each customer, including their preferred styles and appointment history. This level of detail helped us deliver a personalized experience to each customer, which they appreciated.

C. Improving Marketing Efforts and Business Insights

After enjoying the benefits of Fresha for a while, we noticed one area that we could still improve - our marketing efforts. We were running promotions, but we weren't able to target them to the most relevant customers. That's when we learned about HubSpot CRM. HubSpot CRM provided us with advanced segmentation features, allowing us to target our marketing efforts more efficiently. Additionally, HubSpot's robust analytics gave us valuable business insights which guided us in making informed decisions to grow our business.

This journey through different CRM systems taught us that there's no one-size-fits-all solution. Each system brought its own strengths, and together they revolutionized our operations. Stay tuned as we delve deeper into each of these CRM systems, their features, pros, and cons in the next section.

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III. Review of Top CRMs for Barber Shops (Be wary of any NOT on this list)

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As barbers, we know the power of a good trim. So, let's trim the fat and dive straight into the top CRMs for barber shops.

A. HubSpot CRM

1. I fondly call HubSpot CRM the Swiss Army knife of CRMs. It's a versatile, all-in-one solution that handles everything from appointments to analytics.
2. Key Features Relevant to Barber Shops:
   HubSpot allows your clients to book appointments directly, helps you maintain rich customer profiles, and offers powerful marketing and analytics tools. It's essentially your shop's personal assistant, sales manager, and marketing director rolled into one.
3. Pricing: While HubSpot does offer a free version, the paid versions, starting at $50 per month, unlock the full suite of tools that truly transform your barber shop operations. There are also some other paid options starting at $20 per month.
4. Pros and Cons: The versatility of HubSpot is unmatched, and it can effectively streamline your operations. However, for some smaller barber shops, it might be a bit like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut. The pricing might be a bit steep for businesses that don't require such a wide range of functionalities.

B. Square Appointments

1. Ah, Square Appointments, my first love in the CRM world. It's a simple yet effective booking system that'll streamline your appointment process.
2. Key Features Relevant to Barber Shops:
   Square focuses on making the booking process as seamless as possible for both the client and the barber shop. It syncs in real-time to avoid double bookings and lets clients book their slots online, making appointment scheduling a breeze.
3. Pricing: Square Appointments offers a free version for individuals, but for businesses with multiple staff, the pricing starts at $50 per month.
4. Pros and Cons: Square Appointments is an excellent tool for simplifying the booking process. However, its CRM functionalities are rather limited compared to other software on this list.

C. Fresha

1. Fresha, When my old colleague, Terry, swapped his notepad for Fresha at his bustling barber shop, it was like watching someone discover fire. He couldn't stop raving about how Fresha kept all his client profiles in order, making every customer feel like a VIP. He also loved the price tag – or lack thereof. Terry always had a knack for a good deal, and Fresha was certainly that.
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2. Key Features Relevant to Barber Shops: Fresha offers booking services and an impressive client management system, allowing you to keep detailed customer profiles and preferences. This CRM is about building and maintaining customer relationships.
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3. Pricing: One of the best things about Fresha? It's completely free!
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4. Pros and Cons: Fresha is an excellent option for customer management and appointment scheduling, plus, you can't beat the price. However, it lacks the more advanced marketing and analytics tools of some other CRM software.

D. Barberly

• Barberly, My friend Luca, who runs a slick operation in the city center, was an early adopter of Barberly. He loved how the software seemed to understand the unique rhythms of the barbering world. The walk-in management feature was a godsend for him, helping him maximize every available slot. In Luca's words, "Barberly gets barbers because it is for barbers.
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• Key Features Relevant to Barber Shops:
  Barberly is laser-focused on the barbering industry, which shows in its feature set. It offers online appointment scheduling, including reminders to reduce no-shows, and customer profiles to keep track of each client's style preferences and visit history. In addition, it offers some snappy tools for managing walk-ins and waitlists, keeping your chairs full and customers happy.
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• Pricing: Starts at $35 per month for one barber.
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• Pros and Cons:
  What makes Barberly stand out is its specialization in the barbering industry - it's like they've walked a mile in our shoes and built a CRM to match. The features are user-friendly, and it offers a seamless experience for both the barber and the client. On the downside, Barberly is a relatively new player, and as with all newcomers, there might be some growing pains as they continue to develop and refine their platform.

E. Vagaro

1. Vagaro came highly recommended from a stylist friend, Ellie, who runs a combined salon and barbershop. She needed a CRM that could handle the diverse needs of her business, and Vagaro fitted the bill. She appreciated its modern interface and wide range of features, even if it took her a few tries to get the hang of it.
2. Key Features Relevant to Barber Shops: Vagaro offers appointment scheduling, client management, marketing tools, and a point-of-sale system. It's a comprehensive platform designed to meet the diverse needs of service businesses.
3. Pricing: Vagaro's pricing starts at $25 per month for a single user, with packages available for larger teams.
4. Pros and Cons: Vagaro is a well-rounded CRM with a modern interface. However, its wealth of features can be overwhelming for some, and there may be a bit of a learning curve to fully utilize its capabilities.
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G. Squire

1. Squire And then there's Squire. I've yet to meet a more enthusiastic advocate for a CRM system than my buddy Raj, who runs an upscale barbershop. He loved the mobile pay feature, saying it gave his shop an edge in catering to his tech-savvy clientele. Plus, he said the loyalty program built into Squire was "a game-changer" in keeping his customers coming back.
2. Key Features Relevant to Barber ShopsSquire not only manages your online bookings, but it also brings an integrated point-of-sale system, inventory management, and a powerful set of analytics to the table. It stands out with its features like mobile pay and loyalty programs that give it an edge over some more traditional CRMs.
3. PricingAs of my last update in September 2021, Squire pricing wasn't publicly listed, so you'll need to contact them directly for the most accurate and current pricing details.
4. Pros and ConsSquire's focus on the barbershop industry means it brings targeted features to the table that can genuinely enhance your business operations. The integrated mobile pay feature is a nod to the modern, tech-savvy clientele we're seeing more of these days.

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And there you have it, my barbering buddies! Five top-notch CRM options that can take your barber shop from good to 'cutting-edge'. Remember, the best tool isn't the most expensive or feature-packed, but the one that fits just right for your business needs. So, happy trimming, and happy CRM hunting!

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