Vagaro Review: Is It Right for Your Business?

Retail companies as a whole have been in the state of flux for some time now. As more people are using digital shopping, traditional retail has found itself struggling. For those businesses still interested in operating physical stores and want to get ahead of this trend, Vagaro is an innovative solution that could provide successful results without sacrificing profits or resources.

The “vagaro complaints” is a review website that allows people to complain about the company. The site has been around for a while and has had a lot of reviews written about them.

Vagaro is a cloud-based point-of-sale system for the beauty, wellness, and fitness sectors. Customers may make appointments or buy the user’s Store on the Internet via the Vagaro website and app, where users are promoted. It also includes a fully functional point-of-sale system that manages scheduling, customer administration, payroll data, marketing, and more. It’s reasonably priced, ranging from $25 to $85 a month, despite the fact that the hardware is among the most costly.

Pay a visit to Vagaro.

What We Think Vagaro Is Good For

Vagaro is one of the finest POS systems for salon and fitness. I have years of expertise in the spa business and have researched hundreds of POS systems. We gave it a 4.55 out of 5 star rating in our salon POS review because of its excellent scheduling and client management capabilities, as well as its payroll and SOAP notes.

In a nutshell, Vagaro is ideal for:

• Vagaro includes extensive calendaring, client management, and personnel management capabilities for busy salons with several workers (including payroll). This makes it an excellent alternative for services that manage a large workforce.
• In the medical field, spas, fitness facilities, and massage therapists: SOAP (subjective, objective, assessment, and plan) Notes from Vagaro are uncommon in POS and scheduling applications. This form makes taking notes on a client’s physical evaluation and progress simple.
• Businesses in need of marketing tools: Vagaro provides a spot on its website and app for all of its users to schedule appointments or purchase in your Store on the Internet. Only Fresha and MassageBook provide comparable services for salons and massage therapists. It also has sophisticated marketing capabilities, albeit they may be paid for separately.

When Vagaro Isn’t the Right Fit

• Vagaro is more costly and has more features than a single operator running their own calendar and online shop requires. Small salons or solopreneurs: Vagaro is more expensive and has more features than a single operator running their own calendar and Store on the Internet needs. We recommend Square or Fresha, both of which provide free services for single users. Fresha, like Vagaro, features an online directory.
• This program is developed for services such as beauty, fitness, and massage in retail and restaurant establishments. If these are your sectors, check out our guides on the best retail POS and best restaurant POS.

Are you looking for something unique? Check out our list of the finest point-of-sale systems for small companies.

Overview of Vagaro

Pay a visit to Vagaro.

Pricing for Vagaro

• Free trial: A one-month free trial is available.
• Monthly membership fee: $25–$85 based on the number of workers that demand their own calendar. Vagaro’s cost is comparable to Square’s, except it does not offer a free plan. Fresha is a good option if you want a free plan that can accommodate several workers.
• Additional features: Vagaro includes a number of supplementary features for which it costs a fee. These include the following:
  • $10 per month for forms
  • Monthly cloud storage costs $10.
  • Text marketing that is automated costs $20 per month.
  • Monthly fee for a branded app is $200.
  • $10 per month for an online shopping cart
  • $10 per month for a custom website
  • Monthly fee for the check-in app is $10.
  • $10 per month for a featured placement on the Vagaro website.
• Payment processing fee: Vagaro is unique in that it offers two payment processing options based on the amount of your sales. You may be required to sign a contract.
  • <$4,000 per month: No monthly fee; 2.75% for in person, 3.5% + 15¢ for keyed-in transactions
  • >$4,000 per month: $10 monthly fee, plus 2.2% + 19¢ for in person, 3% + 19¢ for keyed-in transactions; or if using American Express, 2.75% + 19¢ for in person, 3.5% + 19¢ for keyed-in transactions
• Card reader hardware costs: Each account comes with a free chip, tap, and swipe card reader. The cost of additional readers is $75.
• Countertop terminal packages with touch-screen monitors range in price from $750 to $1,203. This is more costly than other payment methods, such as Square.

Features of Vagaro

Setup might take as little as 15 minutes, depending on the amount of customers, services, inventory, and workers you have. It allows you to import client contact information and inventory for free. Everything from appointment notes to employee profiles will be imported for $150. However, double-check the settings and make a backup; one Capterra user claimed to have lost all of their client information while switching from Square. Another customer said that they were unable to import their prior appointment history.

Hardware

Vagaro provides three POS systems, all of which are built on their dual-screen Pay Desk display. The system is completely connected with Vagaro, and consumers may check costs, add a tip, sign, and pay on one screen for company and another for customers. You may also use daily offers or photographs of your work to create home screens. Wi-Fi, external keyboards, and accessories are all supported. Google Chrome and email may also be downloaded on the gadget.

Vagaro provides three hardware options. (Image courtesy of Vagaro.com)

There are three bundles to choose from:

• Pay Desk Essentials ($750) includes a pay desk as well as a portable scanner.
• Pay Desk Plus ($864) includes a pay desk as well as a portable scanner, an EMV reader, and a dock.
• Pay Desk with Handheld Scanner, EMV Reader and Dock, USB Printer, and Cash Drawer: ($1203) Pay Desk with Handheld Scanner, EMV Reader and Dock, USB Printer, and Cash Drawer

If you sign up for a one-year merchant account with Pay Desk Plus or Complete, you’ll get a $75 discount.

Calendar

Vagaro’s calendar is simple to use, adaptable, and color-coded by status. You may schedule people or resources, set up recurring appointments to fill them automatically, and set aside personal time to avoid scheduling an employee on their day off. By clicking on an appointment or lingering over it to view existing notes as a popup, you may make notes. Most scheduling software has these functions.

Employee schedules may be seen individually or as part of the salon’s day on Vagaro’s calendar. (Image courtesy of Vagaro)

The indicators that may indicate the kind of appointment—such as a camera for a livestream lesson or consultation—as well as the possibility to double book—were two elements that jumped out. This is an excellent tool for salons where a stylist may need to squeeze in a haircut while a perm is setting. You may specify the capacity when scheduling courses, and the calendar will monitor sign-ups and indicate as full when the maximum is reached.

Finally, your Vagaro calendar may be synced with Google, Apple, or Outlook calendars. Although this is something that many appointment software apps perform, it is always a beneficial feature for staff.

Memberships

You may also set up memberships with automatic payments. From Facebook to your online shop, you may sell them everywhere you schedule appointments. You may also provide promotional pricing, a free first month, reward points, or other benefits. Customers may also share their subscriptions with family and friends, even pets.

You may generate recurring revenue with the memberships feature. (Image courtesy of Vagaro)

Notifications

Vagaro allows you to send email or text acknowledgments and reminders. Clients may choose whether or not to receive SMS alerts, which include confirmations, reminders, and other appointment-related communications. You receive unlimited text alerts, unlike Salon Iris, albeit marketing messages are an add-on that begins at $20 per month.

Employees may download the Vagaro app to get extra smartphone features. (Image courtesy of Vagaro)

Vagaro provides customers with a mobile app. It allows you to send push alerts to your clients on anything relating to their appointments, such as a time change. The software also allows customers to add appointments to their phone calendars. The Vagaro Pro app allows salons to monitor messages and communicate with consumers.

Store on the Internet

The Store on the Internet lets you sell from your Vagaro website, booking page, or Facebook account. Vagaro assists for free by importing the inventory and helping you set up the shop. You need a merchant service account for this feature. You can have customers purchase and book services, or purchase to book them later. You can also sell products, packages, gift certificates, or Memberships. You can take deposits or payments in full. It also lets you select shipping or pickup options.

The Store on the Internet can be accessed through the Vagaro website, app, and elsewhere. (Source: vagaro.com)

Payments

You may be paid in a variety of ways using Vagaro. Vagaro offers its own payment processor, Vagaro Merchant Services, in addition to being able to connect your own merchant account. For firms that earn less than $4,000 per month, it has a flat charge. If you make more than that, you’ll be charged a $10 monthly fee, but your per-transaction rate will be reduced. The majority of POS providers with integrated payment processing do not offer a discount like this.

Invoices are an excellent method to charge customers. (Image courtesy of Vagaro)

You may also send invoices to consumers, which can be paid online, as well as take tips. The invoicing function includes automated reminders when invoices are past due, as well as tracking via reports. They also connect to client profiles, making it simple to notify customers about past-due payments when they come in for their next visit.

Management of Customers

Vagaro allows you to monitor and save consumer information such as a picture, credit card information, and hair blade size preferences. From the calendar screen, you can also upload photographs, videos, PDFs, digital waivers, and more, as well as link client assets to individual appointments.

Customers may be tracked via Vagaro’s online or mobile app. (Image courtesy of Vagaro)

SOAP Notes

The SOAP notes feature will be appreciated by health and fitness services, particularly those linked with chiropractic or medical institutions. SOAP stands for Subjective, Objective, Assessment, and Plan, and it’s used to track each client’s visits, retrieve their history, and track their progress.

SOAP Notes make it simple to keep track of a client’s fitness or pain management history. (Image courtesy of Vagaro’s knowledge base)

The SOAP notes may be accessed from either the appointment or the client profile. SOAP Notes and SOAP Notes Advanced are the two kinds. The sophisticated screen includes a human body profile to aid in the identification of pain sites (this feature is ideal for, and typically used by, massage therapists). There’s a pain scale and SOAP boxes on two of them. You may also upload up to five JPG, PNG, or PDF files. You’ll also be able to access and review prior notes.

Payroll

With hourly rates and a time clock, as well as configurable commission levels and the flexibility to pay by services, courses, and product sales, Vagaro provides one of the strongest payroll functionalities of the salon POS software we tested. It allows you to examine pay stubs and pay history as well as perform payroll reports. You can interface with Gusto, Xero, or QuickBooks for more sophisticated capabilities.

Vagaro’s time clock and commission capabilities allow you to generate payroll directly from the app. (Image courtesy of Vagaro)

Reports

The Vagaro dashboard displays appointments, sales, and service providers for a rapid overview of your company’s present state. You may combine data with Xero, QuickBooks, or Excel for further in-depth analysis, or run reports on the following:

• Payroll for employees
• Client retention is important.
• Sales
• Booking online vs. booking in person
• Inventory is divided into four categories: sold, lost, expired, and bought.
• Employee commissions

Vagaro provides reports and analyses that may be viewed, printed, or exported. (Image courtesy of Vagaro.com)

Features of the Vagaro Add-On

Vagaro offers a number of supplementary features that, like Square, contribute considerably to its capabilities and would otherwise need the use of a third-party program. These add-ons provide the functionality as well as the assurance that they are compatible with the Vagaro POS system.

• Check-in app ($10 per month): Eliminate the need for a front-desk employee with a check-in app that allows clients to check themselves in (through the Vagaro app’s QR code, a key card you give, or manually) for one or multiple appointments (such as a massage and facial) and alerts you. Clients may also use the app to cancel appointments, sign up for additional classes or appointments (including multiple sessions), and pay.
• Create custom forms for intake, liability releases, surveys, and anything else you need to effectively serve your clients ($10 per month). You may include them on your website, send them through email, or have them filled out automatically when an appointment is scheduled.
• Automated email marketing (Automated email marketing ($0–$90 per month, depending on number of emails sent): With colorful newsletters and an easy-to-use design interface, you can create campaigns for customers for occasions from birthdays to “not seen you in a while” to promoting the newest product or stylist. Vagaro says users get an average of 4.6 appointments per campaign.–$90 per month, depending on amount of emails sent): Create campaigns for consumers for every occasion, from birthdays to “haven’t seen you in a while” to advertising the newest product or stylist, using colorful newsletters and an easy-to-use design interface. Users get an average of 4.6 appointments every campaign, according to Vagaro.
• Automated text marketing ($20–$400 per month, depending on amount of texts sent): Send out blasts to all your consumers to announce a new deal or service. Vagaro can send texts automatically, interact with email campaigns, and measure results.
• Select and tweak a template ($10 per month) or have Vagaro designers develop your website for you ($100 one-time cost). Customers may arrange appointments using Vagaro, which hosts the website and includes the Vagaro calendar.
• Branded application ($200 per month): Get all of Vagaro’s features, from booking to shopping cart, in a custom-branded app for your business. Vagaro creates it for you and uploads it to Google Play and Apple App Store.
• Get your company’s name on Vagaro’s customer-facing apps ($10 per month): This is a great method to set yourself out from the throng.

Mobile App

Vagaro features two apps: one for consumers and the other for you and your team.

People may use the customer app to locate spas, hairdressers, fitness studios, and other services in their region. It allows people to schedule appointments and make purchases from your company. With 5,032 reviews, Android users give it a 4.6 out of 5 star rating. With 4,200 reviews, the iOS app had a rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars. (Of course, at the time of this publication.)

Customers may use the Vagaro app to find salons in their region, including yours. (Image courtesy of Google Play)

The Vagaro Pro app lets you run Vagaro from your mobile, with your customer database, appointment history, and more. You can book appointments, manage equipment and rooms, set up your Store on the Internet, and take payments. At the time of this posing, Android users give it 4.2 out of 5 stars with 6,785 reviews. The iOS app earned 4.5 out of 5 stars with 4,500 reviews.

User-Friendliness

Take advantage of the free training classes given Mondays at 1 p.m. if you’re new to Vagaro. Tuesdays at 9 a.m., Pacific time. The time zone is Pacific. You may refer to the knowledge base for particular queries about how to use a feature, which offers thorough articles, frequently with video. A live chat option is also available.

Users have said that the program is simple to use, but that learning all of the functionality required some time. However, getting help when difficulties arose was not always simple. (See below for consumer comments.)

Alternatives to Vagaro

Whether you’re not sure if Vagaro is perfect for you, compare it to our best POS services for salons and spas.

What Do Users Have to Say About Vagaro?

This software is either loved or despised by users. Those who liked it liked the variety of functions, the fact that it was less expensive than MindBody while providing a comparable job, and the fact that they could add more features as required.

Those that disliked it experienced substantial problems transitioning from other software to Vagaro, as well as challenges with customer sign-ins, price displays, and SMS, which resulted in lost customers and money. It does not function effectively for booking lessons, according to one user. Customer service was also commended or panned, while it was a common occurrence that angry consumers were not compensated for lost client money due to software faults.

Nonetheless, it has a 4.7-star rating as of this writing, indicating that it gets things right the majority of the time.

These are some of the patterns I discovered when reading customer reviews:

Conclusion

If you run a busy salon or fitness center and need POS software that handles your appointments, employees, and customers, Vagaro is a good choice. It not only handles the most important parts of scheduling and reminding customers of appointments but also processes payments and includes an Store on the Internet. Users rate it highly. Sign up for its free one-month trial today.

Pay a visit to Vagaro.

The “vagaro vs square” is a comparison of two different companies that offer mobile point-of-sale services. One company is Vagaro, and the other is Square. The article discusses how each company’s offerings are similar and different.

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