What You Need to Know About Developing a Salon Marketplace App

A salon marketplace is an app that connects customers with salons and beauty professionals. With the app, it is easy for clients to book beauty services hassle-free. Close to 50% of new salons and skincare businesses fail within three years. What helps the successful ones to stand out is their online presence.

Customers now want to book beauty services online, just like they do for rides and food. Also, about 45% of people looking for these services are inspired by social media, which goes to prove that digital platforms drive business.

People trust reviews, love convenience, and want quick access to top-rated stylists. If you're not online, you're losing clients to those who are. A salon marketplace app puts your business where your customers are—on their phones. These are what you must know about developing one of these apps.

The Salon Marketplace Model

A salon marketplace app is not only for booking. It is a full-fledged platform that helps connect salons, independent stylists, and customers in one place. Some regular booking apps only let customers schedule appointments. However, with a marketplace, multiple service providers can list what they have to offer, compete, and grow their businesses.

Key Players in a Salon Marketplace

Three categories of people keep a salon marketplace active and working.

This growth shows how many are increasingly relying on mobile apps for different services. It is driven by the increasing use of smartphones and the demand for convenient services.

• Salon owners: They list their services, manage bookings, and attract more clients.
• Independent stylists: Many beauty professionals work solo. They need an easy way to reach customers without the need to rent a full salon space.
• Customers: They compare prices, read reviews, and book services instantly.

How Do These Platforms Make Money?

There are many ways to make money off the salon marketplace. Some of these are:

• Commission-based: The popular ones like Fresha charge a percentage per booking. This model keeps salon costs low but scales as they grow.
• Subscription: Some platforms charge salons a fixed monthly fee for unlimited bookings and premium features.
• Service fees: Some apps choose to add a small charge to each transaction. Most times, the customers are the ones covering the charges.

More than 82% of consumers prefer booking beauty services online. So, your business will surely stay relevant if you have a salon marketplace. This is more than seeking convenience; it ensures your business survives in the digital-first world.

Must-Have Features for Your App

You need the right features to ensure your salon marketplace app attracts customers, helps beauty professionals manage their businesses, and keeps everything running smoothly. Users will leave for a better option if your app lacks these main tools.

For Customers: Easy Booking and Payments

Nowadays, people want speed and convenience. So, your app must have:

• Smart search: This will help filter location, price, and ratings.
• Easy booking: People want a seamless process when selecting services and scheduling.
• Reviews and ratings: 88% of consumers trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations.
• Secure payments: You must have options like credit cards, wallets, and buy-now-pay-later.

For Salon Owners & Stylists: Business Management Tools

Stylists juggle multiple clients at a time. So, you must give them:

• Profile setup: This shows their services, pricing, and portfolio.
• Service management: They can easily update it to show what they offer and prices.
• Availability calendar: This helps ensure there are no issues like double bookings and glitches in scheduling.

For Admins: Control and Insights

Your app must support smooth operations with:

• Commission tracking: This helps ensure you manage your revenue properly.
• Dispute Resolution: This helps handle cancellations and resolves complaints.
• Analytics: You can use this feature to track top-performing salons and customer trends.

Bonus Features for Extra Value

To even entice clients more, you need loyalty programs, AI-based recommendations, and virtual consultations to entice clients more. They will also help boost retention and engagement and then ensure your platform stands out.

Check out our latest Salon Marketplace Project Case Study: https://nyusoft.com/loncani/

Choosing the Right Tech Stack

The key to building a smooth, fast, and reliable salon marketplace app is to choose the right tech stack. The wrong choice will lead to slow performance, high expenses, and frustrated clients.

Native vs. Cross-Platform Development

If you want the best speed and user experience, go native with Swift (iOS) or Kotlin (Android). However, this is more expensive because you need separate apps for each platform. If you want a budget-friendly option, you can build for both iOS and Android with one codebase and cross-platform frameworks like Flutter or React Native.

Web-Based vs. Mobile-First Approach

The best salon marketplace app is mobile-first, as over 85% of bookings are made using smartphones. However, a progressive web app (PWA) also works well for desktop users.

Best Tools: WordPress & Dokan

If you want a fast, less expensive launch, WordPress development with Dokan is all you need. You can use it to create a full marketplace with bookings, payments, and vendor management—without the need for custom coding.

Monetization Strategies

In order to make money from a salon marketplace app, you have to be careful with the business model you choose. Commissions work best for growing platforms—apps like Fresha take a cut per booking to ensure they bag steady revenue. Ads and premium listings help salons stand out, while memberships offer exclusive perks. Monetization is key since online beauty spending is expected to hit $184 billion by 2028.

Challenges and How to Overcome Them

It is crucial to build trust since 92% of consumers hesitate to book services with no reviews. You must use verified ratings and a fair dispute system to handle issues. As your app grows, optimize servers to prevent crashes. To attract more users, offer intro discounts and make use of social media, where 45% of beauty buyers find inspiration.

Marketing and Launch Strategy

Start marketing early, as 60% of users discover new beauty services on social media. So partner with influencers and salons to create buzz. Offer limited-time discounts to drive sign-ups fast. Use loyalty programs and push notifications to keep users engaged. Retention is just as important as acquisition since repeat customers spend 67% more.

Conclusion

To build a successful salon marketplace app, you must understand the unique model, incorporate essential features, choose the right tech stack, and implement effective monetization strategies.

You must also address challenges like user trust, scalability, and marketing. Should you build in-house or use existing solutions? This depends on your resources. For expert assistance, Nyusoft Solutions offers comprehensive marketplace app development services tailored to your needs.