Hot take: slow checkout and payment hiccups can put a damper on your spa’s amazing service.
This not only potentially damages your reputation but can also lead to manual reconciliation processes, transaction errors, delayed payouts and increased overhead costs.
Automated payment processing systems streamline spa payments, saving you time.
In this blog, learn how automated payment processing makes your spa work more efficiently. We’ll also highlight the top five payment processing tools to help you choose the right fit for your spa or wellness center.
The basics of automated payment processing
Automated payment processing enables businesses to accept electronic payments, which is essential for efficiently managing payments and memberships in spas.
Integrating it with a POS system enables payments through various channels like card payments, mobile wallets, and online transactions.
If you use spa software with a built-in payment processing tool, you get a next level of efficiency and convenience for streamlining transactions and enhancing customer satisfaction.
💳 Compared to manual methods like cash or checks, with automated payment systems you don’t need to manually enter payment information.
💳 Transactions are processed instantly, enabling quick and efficient payments.
💳 Clients enjoy flexibility in payment methods – like paying with Apple Pay or Google Pay so they don’t need to bring their wallet.
TakePayment’s research shows that beauty and hair salons also saw a 65% increase in contactless payments.
Similarly, Mastercard found that small businesses that accept digital payments grow twice as fast as those that don’t.
Time-saving benefits of automated payment processing for spas
Automated payment processing offers numerous time-saving benefits for your med spa, allowing you to focus on what you do best: providing exceptional services and experiences to your clients.
Streamlining transactions
Automated payment processing speeds up the payment process for both your clients and staff.
Your clients can enjoy a swift and hassle-free checkout experience and pay with their preferred payment types, including fast and secure online payment options.
Your front desk staff won’t have to spend hours sifting through Excel spreadsheets to reconcile payments, as the system does it automatically. This reduces the risk of errors and provides real-time insights into cash flow.
Lastly, integration with your spa or salon software ensures that payment details are automatically synced with appointment schedules and client records.
Reducing administrative overhead
Automating payments in salons and spas significantly reduces admin overhead by streamlining processing tasks.
Your providers don’t have to manually chase up clients for overdue payments, as the payment processing system sends payment reminders to clients.
You can easily set up automated recurring payments for memberships according to the set schedule.
Plus, an automated payment tool offers self-service portals where clients can manage payments independently.
Enhancing customer experience
A quicker, more reliable payment experience improves the overall client experience.
Automated payment processing reduces wait times at the reception desk and allows your clients to get on with their day without unnecessary delays.
Integrating a payment processor with your spa management software enables you to sync it with appointment scheduling. Your clients can pay for services at the time of booking or immediately after their appointment.
Being able to save cards on file means clients are more likely to go through with the booking because they don’t have to get off the couch and find their card – which also increases conversions.
Your clients will also appreciate the convenience of not having to dig out their cards for each visit. Being able to just tap and go is super convenient – and it makes your business look great too.
Improved financial reporting and analysis
Automated systems allow spa owners to monitor revenue, expenses, and cash flow with just a click.
With real-time financial data and sales reports available at a glance, you can make informed decisions more quickly and confidently. Identifying trends and tracking performance metrics allows you to see what’s working at your spa and what needs fixing.
For example, you might see that facials bring you the most revenue, while your aromatherapy treatments have not been booked that much. Now you can see how to promote it to increase its profitability.
5 great automated payment processing systems for spas and wellness centers
Now that you’re familiar with how automated payment processing saves time for your spa, let’s jump into the top five automated payment processing systems.
1. Pabau
Pabau is a practice management software designed to ease operations, save time on manual work, and drive revenue in spas, salons and wellness centers.
Pabau has a robust integrated payment processing solution that automatically keeps track of your payments and syncs all your transactions with your appointments, client card, inventory management and reports in the system.
This means you won’t have to use different solutions for online bookings and credit card processing. They are all housed under the same roof, so your life is instantly easier!
Additionally, we have a bespoke Pabau Pay terminal that works hand in hand with Pabau’s practice management software, providing you with an all-in-one payment system. Say goodbye to manual payment reconciliation once and for all, while enjoying frictionless payments, updated client accounts and rapid payouts.
With Pabau Pay card terminals, you enjoy market-leading low fees, pricing starting from 3.1% + 25 cents per transaction (US) and 1.35% + 20 pence (UK). We make sure you keep your hard-earned money in your pocket.
Key features:
- Fully integrated payment processing system with your spa management software
- Multiple payment methods, including Visa, Mastercard, American Express, or even Google Pay and Apple Pay.
- Specific features for spa business management: take tips, automatically update client records with payments and set up clear no-show and cancellation policies.
- Flexible & frictionless payments: chip-and-pin, tap, contactless payment, partial payments for more expensive treatments
- Integrated functionalities for gift cards, packages and bundles
- Integrates with Stripe
Ready to have peace of mind and payment processing smooth as butter? Check out how Pabau Pay makes that happen. 🎁
2. Mindbody
Mindbody is a business management solution for the fitness, wellness and beauty industry.
Their payment processing feature allows business owners to set up recurring payments for membership fees and accept 24/7 online payments on their app or desktop.
Mindboy has different processing fees for different areas (not available in all countries). For the US, fees are 3.5% + .15 USD for online transactions and 2.75% for in-person transactions, while for the UK, fees are 1.99% + .20p GBP online and 1.75% in-person payments.
However, users have also complained about their complicated billing system and their payment processing company randomly taking not-requested chargebacks from users’ accounts.
Key features:
- Payment processing & POS hardware integrated into the Mindbody system
- Take 24/7 online payments on the desktop or mobile app
- Accepts Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Google and Apple Pay, and recurring payments
3. Boulevard
Boulevard is a client-experience software for beauty salons (nail, massage, hairstylists), spas, medspas and barber shops.
Their premium Boulevard Payments payment processing system lets you store cards on file, take tips and use multi-merchant accounts.
Boulevard Offset allows you to share a 4% credit card processing fee with your clients paying with credit cards. Basically, you charge 3% of the fee as part of the total price and only pay 1%. Debit and credit processing fees start at 2.65% + $0.15, with available volume discounts.
This makes it a good fit for medium or enterprise spas with high credit card volume and that can budget for premium software and POS.
Key features:
- Boulevard Offset – feature to share processing fees with clients
- Boulevard Duo – an EMV-certified Bluetooth card reader
- POS accepts taps, dips, swipes and contactless payments with Apple Pay and Google Pay
4. Zenoti
Zenoti is a cloud-based software for salons, spas, med spas and fitness centers.
Zenoti Payments processing service offers several smart features: automatic updates of clients’ expired credit cards, automated reconciliations, dispute management, recurring membership charges and auto pay at checkout.
Zenoti’s global access allows you to store client’s card info from multiple locations and use it from any location. They offer a range of card terminals to choose from or connect your own.
Fees for all cards are 2.45% + $0.10 for card present and 2.95% + $0.10 for card not present, except Amex. Fees for Amex are 2.95% + $0.10 for card present, and 3.25% + $0.10 for card not present.
Key features:
- Zenoti Payments allows credit cards, gift cards, and touchless payments via Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay
- Automated features: update client’s expired cards, dispute management and auto pay during checkout
- Automated membership renewals and package subscriptions
5. Vagaro
Vagaro is an affordable solution and marketplace for the beauty, wellness and fitness industry.
Their system comes with an integrated payment processing service, POS hardware with a card reader and a Tap to Pay feature.
Vagaro allows you to store credit cards on file when booking online or in person, set up recurring membership and package charges and auto-update cards about to expire. Additionally, users can set up deposits and enable clients to check out on their phones.
Fees vary by processing volume:
- Small merchants under $4,000/month pay 2.75% per swipe and 3.5% + $0.15 per keyed-in transaction.
- Large merchants over $4,000/month pay 2.2% + $0.19 per swipe and 3.0% + $0.19 per keyed-in transaction.
Key features:
- Low credit card processing fees and no monthly fee for small merchants
- Feature-rich payment processing: save client cards, recurring payments, client checkout on phones
- Allows to split payments to several employees in one transaction
Elevate payment processing at your spa with Pabau
Automated payment processing saves time and elevates your spa’s efficiency.
An integrated payment processing tool not only streamlines your transactions – it also provides a smoother, frictionless checkout experience for your clients. At the same time, your employees don’t need to chase down clients to pay or remind them about membership renewals. Also, manual payment reconciliation is a thing of the past with Pabau Pay.
Pabau’s integrated automated processing solution helps you unlock new levels of convenience and satisfaction for both staff and clients.
Explore how Pabau makes your life easier and helps you ditch spreadsheets and manual processing in your spa. 💆
