Guide
How to choose salon management software for Indian chains
Choosing salon management software in India is less about feature checklists and more about desk reality + owner truth. Use this scorecard when you compare platforms for one branch or many.
10 min read · Updated · By the AntraHQ team
1. GST and payments — non-negotiable
Ask for a live walk-in: guest → services → GST preview → UPI/cash/card → WhatsApp PDF. If GSTIN is brand-only and not per branch, mid-market chains will struggle at audit time.
2. Multi-branch economics
Demand comparable P&L by outlet (salary, rent, product). “Reports” that export to Excel are not the same as a morning coaching view. Rank branches; do not drown in charts.
3. People and payroll trust
Buddy punching and late exits leak salary. Prefer selfie + geofence attendance managers can review weekly — without forcing biometric hardware on day one.
4. Retention without spam
WhatsApp win-backs should use visit gap and spend from the same CRM as billing, with explicit opt-in. Metered messaging add-ons are fine; dark-pattern blasts are not.
5. Pricing and rollout honesty
Prefer published ₹/branch pricing and days-to-first-bill rollouts for mid-market chains. Enterprise suites can win for complex franchises — but only if you truly need that weight.
Scorecard template
Score each vendor Y/N (or 1–5) before demos end — and insist on written answers for anything marked No:
- GST walk-in demo passed (Y/N)
- Branch P&L live without Excel (Y/N)
- Attendance evidence before payroll (Y/N)
- WhatsApp from CRM opt-in (Y/N)
- Public or clear per-branch price (Y/N)
- Go-live timeline in writing (days/weeks)