How-to Decide on Barber Biz Software
Yeah, this is software talk and not necessarily shop talk, but don’t run off scared just yet. Trust us, you’re going to want to hear this.
Even if you’re not, like, the world’s great software or tech wiz (or even if you hardly know how to open your computer—don’t worry, we feel you), we can promise you that this article is not here to freak you out or send you into mass panic—it’s going to the exact opposite, actually.
It’s no secret that there are tons of different programs out there that can help you run your barbering business better. From scheduling software to CRMS to automated marketing strategy software and more, the list is long (and it’s only going to get longer and longer, friends).
And look, we get it—that long list of software is intimidating. Especially if you have no idea of where to start. Just like with any tool for your shop, you’re going to want to do your research—especially if you’re unfamiliar with the path you’re trying to walk.
Our best recommendation? Team up with some techie barbers you know and love and talk shop about software. What’s that? You don’t have techie barber friends? There are entire communities online and in your area that you can join to get some insight on software—we can guarantee there’s going to be a few barbers out there who are more than ready to drop their software knowledge on you (maybe in exchange for some of your skillful knowledge, too).
Once you’ve done your research and you’ve narrowed down your lists, ask yourself some seriously important questions to help you decide on the right software to boost your barber biz.
Have You Read Reviews?
Remember that research we were talking about? This is a big part of it.
Start reading up on how other barbers and business owners have felt about the software you’re looking into. Based on reviews and research, make a solid pro and cons list—really break down the logistics behind what’s good and what’s bad about the software you’re looking at.
Do You Get It?
With this, we don’t mean, do you automatically and inherently understand it—if this isn’t your wheelhouse, it’s totally possible that none of this software is going to click ASAP.
What we mean is, can you see yourself learning to understand this particular software? Is it overwhelming? Is it pretty intuitive? Is there a great customer support system that can answer your questions and walk you through everything step-by-step?
There’s nothing wrong with not getting something, but we can promise you that there’s software out there that’s going to make more sense than another type, and if what you’re working with simply doesn’t click for you, it might not be the right program to help you run your business.
Will it Grow With Your Business?
In other words, is the software you’re looking to invest in scalable? Will it grow with your booming business, or will you have to shell out even more money down the road to invest in a software program that can keep up with your growth?
We’re not saying the software you invest in now has to last you until the end of your career, but the more a particular program can grow with you and last you through your booming periods, the better position you’ll be in to continue that growth in a meaningful way.
So, if you’re shopping for software and can’t see any longevity out of a certain program, we recommend looking for something else.
How Much of an Investment Is It?
Trying to balance your budget when software shopping is tough—especially because a lot of programs and software out there can truly help you further the success of your business and (pretty quickly) pay for themselves.
Definitely take your budget into account, but don’t forget that sometimes, you’ve got to spend money to make money (within reason, of course)—so don’t automatically toss out the more expensive programs on your list.
Think about how that software will serve you for years to come and consider it an investment, not necessarily just an expense.
Does it Integrate With Your Other Apps & Software?
Always check on how well the software you’re looking into will integrate with other apps and software you use. Oftentimes, quality software is going to allow you to merge all of your data, your info, and more into a single area, allowing everything to work together in harmony.If you’re looking at software that’s going to be exceptionally difficult to work with when considering other can’t-get-rid-off programs, you might want to keep looking—the last thing you want is a clunky software that can’t integrate with other vital programs your barbershop is running.
What Do Your Techie Barbers Recommend?
Again, go visit those techie barber friends (or even just techie business owner friends) and ask them how they feel about the specific software you’ve picked out.
Do they love it? Do they hate it? Have they used it? Is it worth it? Feedback and opinions are everything.
See? Software shopping doesn’t have to be overwhelming—it just takes a little work to really understand what you should be looking for in the first place.
If you’ve got software recommendations for our community of barbers, be a saint and drop them below in the comment section. Trust us, everyone wants a good recommendation when it comes to running their biz better.
Looking to stay in the loop on even more barber biz talk? We’ve got good news—that’s easy to do. Keep up with NAOB’s regularly updated blog for more barber community shop talk, tricks, tips, and insight on how to be the best barber you can be.
