Short answer
Before leaving your salon software, you must export your complete client list with contact details, full appointment histories, future bookings, and service records including colour formulas and patch tests. You also need staff records, product inventory data, voucher balances, and financial transaction histories to ensure business continuity and satisfy UK tax and compliance rules.
Client records and patch tests
Your client list is the most valuable part of your business, and you can't afford to lose those records. When you request an export, confirm that it contains complete customer profiles, email addresses, and customer badges, not just names and telephone numbers.
UK salon insurers have strict rules about skin testing. You must have a complete record of signed consent signatures and colour test records. If you switch software, you'll need these dates and notes to prove you're compliant. Check with your insurer or professional body to confirm exactly how long you need to store these records, but keeping them accessible is essential.
You also need every client's colour formulas. If a regular client comes in for a balayage, your stylists shouldn't have to guess what mix they used six weeks ago. Make sure your export includes these detailed service notes, preferences, and historical formula records.
Appointments and upcoming bookings
A successful transition depends on keeping your diary organised. You need two separate reports here: your past appointment history and your future schedule.
Future bookings are critical because you must avoid double-booking a busy Saturday or missing a regular client. Your export should include the client name, service type, date, time, and the assigned stylist. If you're switching to Luminate, the support team can help you import these upcoming bookings so your calendar remains intact.
Past appointment history is just as important. It tells you how often clients visit, which services are your most popular, and how much clients spend. Having this history means you can track visit analytics and run marketing campaigns based on past behaviour.
Staff records and financial history
You need to keep your business records organised for tax purposes and day-to-day management. Under UK tax guidelines, you're required to keep financial records, so secure your transactions before closing your old account.
Export your complete transaction history, including bills, card processing logs, and payment methods. You'll also need outstanding gift vouchers and account credits, as these represent money you've already taken but haven't fully processed as services yet. Don't forget your product inventory data, including stock levels and retail prices, to make sure you can sell retail from day one.
Your staff profiles are also worth saving. This includes staff levels, rostering settings, and commission automation bands. Having these staff configurations on hand makes it much easier to set up your new system without starting from scratch. When migrating, Luminate can import these configurations, though you should check that your staff are correctly added to the roster afterwards.
What this means for your salon
Taking the time to pull a complete, clean export means you won't lose years of hard work when you switch software. If you're planning a migration, Luminate's team can import your ZIP of JSON files directly, running a validation pass to check every record before anything is written. Once that's running, you'll avoid the headache of rebuilding your diary by hand, and your stylists can focus on their clients from day one.