Running a hair salon in the UK means keeping track of dozens of moving parts while standing behind the chair. You're managing columns, booking colour services, and making sure clients show up. Most software complicates this by charging you per user. If you have six stylists, a £30 per-user fee comes to £180 every month. Luminate keeps things simple with one flat price of £69 per month, which includes unlimited staff accounts and unlimited terminals. It is built for the UK and Ireland, giving you tools that fit your business without extra costs as you grow.
UK compliance
Skin test compliance is a critical part of running a colour business. If a client has a reaction, your insurer will ask for a clear record of a patch test. Luminate tracks and flags skin test records on the client profile, so you can check the status before your team starts mixing. You can log the date applied, the results, and the stylist who checked it, ensuring you have proof ready if anyone asks.
Data security is just as important under UK law. Luminate hosting is based in the UK and EU, keeping your database encrypted and compliant with GDPR requirements. You can use the built-in GDPR tools to handle data requests or remove records when someone asks. Regular backups run in the background, so you won't lose your formulas or booking history if your computer stops working.
VAT and reporting
Keeping your figures straight is essential when you're managing VAT thresholds or preparing quarterly returns. You need to know what your business is bringing in without spending Sunday evening going through paper till receipts.
Luminate provides revenue reports that give you a clear breakdown of sales. You can view your total intake, separate service sales from retail purchases, and see your VAT figures. This makes it easy to export your figures for your accountant or check your progress against the VAT threshold. The reports show exactly where your money is coming from, helping you make sensible decisions about stock, pricing, and staff hours.
Pricing in pounds, support in your timezone
Many salon software platforms are based overseas, meaning you pay in foreign currencies or deal with support teams in other timezones. Luminate Salon Limited is registered in England and Wales under company number 17076468. You pay in pounds and get support in your own timezone.
The pricing is straightforward. You pay £69 per month, which includes every feature. There are no tiers, no hidden upgrades, and no contract forcing you to stay. You can cancel at any time with no exit fee. If you want to try it, you can start a 30-day free trial with no credit card required, giving you access to every feature. Every subscription includes a free onboarding call, video tutorials, and access to the online docs, which span 137 pages of guides.
What's included
- Diary and booking. You get a drag-and-drop calendar to organise your days. Clients can book online with multi-service bookings. You can manage busy periods with waitlist management and send smart reminders to help reduce empty slots.
- Till and checkout. The quick POS checkout lets you process payments on unlimited terminals. You can send digital receipts to clients, handle cash drawer management, sell gift vouchers, and accept deposits and pre-payments.
- Client management. You can build customer profiles with visit analytics and use customer badges to highlight specific requirements. You can also send marketing campaigns, birthday messages, and chat using two-way messaging.
- Colour services. Stylists can log exact colour formulas to make future appointments simple. The system supports overage billing to help you charge for extra product used during a service.
- Staff management. Organise your team with rostering, leave management, staff levels, and commission automation. You can also track work hours with hours tracking, manage access with role permissions, and view staff performance reporting.
- Admin and compliance. The system helps you track skin test compliance and handle data requests using GDPR tools. You can monitor your product inventory and manage multiple sites with multi-salon support.
- In-app assistant. You can ask Lumen, the in-app AI assistant, for help with tasks or quick information while you work.
Common questions
- How much do online deposits cost? Online payments, including online deposits, cost 2% + 20p for card processing. There are no monthly gateway fees or setup costs; you are only charged when you take an online payment. For example, a £20 online payment costs 60p, and a £50 online payment costs £1.20. You can set deposits per service as a fixed sum or a percentage.
- What happens if a client leaves their booking incomplete? If an online deposit is unpaid after 30 minutes, the booking cancels itself. This keeps your diary clear and ensures that slots are not held by incomplete bookings.
- Do you charge per user or per stylist? Luminate does not charge per user. You can create unlimited staff accounts and use unlimited tills or terminals for £69 per month. Your monthly bill stays the same as your team grows.
- Are reminder messages included? You get 300 SMS credits included in your subscription each month. Email and WhatsApp messaging are also included. You can use these to send smart reminders, booking confirmations, or messages to your clients.
- Is there a minimum contract term? No, Luminate uses monthly billing with no contract, no minimum term, and no exit fee. You can cancel your subscription at any time.
Choosing salon software is about finding tools that work for your business day in, day out. You can start a 30-day free trial of Luminate without entering a credit card, giving you time to explore the drag-and-drop calendar, set up customer profiles, and test the till. If it doesn't make your life easier from day one, you can walk away immediately. There are no fees or questions asked. The software should serve your salon.