Best Inventory Management Software for Beauty Salons (2026)
Stop running out of polish mid-appointment. Track every product from purchase order to checkout with salon-integrated inventory.
The Problem
The average beauty salon writes off $5,000–15,000 in inventory shrinkage annually from theft, waste, and expiration. Manual inventory counts take 4–8 hours and happen too infrequently. Automated inventory tracking integrated with your POS catches every bottle used, sold, or lost.
- →Average salon loses $5,000–15,000/year to inventory shrinkage
- →Running out of popular colors mid-appointment creates client frustration
- →Manual inventory counts are time-consuming and infrequent
- →Products expire or get damaged without first-in-first-out tracking
- →No visibility into which retail products actually sell vs. collect dust
Top 5 Software Solutions
Ranked for salon inventory management software
Vagaro
★★★★☆4.7/5Comprehensive inventory with POS integration
Best for: Salons with significant retail product sales
Mangomint
★★★★☆4.9/5Real-time inventory with fast checkout
Best for: Premium salons with complex product lines
Square Appointments
★★★★☆4.4/5Excellent retail inventory with Square's ecosystem
Best for: Salons already using Square POS
Fresha
★★★★☆4.6/5Free inventory management built into free platform
Best for: Cost-conscious salons tracking basic inventory
Feature Comparison
How top platforms compare on salon inventory management software capabilities
| Feature | Vagaro | Mangomint | Square | Fresha |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Product Inventory Tracking | ||||
| Low Stock Alerts | ||||
| COGS Tracking | Basic | |||
| Purchase Orders | ||||
| Supplier Management | Via apps | |||
| Barcode Scanning | ||||
| Inventory Reports | Basic | |||
| Service Product Usage Tracking | ||||
| Back-Room vs. Retail Tracking | Limited |
Pricing Comparison
Cost of salon inventory management software capabilities across platforms
| Software | Plan | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vagaro | 2–5 staff plan | $50/mo | Full inventory included; purchase orders built-in |
| Mangomint | Essentials | $165/mo | Real-time inventory, barcode support |
| Square | Plus | $29/mo | Full retail inventory with Square ecosystem |
| Fresha | Free | $0/mo | Basic inventory tracking at no cost |
* Prices are per user/month billed annually. Contact vendors for current pricing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything attorneys ask about salon inventory management software
What is the best inventory system for a nail salon?
Vagaro ($30–90/mo) has the most comprehensive inventory system designed for salons — it tracks nail polish, tools, retail products, and back-bar supplies separately, and integrates purchase orders with supplier management. For smaller salons, Fresha's free inventory or Square Appointments' ($29/mo) inventory is sufficient.
How do I track nail polish inventory?
Add each polish color as a product in your inventory system with the starting quantity. Enable automatic deduction when a service is sold (if your platform supports service product usage). Set low-stock alerts at 1–2 bottles so you reorder before running out. Vagaro and Mangomint support per-service product consumption tracking.
How often should salons do inventory counts?
With software tracking POS deductions, many salons shift from monthly counts to quarterly physical audits. The software tracks what should be on the shelf; quarterly counts verify accuracy and catch shrinkage. High-value inventory (nail extensions, gel systems) benefits from more frequent spot checks.
Can salon software track retail product sales separately from services?
Yes. All major platforms track service revenue and retail product revenue separately. This is important for tax purposes (retail is often taxable while services may not be), COGS analysis, and identifying which retail products are most profitable. Vagaro and Square provide clear service vs. retail revenue breakdowns in reporting.
What is the best way to reduce salon inventory theft?
The most effective measures: (1) Track every product via POS — staff know inventory is monitored, (2) Keep high-value items in locked storage with access logs, (3) Run weekly variance reports comparing sold vs. theoretical usage, (4) Assign inventory management responsibility to a specific staff member. Software alone reduces shrinkage by 40–60% just through the deterrent effect.
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