The appointment book: every barber's day on one screen
A barbershop loses money in two places: empty chair time and clients who wait too long. Both start in the appointment book. Give each barber a column, put booked appointments and walk-ins in the same day, and mark each visit as it moves: arrived, in the chair, done, paid.
When two appointments overlap or one falls outside opening hours, someone should notice before the client arrives, not after. A shared digital book can warn you; a notebook on the counter cannot.
The till: charge correctly, balance at closing
Every visit should end in a charge recorded with its services, products, discount and payment method. At the end of the day, count what each method holds — cash, card, transfer — and compare it with what was charged.
- A difference found the same day has an explanation; one found a month later does not.
- Keep the till apart from the team's pay: advances and payouts are recorded as what they are.
The team: commission, chair rent or a wage
Decide how each person is paid and write it down: a share of what they charge, a fixed chair rent, a wage, or a mix of them. Then the weekly settlement is arithmetic, not a discussion. The article on what a barber earns works through each model with numbers.
The clients: back when it is time
Most of a barbershop's income is the same clients returning every few weeks. Keep a card for each client with how they like the cut and when they came, work out how often each one returns, and send a short message to whoever is due — from your own phone, in your own words.
The numbers to look at every week
- Income for the week, against the week before.
- Average ticket: income divided by visits.
- New clients and returning clients.
- Hours booked against hours open, for each barber.
When a notebook stops being enough
A notebook works for one barber with a handful of clients. With several chairs, online bookings or a cash count to balance, a system saves the time it takes and the mistakes it prevents. Corte y Barba brings the appointment book, the booking page, client cards and the till into one place, and is free for the barber who works alone.
Questions
What do I need to run a barbershop well?
An appointment book every barber can see, a till that is counted at closing, a written agreement on how the team is paid, and a card for each client. The rest builds on those four.
Is a notebook enough to manage appointments?
For one barber with few clients, yes. With several chairs, online bookings or walk-ins, a shared digital book avoids double bookings and forgotten appointments.
How often should I review the numbers?
Every week: income, average ticket, new and returning clients, and how full each chair was. The cash count, every day.