Checklist: what a salon website needs

A salon or barbershop website has one job: get someone who doesn't know you yet to book. To do that, it has to answer the questions you get every day by message, before they even ask: what you do, what it costs, how they book, and whether your work looks like what they want.

This checklist is for you to go through with your phone in hand, whether you already have a website or are about to make one. You can see what a site for your kind of business includes on our page about websites for salons and barbershops. If you want to know what pages any small business needs, that's in what pages a small business website needs.

The whole checklist in one table

The checklist, item by item

Services and prices, written as text

• Every service you offer, with a line that says what it includes.
• A price, or a "from" price when it depends on hair length or the job.
• How long each service takes, if it's long (color, keratin, braids).
• Written as text, not a photo of the price board, so it reads on a phone without zooming.

A "from" price gives people an idea without locking you in. The customer who arrives already knows what to expect, and you skip the conversation about price at the chair.

How customers book

• One clear button that says "Book," near the top and again at the bottom.
• If you already use a booking system, the button goes straight to it.
• If you book by message, the button opens WhatsApp with a message already written, like "Hi, I'd like an appointment for a haircut."
• Your phone number, for the people who'd rather call.

With Esensee, the button to your booking link or to WhatsApp comes with every plan. If you want an online booking system built into your own website, that's a Custom plan, quoted on the call.

Photos of your real work

• Your best cuts, colors, nails or beards, from the last few months.
• Before and after, when the change is the point.
• A few photos of your place, so people recognize it when they arrive.
• Permission from your customer before you post a photo of them, especially if their face shows.

Good phone photos in natural light work. Ten good ones beat fifty so-so ones.

Ask at the chair The easiest moment to ask for permission is right after the service, when the customer is happy with the result. Ask then, and save the photo in an album just for your website.

Your stylists or barbers

• Each person's name, a photo, and what they do best.
• Their days, if they don't all work the same ones.

Many customers follow their stylist, not the salon. If they can see who does what, they ask for that person when they book.

Hours and walk-ins

• Your hours, matching your Google profile exactly.
• Whether you take walk-ins, and on which days or times.
• Holiday hours when they change.

"Walk-ins welcome until 4" saves a wasted trip and a bad review.

Location and parking

• The full address, with a map that opens in Google Maps or Waze (a popular driving app in Puerto Rico).
• Where to park, and whether it's free.
• A clue if it's hard to find, like "second floor, next to the pharmacy."

Cancellation and no-show policy

• How much notice you need to cancel or move an appointment.
• What happens if someone doesn't show up, in your own words.

Written on the website, the rule is clear before the appointment, and you don't have to explain it on the spot.

Instagram and reviews

• A link to your Instagram, where your latest work lives. Your social media stays: the website works with it.
• A link to your Google reviews, and a way to ask for new ones.

Google has a page on how to get reviews: from your profile you get a link to send to happy customers. Its content rules forbid offering discounts or anything else in return for a review, so just ask.

Spanish and English

• If you get tourists, people who moved here, or customers who'd rather read in English, your services and prices in both languages.

A bilingual site also helps the Spanish speaker who searched in English. If you're not sure you need it, read why your business needs a bilingual website.

What a salon website costs with Esensee

For one location with a clear list of services, the Starter plan, from $499 one-time plus a monthly plan, is usually enough: one page with your services and prices, a booking button, photos, hours and a map. It includes the domain, 2 business email addresses and your Google Maps profile set up.

If you have several kinds of service with their own price lists (hair, nails, barbering) or want the site in Spanish and English, the Business plan (from $1,200 one-time plus a monthly plan) gives you up to 6 pages in both languages and 5 email addresses on Google email.

From Launch day there's a monthly plan. It covers hosting, the domain renewal, email and updates: small changes to text, prices, hours and photos that you request by text. Its price is set for each business on the free call, based on the plan and the number of email addresses. There's no long-term contract: you can cancel anytime with 30 days' notice. Sites are usually live in about two weeks once we have your photos and information, and here's how those two weeks go.

If you want to go through this checklist together, book a free 30-minute call, in English or Spanish.

Questions

Do I have to put prices on my salon website?

It helps a lot. If the price depends on the job, a "from" price is enough. It saves you messages, and the customer arrives knowing what to expect.

I already use a booking app. Can I keep it?

Yes. The "Book" button on your website goes straight to the booking link you already use, so nothing changes for you or your customers.

Can I use photos from my Instagram?

Yes, as long as they're of your own work. Send us the photos themselves, and ask your customers' permission before posting any where they can be recognized.

What happens when my prices change?

You text us the change and we make it. Changes to prices, hours, photos and text are included in the monthly plan.