Your average ticket is stuck in neutral. Clients book basic cuts and leave money on the table. They skip the deep conditioning treatment that would make their hair healthier. They don’t know about the scalp massage that could turn their appointment into a luxury experience.
Meanwhile, you’re watching potential revenue walk out the door while competitors down the street are somehow charging 40% more for similar services.
But here’s what savvy salon owners have discovered:
The right online booking software doesn’t just schedule appointments. It automatically suggests add-ons and upgrades that clients actually want.
Not through pushy sales tactics, but by presenting relevant options at exactly the right moment in the booking process when clients are already committed to spending.
The best online booking software with built-in upsell prompts helps you do exactly that:
- Suggest complementary services during the booking flow
- Offer discounted add-ons that clients can’t resist
- Present membership options when clients are ready to commit
- Bundle services together for higher-value appointments
These are the platforms salon owners use to increase their average ticket price by 25-40% without any additional sales effort from their team.
The best part?
The upselling happens automatically during online booking, so clients choose their own upgrades without feeling pressured by staff.
My Top 3 Online Booking Software with Built-In Upsell Prompts
- Meevo: Industry-leading add-on prompts that increase average ticket price and revenue
- Fresha: Smart service upselling with up to 5 discounted add-ons during booking
- GlossGenius: High-value booking optimization with bundling and upgrade features
Meevo
Best for salons focused on maximizing revenue per appointment
Pricing: Starting at $139 per month; custom demo available
Meevo was the first in the industry to offer online booking software, and they’ve perfected the art of automated upselling during the booking process.
When you enable Meevo add-ons, prompts are automatically included during online booking to encourage clients to add complementary products and services.
Salons using Meevo’s service and product add-on prompts have seen significant increases in their average ticket price and overall revenue.
Intelligent Add-On Suggestions
Meevo’s system analyzes what clients are booking and automatically suggests relevant add-ons that complement their chosen services.
For example, if a client books a haircut, the system might prompt them to add:
- A deep conditioning treatment for $25 extra
- A scalp massage upgrade for $15 additional
- Professional styling products to take home
The prompts appear naturally in the booking flow, presenting options as enhancements rather than separate purchases.
This approach feels helpful rather than sales-focused, leading to higher conversion rates on the suggested upgrades.
Product Recommendations During Booking
Beyond service add-ons, Meevo prompts clients to purchase retail products that complement their appointment.
The system connects the dots between services and products automatically:
- Color clients see suggestions for color-safe shampoo and conditioner
- Clients booking facial treatments get prompts for recommended skincare products
- Wedding party bookings trigger suggestions for makeup setting sprays and touch-up kits
These product recommendations link directly to detailed descriptions and pricing, making it easy for clients to add items to their appointment.
Streamlined Multi-Service Booking
Meevo’s booking system excels at handling complex appointments with multiple services and add-ons.
Clients can book themselves and up to five guests, with multiple services each, all in a single reservation.
The system automatically suggests complementary services for each person and calculates group discounts when applicable.
This feature works particularly well for bridal parties, mother-daughter appointments, and special occasion bookings where clients expect premium experiences.
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Proven track record of increasing average ticket prices | Higher price point compared to basic booking platforms |
| Intelligent product and service recommendations | May require training to set up add-on prompts effectively |
| Seamless multi-guest booking with group upsells | Custom pricing means costs aren’t transparent upfront |
Meevo Alternative: Booker by Mindbody
Booker offers appointment scheduling with basic upselling capabilities through service bundles and packages.
While it includes marketplace integration for new client acquisition, the upselling features aren’t as sophisticated as Meevo’s automated add-on prompts.
The system works better for established salons that rely on the Mindbody marketplace for client discovery.
Fresha
Best for salons wanting powerful upselling without monthly software costs
Pricing: Free for solo practitioners; Team plans start at $25 per month per bookable team member
Fresha proves that effective upselling doesn’t require expensive software subscriptions.
Their service upselling feature offers clients additional services during online booking, with up to five discounted add-ons per primary service.
The system automatically suggests relevant upgrades and applies customizable discounts to encourage bookings.
Service Upselling That Actually Converts
When clients book a primary service, Fresha displays up to five additional services they can add to their appointment at discounted rates.
You control which services appear as upsells for each primary booking and set the discount percentage that makes the add-ons irresistible.
For example, when someone books a basic facial, you might offer:
- Microdermabrasion upgrade (15% off)
- Eye treatment add-on (20% off)
- Décolletage extension (10% off)
- LED light therapy boost (25% off)
- Take-home skincare kit (30% off)
The discounts encourage clients to try new services while increasing your revenue per appointment.
Membership Upselling Integration
Fresha’s membership upselling feature automatically suggests the most suitable membership when clients book online.
You can configure the system to promote either:
- The cheapest membership option to maximize conversions
- Premium memberships for higher lifetime value
- Specific memberships that align with booked services
This automation turns one-time appointments into recurring revenue streams without requiring staff intervention.
Seamless Booking Flow Design
The upselling prompts integrate naturally into Fresha’s booking process without disrupting the client experience.
Clients see suggested add-ons as helpful options rather than aggressive sales pitches, leading to higher acceptance rates.
The system presents upgrades with clear pricing and descriptions, allowing clients to make informed decisions about enhancing their appointment.
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Completely free for solo practitioners | Limited customization compared to premium alternatives |
| Up to 5 service upsells with custom discounts | Marketplace fees for new client bookings (20% minimum $6) |
| Automatic membership suggestions during booking | Clients must create Fresha account to complete booking |
Fresha Alternative: Setmore
Setmore offers basic online booking with the ability to suggest add-ons during the booking process, starting at $9 per month.
While it includes essential upselling capabilities, the features aren’t as sophisticated as Fresha’s automated service and membership recommendations.
The platform works well for smaller salons that need simple upselling without the complexity of advanced automation.
GlossGenius
Best for creating high-value booking experiences with strategic service presentation
Pricing: Starting at $24 per month; 14-day free trial available
GlossGenius approaches upselling differently than traditional add-on prompts, focusing on creating booking experiences that naturally drive higher-value appointments.
The platform excels at presenting services in ways that encourage clients to choose premium options and book multiple treatments in a single visit.
Strategic Service Presentation
GlossGenius allows you to organize your service menu to naturally guide clients toward higher-value options.
You can position premium services next to popular basic ones, making upgrades feel logical rather than pushy:
- Place “Deluxe Cut and Style” right after “Basic Haircut”
- Position “Signature Facial with Microdermabrasion” next to “Classic Facial”
- Feature “Complete Manicure and Pedicure Package” alongside individual nail services
The visual presentation and service descriptions work together to educate clients about the benefits of upgraded experiences.
Advanced Pricing Displays
The platform supports sophisticated pricing structures that encourage upsells through value perception.
You can show “starting from” pricing that draws clients in, then present premium options during the booking process.
Service categories help clients understand the full range of what you offer, naturally leading them to consider comprehensive treatments rather than basic services.
High-Value Booking Optimization
GlossGenius includes features specifically designed to drive higher-value bookings:
- Buy Now, Pay Later options that make premium services more accessible
- Deposit requirements that secure higher-value appointments
- Service bundling that presents multiple treatments as packages
- Automated waitlists that fill premium appointment slots quickly
The platform’s analytics show you which services and combinations drive the highest revenue, helping you optimize your upselling strategy over time.
Client Experience Design
What sets GlossGenius apart is the focus on creating booking experiences that feel premium from the start.
The modern, sophisticated interface positions your salon as high-end, making clients more comfortable with premium pricing.
No app downloads or account creation requirements mean clients can book impulse appointments and upgrades without friction.
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Modern interface that positions services as premium | Upselling requires strategic menu organization rather than automatic prompts |
| Buy Now, Pay Later increases accessibility of high-value services | Less obvious upselling automation compared to dedicated prompt systems |
| Excellent analytics for optimizing service presentation | Higher-tier features require upgrading from the basic plan |
GlossGenius Alternative: Square Appointments
Square Appointments allows you to suggest add-ons and upgrades during the booking process, with the added benefit of seamless Square POS integration.
While the upselling features are more basic than GlossGenius’s strategic presentation tools, the platform excels at transaction processing and inventory integration.
Square works particularly well if you already use Square for payment processing and want unified booking and sales data.
Other Tools That Support Our Upselling Strategy
Maximizing revenue through online booking often requires additional tools beyond your main booking platform.
At successful salons, owners typically use these supporting platforms:
- Canva for creating compelling service images that showcase upgrade options
- Google Analytics to track which booking pages and service presentations convert best
- Mailchimp for follow-up marketing that promotes services clients haven’t tried yet
- Social media scheduling tools to highlight premium services and seasonal upgrades
Wrapping up
Most salon owners are still leaving money on the table with basic booking that only captures the minimum service clients think they want.
But the salons winning in today’s market are using intelligent booking software that automatically suggests upgrades and add-ons when clients are ready to purchase.
Start with the platform that matches your salon’s approach to upselling. Whether you want automatic prompts, strategic presentation, or membership integration, the right software will increase your revenue without adding sales pressure.
Then, as you see results, you can refine your upselling strategy with A/B testing, seasonal promotions, and data-driven service positioning.
