No-shows are crushing your schedule. Clients book appointments and then simply disappear. Your chairs sit empty while you scramble to fill last-minute cancellations. And the phone calls to confirm appointments? They eat up hours you could spend actually doing hair.
But here’s what successful salon owners know:
The right CRM software with automated text messaging can completely transform your booking process.
Not by adding more work to your plate, but by automating the follow-ups, confirmations, and promotional messages that keep clients engaged and your chairs filled.
The best salon CRM software with SMS capabilities helps you do exactly that:
- Send automatic appointment reminders that actually get read
- Follow up with clients who haven’t booked in months
- Promote last-minute openings when cancellations happen
- Turn one-time visitors into loyal, returning clients
These are the tools salon owners across the country use to reduce no-shows by up to 71% and increase rebookings month after month.
The best part?
These systems work automatically in the background while you focus on what you do best – making clients look and feel amazing.
My Top 3 Salon CRM Software with SMS Follow-Ups
- Phorest: Complete salon management with advanced SMS marketing campaigns
- Boulevard: Premium software with automated messaging and client engagement tools
- Fresha: Free booking platform with built-in text reminders and notifications
Phorest
Best for salons that want to master SMS marketing and client retention
Pricing: Starting at $99 per month; custom demo available
Phorest isn’t just salon software – it’s a complete business growth platform that happens to include some of the most sophisticated SMS marketing tools in the industry.
I’ve watched salon owners increase their revenue by 22 times their SMS marketing investment using Phorest’s automated campaigns.
But what makes Phorest special isn’t just the messaging. It’s how the SMS features integrate with everything else.
Automate Your Entire Client Journey
Phorest’s SMS automation goes way beyond basic appointment reminders.
The software can predict when clients are ready to rebook based on their service history and automatically send them a text at exactly the right moment.
For example, if Sarah usually gets her color touched up every 6 weeks, Phorest will automatically text her around week 5 with a gentle rebooking prompt.
This isn’t guesswork. The system uses machine learning to analyze your client patterns and optimize the timing.
Send Targeted Campaigns That Actually Convert
The SMS marketing capabilities in Phorest are where things get really powerful.
You can segment your client list in dozens of ways and send targeted messages that feel personal:
- Clients who haven’t visited in 3 months get a “we miss you” campaign
- Birthday month clients receive special discount offers
- High-spending VIP clients get early access to new services
- Clients who bought specific products receive follow-up care tips
One salon owner told me they generated $300,000 in revenue directly from SMS campaigns last year using these targeted approaches.
Turn Staff Into Revenue Generators
My favorite Phorest feature is “Expert Recommendations” – staff can send personalized product suggestions via SMS that link directly to your online store.
Instead of pressuring clients at checkout, stylists can text thoughtful product recommendations after the appointment. The SMS includes a custom link that adds the recommended items to their cart.
This approach feels helpful rather than pushy, and the tracking shows you exactly which staff member sent what recommendation and whether it converted to a sale.
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Advanced SMS marketing with machine learning predictions | Higher price point compared to basic booking software |
| Comprehensive salon management beyond just messaging | SMS messages are charged per text after allowance |
| Dedicated success manager included with plans |
Phorest Alternative: Vagaro
Vagaro offers salon management with SMS reminders and marketing campaigns at a lower price point starting around $25 per month.
While it includes text messaging capabilities, the automation and personalization features aren’t as advanced as Phorest’s machine learning approach.
Vagaro works well for smaller salons that need basic SMS functionality without the comprehensive marketing suite.
Boulevard
Best for high-end salons focused on premium client experiences
Pricing: Starting at $245 per month; Contact Center SMS add-on from $25 per month
Boulevard is built for salons that want to deliver luxury experiences at every touchpoint, including their text messaging.
The SMS features feel more sophisticated than typical salon software. Everything is designed to make your business appear polished and professional.
Reduce No-Shows by 71%
Boulevard’s automated appointment confirmations and reminders can decrease no-shows and late cancellations by 71%.
The system sends perfectly timed confirmations when clients book, followed by customizable reminders before their appointment.
But here’s what sets Boulevard apart: each location gets its own dedicated phone number for all text communications.
This means your SMS messages always come from the same recognizable number, building trust and improving response rates.
Manage All Client Communication in One Place
Boulevard’s Contact Center gives you a centralized inbox for all client text conversations.
You can see the complete SMS history with each client alongside their profile, appointment history, and previous notes.
Your entire team can access these conversations, so anyone can jump in and help without losing context.
Smart Text Marketing Campaigns
Boulevard’s text marketing goes beyond basic promotions.
You can create sophisticated campaigns based on client tags, appointment dates, service history, and referral sources:
- Send birthday offers automatically
- Text clients when you have last-minute openings
- Follow up with clients who haven’t booked recently
- Target specific services to clients who would benefit most
The system tracks open rates, click-through rates, and conversions so you know exactly which campaigns are driving revenue.
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Dedicated phone number for consistent branding | Premium pricing puts it out of reach for budget-conscious salons |
| Sophisticated campaign targeting and analytics | SMS features require separate Contact Center add-on |
| Luxury-focused client experience |
Boulevard Alternative: Square Appointments
Square Appointments includes basic SMS reminders and marketing for $10 per month as an add-on to their free booking system.
While it doesn’t have Boulevard’s advanced targeting or dedicated phone numbers, it covers the essentials for smaller salons.
The integration with Square’s payment processing makes it seamless for businesses already using Square.
Fresha
Best for salons wanting SMS features without the monthly software costs
Pricing: Free with SMS allowance included; additional texts charged per message
Fresha proves that you don’t need to pay hundreds of dollars monthly to get solid SMS capabilities.
Their free platform includes appointment reminders, confirmations, and basic marketing features that work surprisingly well.
For new salon owners or those testing out SMS marketing for the first time, Fresha removes all financial barriers.
Essential SMS Notifications That Just Work
Fresha automatically handles six key types of text messages:
- Appointment confirmations when clients book online or in-store
- Automated reminders sent at your chosen timeframe before appointments
- Reschedule confirmations when appointment times change
- Cancellation notifications with any applicable fees
- No-show alerts that inform clients about missed appointments
- Thank you messages after completed services with review requests
The system tries WhatsApp first, then falls back to SMS if WhatsApp isn’t available. You only pay for whichever message successfully delivers.
Reduce No-Shows Without Breaking the Bank
The automated reminders significantly reduce no-shows by keeping appointments top of mind for clients.
You can set up to three reminders per appointment at different timeframes, and the timing is completely customizable.
What I appreciate about Fresha is how they’ve simplified the process. You’re not overwhelmed with complex segmentation options or advanced features you might not need.
Built-In Marketing Tools
While not as sophisticated as Phorest or Boulevard, Fresha includes basic marketing capabilities:
- Send promotional messages to your client list
- Create targeted campaigns based on booking history
- Set up automated thank you texts that request reviews
The marketing features are straightforward but effective for building client relationships.
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Completely free platform with no monthly fees | Limited customization compared to paid alternatives |
| Includes essential SMS features most salons need | Advanced marketing automation requires upgrading |
| WhatsApp integration as primary messaging channel |
Fresha Alternative: Acuity Scheduling
Acuity Scheduling offers SMS reminders as an add-on to their booking platform, starting at $14 per month.
The text messaging is more basic than Fresha’s six notification types, focusing primarily on appointment reminders.
However, Acuity integrates well with other business tools if you’re already using platforms they connect with.
Other Tools That Support Our SMS Workflow
Running effective text message campaigns requires more than just CRM software.
At our salon, we use additional tools to maximize our SMS marketing results:
- Canva for creating eye-catching images to include in MMS promotional texts
- Google Analytics to track which SMS campaigns drive the most website traffic and bookings
- Zapier to connect our CRM with other marketing tools for automated workflows
- Calendly as a backup booking option that clients can access through SMS links
Wrapping up
Most salon owners are still relying on phone calls and hoping clients show up.
But the salons winning in today’s market are the ones using automated SMS to stay connected with their clients.
Start with the platform that fits your budget and needs. Even basic SMS reminders will dramatically improve your no-show rates.
Then, as your business grows, you can add more sophisticated features for client segmentation, advanced automation, and detailed campaign analytics.
