How To Develop An App Like Vagaro: A Complete Guide

Today, more and more people prefer booking beauty and wellness services online. With the advent of salon booking apps like Vagaro, people can book appointments anytime from their phone.

In fact, the global salon app market is expected to grow to $480 billion by 2032 at a CAGR of 7.46% from 2023 to 2032. This shows how important mobile apps have become for salons.

If your salon does not have an app like Vagaro yet, you might be missing out on customers who want quick and easy booking options. Having your own app can make managing your business so much easier and help you stand out in the market.

So, if you are planning to develop an app like Vagaro, there’s no better time than now. In this blog, we will discuss how to build a salon booking app like Vagaro, along with the must-have features and cost required to build an app. 

What is the Vagaro App?

Vagaro is a booking app that helps users to book salons, spas, and fitness centres and manage their appointments, bookings, and payments. Users can simply find services, schedule appointments, and pay online.

For business owners, it is a way to keep track of appointments, handle staff schedules, and manage customer details from mobile apps. It is simply like a virtual assistant for beauty and wellness businesses.

Let’s take a look at the workflow of the Vagaro app :

• Users can search for salons, spas, gyms, and other wellness centers in their area using the app. 
• Now each business has a profile where they can view the services they offer along with their prices.
• After choosing the service, users can pick a time that works best for them. The app shows the available slots, and they can book instantly.
• Once a user confirms their appointment, they can pay for the service in advance or at the time of the appointment. 
• They can check their booking history, reschedule, or cancel appointments through the app.
• After their visit, they can leave feedback about the experience, helping other customers decide.

Market Overview of the Salon Booking Industry

The beauty and salon industry has seen immense growth in recent years. Let’s support this statement with the following beauty salon statistics.

As per Verified Market Reports, the global salon booking market size was worth $450 million in 2024, and it is expected to reach $.2 billion by 2033. The salon booking market will grow at a CAGR of 2.5%.

Around 64% of salons now use digital tools for appointment bookings, inventory tracking, and customer communication.

Consumers are also investing more in personal care, spending an estimated $67.2 billion each year on beauty and wellness services. This shows that demand for salon experiences remains strong.

Globally, the Beauty & Personal Care market is expected to generate about $677.19 billion in revenue by 2025. The industry is projected to continue growing at a steady rate of 3.37% annually between 2025 and 2030. 

Why Should You Invest in Salon Booking App Development?

Investing in salon booking app development is a smart choice since the beauty and wellness industry is rapidly growing online.

Below are the major reasons that show why salon booking apps are a great investment :

► Strong Market Demand

Vagaro currently serves over 85,000 businesses globally, including salons, spas, and gyms. This number shows there’s a huge demand for easy-to-use booking and management software in this space. 

As more businesses adopt online tools, Vagaro’s market keeps growing. If you invest in salon booking app development, your chances of growth will increase. 

►Customers Prefer Online Booking

Studies show that around 70% of customers prefer booking their appointments online rather than by mobile phone. People like the convenience of booking anytime, from anywhere. 

A salon booking app like Fresha meets this demand perfectly by providing simple and fast appointment scheduling. This will help you earn a huge revenue from the salon booking app development.  

► Increase Customer Loyalty and Repeat Business

If you are thinking of developing an app like Vagaro, there is a huge chance of customer loyalty and repeat business. Businesses using booking apps often see up to a 30% increase in repeat customers. 

When you integrate features like automatic reminders, promotions, and easy rebooking, it will help customers come back. Your app will encourage this kind of ongoing engagement, which helps businesses grow steady revenue.

► Help Small Businesses Grow Faster

Salons using online booking systems have reported up to a 120% increase in revenue, according to Forbes. Besides, beauty and hair businesses using appointment software have seen their bookings grow by about 50% each year, and 45% of bookings in the UK come from repeat customers.    

An app like Booksy also supports business owners with tools like payment processing, staff scheduling, and customer reviews. This simplifies operations, saves time, and helps businesses attract more clients without extra effort. 

How to Develop an App Like Vagaro?

If you’re thinking about building something similar to Vagaro, which is used for salon bookings, keep in mind that it’s not a one-time task. Creating an app like this takes time and needs to go through different stages.

Here’s a quick look at what it takes to develop an app like Vagaro :

♦ Know Your Target Audience

Before you write a single line of code or hire anyone, you need to be clear about who you are helping. Vagaro works great for salons, spas, and trainers, but that’s a broad group. If you’re building something similar, narrow it down and also look for salon app trends.

Maybe you want to build a go-to app for mobile hairdressers or a stripped-down version just for yoga instructors. The more focused you are in the beginning, the easier it’ll be to build features that actually matter to your users instead of cramming everything in and hoping it sticks. 

♦ Choose the Right Features

Once you are clear on who your users are, figure out what your salon app actually needs to do, and what it doesn’t need. An app like Vagaro provides booking, payments, calendars, client management, and more. But don’t try to add everything at once. 

Just focus on the must-have features that solve real problems for your users. For instance, if appointment scheduling is the main issue, get that working flawlessly first. Later on, you can integrate the advanced features. 

♦ Create an Intuitive Design

People will judge your salon booking app the moment they open it. It’s not based on how many features it has, but how easy it is to use. So, design your app with real people in mind. Just think through the flow. For example, what’s the first thing a user sees? How do they navigate from A to B? 

You can create wireframes or sketches to plan out each screen before you develop an app like Vagaro. Don’t overcomplicate it. The best user experiences feel effortless. Your users should not have to think about where to tap or what to do next. 

♦ Choosing the Right Technologies

Now that you have created a visually appealing app design, it is time to choose the salon app tech stack. If you are technical, you might use a framework to develop an app similar to Vagaro. If not, you can hire a mobile app developer. 

By the way, communication is key. Just make sure everyone involved understands your goals, timelines, and budget. To develop your dream salon booking app, it is vital to carefully select the right tech stack that aligns with your budget. 

♦ Develop an MVP Version

In this stage, you can build an MVP version. But don’t try to make the full version of your app right away. Just start with a basic MVP app that only covers must-have features to solve your users’ pain points. 

Your goal should not be to impress. It is to test. You can develop a virtual makeup app good enough for people to try and give feedback on. What matters is that the app works, solves a real problem, and can be improved based on how people use it. 

♦ Test and Launch the App

Do not try to forget mobile app testing. Once your MVP app is ready, test it with real users. It should be your target audience. Watch how they use it. Do not explain it to them. If they get stuck or confused, note it down. 

You can use their feedback to modify it. Once everything is tested, you can launch the app to the respective app stores. Also, do not forget to follow the app store guidelines before publishing it.

Key Features to Add in an App Like Vagaro

Features that are essential to build a salon booking app like Vagaro. They help create a smooth experience for both salons and customers by making booking, communication, and management easier.

If you are planning to build an app similar to Vagaro, integrating these salon app features will help your app succeed. 

5 Most Popular Salon & Wellness Booking Apps

If you are looking for the best salon booking apps like Vagaro, we have jotted down a table of popular salon booking applications.

How Much Does it Cost to Develop an App Like Vagaro?

The cost to build a salon app like Vagaro can range from $20,000 to $150,000 and more. The cost to develop an app similar to Vagaro can vary a lot depending on how complex you want it to be.

Let’s look at the estimated costs of developing an app like Vagaro at different stages :

• Basic Version or MVP

If you want a simple app with only the essential features, you can expect to spend somewhere between $20,000 – $50,000. This version will have a clean, simple design and cover just the must-have functions to get your app running.

• Fully-Functional App

For a more polished app with added features, the cost to develop an app similar to Vagaro will be about $50,000 – $100,000. This also includes a smoother user experience, a more custom design, and better backend integration.

• Advanced & Scalable Version

If you want to create an AI-based hairstyle app with advanced features, the cost can jump to $100,000 – $150,000+. This version aims to deliver the full power of Vagaro with top-notch performance and customization.  

These are just the ballpark estimates. To know the actual cost, you can consult with a mobile app development company that has experience in creating salon apps.

How Can You Monetize An App Like Vagaro?

Now that you know the cost to develop an app like Vagaro, how will you earn revenue from it? Well, there are various salon app monetization strategies you should consider to make huge revenue from your salon booking application.

Monetize an app like Vagaro – let’s take a look at the options :

➤ Marketplace Commission on Bookings

Many salon apps charge salons a commission only when they get a new client through the app. You can also charge salons or freelancers a percentage fee for each booking made through your salon app. 

For example, Fresha has a 20% new client booking fee in its marketplace model. The model works because salons do not pay until they see value. 

➤ Tiered Subscription Model

Salon booking apps provide basic free or low-cost plans, then charge for freemium features. For example, many salon software providers now provide tiered SaaS plans where features increase with plan level. 

The research shows 84% of salon software solutions provide tiered SaaS plans. Similarly, you can also implement a tiered subscription model in your top-notch salon booking app like Vagaro and earn a huge revenue from it. 

➤ Payment Processing & Transaction Fees

When customers pay through a mobile app or platform, salon booking apps take a cut over typical gateway fees. Some apps like Fresha or Booksy add processing fees plus their commission or new client fee. 

Sometimes instant products cost extra. This is one of the most amazing app monetization strategies you can use to earn money from your salon booking application. 

➤ Paid Visibility Model

You should allow salons to use your app for free, but give them an option for more visibility. For instance, they can pay to show up at the top of search results or be highlighted on the homepage. 

This helps them get noticed by more people, especially during busy days. You can only charge salons that have extra problems. It’s fair, easy to understand, and works well in places with lots of salon competition.   

Build a Robust Salon Booking App with Nimble AppGenie!

Are you looking to develop an app like Vagaro with a unique feature in it? Teaming up with Nimble AppGenie could be a smart choice. We are the best beauty salon app development company with over 8+ years of experience in delivering top-notch mobile apps.

We use the latest technologies, like artificial intelligence and machine learning, to develop salon apps smarter and more efficiently. From on-demand salon booking apps to multi-location booking apps, our experts can create any type of mobile app solution.

Nimble AppGenie takes care of everything from ideation to post-launch support. If you want an app for Android, iOS, or both, our skilled team knows the right tools to use. So, contact us right away to get a customized solution.

Conclusion

In the end, investing in a good salon booking app development is a smart move to take your business to new heights and keep customers happy. Taking enough time to thoroughly understand your salon and check out the competition will assist you in developing an app like Vagaro.

And with new and modern technology like VR and AI in beauty apps are only going to get better. If you want to take your salon business to the next level, now is the perfect time to start planning your app.

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Niketan Sharma

Niketan Sharma, CTO, Nimble AppGenie, is a tech enthusiast with more than a decade of experience in delivering high-value solutions that allow a brand to penetrate the market easily. With a strong hold on mobile app development, he is actively working to help businesses identify the potential of digital transformation by sharing insightful statistics, guides & blogs.