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    Frequently asked questions

    Honest answers to what salon owners ask before signing up.

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    Pricing & commitment

    How much does Salonist cost?
    €19 a month, flat. No setup fee, no per-message fee, no commission on bookings, no marketplace cut. WhatsApp messages don't cost anything because they go from your existing number. Salonist doesn't sit in the middle.
    Is there a free trial?
    Yes, 30 days, no credit card required. You get the full daily ritual for a month: public page, QR poster, review asks, return reminders, client history.
    What happens if I cancel?
    Your public salon page stays online for the rest of the billing period, then comes down. You get a CSV export of every client, every visit, and every message log. Reminders stop. Soft-deleted records are purged within 30 days. Your relationships come with you. That's the point.

    WhatsApp setup

    Do I need the WhatsApp Business API?
    No. The free WhatsApp Business app is enough for almost every small salon. The Business API only makes sense at 1,000+ automated messages a day, multi-staff shared inboxes, or deep CRM integration. We wrote a full guide on why and how at /guides/whatsapp-for-small-beauty-salons-without-the-business-api.
    Will my clients see messages coming from a generic number or from me?
    From your existing number. Salonist opens WhatsApp pre-filled with the right message in your voice. You read it, edit if you want, and hit send from your own phone. No bots, no shortcodes, no template pre-approvals.
    Can I use Salonist on multiple devices?
    Yes. WhatsApp's own multi-device feature handles this: phone, tablet, laptop on the same number. Salonist works on any of them.

    Data & privacy

    Where is client data stored?
    EU region (Frankfurt). All processing is GDPR-compliant. Full details in our Privacy policy at /privacy.
    What happens if a client asks to be deleted?
    One tap soft-deletes them. The record is hard-deleted within 30 days. Any pending reminders are cancelled immediately. You can also export their full history first if they request it.

    Onboarding

    How long does setup take?
    About an evening. Paste your existing website, Salonist imports your treatments, hours, and brand. You print the QR poster, you're ready for the next client. Photo uploads and template tweaks can happen over the first week. You don't have to finish everything before you start.
    Can I import my existing client list?
    Not yet via CSV upload, but you don't need to. Most small salons re-onboard their active clients organically through the QR poster, the first review ask after their next visit, or by sending the salon's public page link. Six weeks in, your active client list is back. If you have a specific need, write to hello@salonist.app.

    Who it's for

    What kinds of salons is Salonist built for?
    Solo and small studios, one to five chairs, doing hair, beauty, lashes, nails, brows, skincare. It fits salons that already use personal WhatsApp with clients and want to grow Google reviews and repeat bookings without learning a new platform. Not for 10+ chair operations, franchises, or bookings-heavy receptions that need shift management.
    What languages does Salonist support?
    German and English today, in both the product and the message templates. Per-client language detection means Salonist sends each client in their language. More languages possible if there's demand; write to hello@salonist.app.

    Operational

    Do I need any special hardware?
    A phone is enough. iPhone or Android, any model from the last few years. No tablet, no card reader, no till integration required. A laptop helps if you want to set up faster, but isn't necessary.
    What if a client doesn't have WhatsApp?
    Rare for a small salon's clientele, but it happens. You can still mark visits complete, log notes, and keep the history. Salonist won't fake-send a WhatsApp message to a client who isn't on it. The review ask just stays a manual one. SMS fallback is on the roadmap, not shipped yet.