The 7 best salon website builders

Having an online presence is essential for any salon. You might think that having your own social media pages is enough, but there are some benefits that come from having your own standalone website too.

You might have put off building a website as it feels like it’s going to be complicated, you don’t have the skills, or you’re worried it’s going to be seriously expensive.

However, with a salon website builder it can seriously cut the time, costs and effort it takes to create your website. This makes it even easier to reach your ideal customers and stay booked and busy.

 

Why do you need a website as a salon owner?

As a salon owner, there are some important reasons to have a salon website. Let’s take a closer look at why you need to get started with a salon website builder for your business.

Expectation

With us now living in a digital world there is a high expectation from your clients that you will actually have a website.

Unlike a physical salon location, your website is accessible to potential clients 24/7, meaning they can check your out and book your services, even outside of business hours.

They more often than not will want to Google your business to find information on your opening times, prices, service and most importantly reviews.

Reviews

Word-of-mouth is still extremely popular for recommendations—however online reviews are the next best thing. Without a website it can be hard for potential clients to trust that your business is legitimate.

Services like Google Business to help advertise your business, provide reassurance of its legitimacy, mark it on a map and show up when a customer searches for services in your area. 87% of people Google a business before they visit it, so getting to grips with this makes sense.

Credibility

A well-designed website lends credibility and professionalism to your salon business. It demonstrates that you’re serious about your services and provides a platform to showcase your expertise, client testimonials and portfolio of work.

This helps as a marketing tool for you and your business, and you can showcase things like before-and-after photos, specialist services or more detail about your team.

Streamline your processes

You can usually integrate your booking management system or online booking service with your website, so that it’s another channel for clients to use. This can also streamline the booking process, reducing your overheads and making it more efficient for your clients.

 

Do you need social media and a website?

While social media channels are really powerful tools for marketing your business and connecting with your customers, here’s why having a website and your social media accounts is important.
Control

You’re in control of your website. Whatever happens with social media algorithms, whether your page gets hacked, blocked or deleted, your website will still be there. You have more control over it, and it’s easier to customise.

Central online presence

A salon website provides a centralised and professional online presence for your business. You can give a bit more detail or information, which can help to reassure potential clients of your credibility.

An overview for customers

It gives potential customers a comprehensive view of your salon, including services offered, pricing, staff bios, contact information, and more. This added layer of professionalism can instil trust and credibility in potential customers, especially those who may be researching multiple salons before making a decision.

Don’t forget, you can link both your website and social media together. This way your clients can start to build up a picture of what you and your business are all about.

Attract new customers

A well-optimised website can make it easier for potential customers to find you online. While social media can also contribute to your online visibility, a website provides a more robust foundation for long-term SEO efforts.

Create a marketing strategy

If you set up analytics on your website, you can track and analyse visitor behaviour to understand more about your customers, where they’re coming from and what they’re looking for. This can help you with your overall business strategy and marketing.

While social media can be a valuable part of your marketing activity, having a dedicated salon website is a centralised online resource that you own and are in control of—just like your business. By incorporating both platforms into your marketing strategy, you can maximise your reach, engage with customers across multiple channels and drive more business to your salon.

 

Should you DIY your website or pay someone to build it?

Whether to build your own salon website or hire a professional depends on things like your budget, how much time you have, how complicated it needs to be and your technical expertise.

If you have a limited budget and basic technical skills, building your own website using a user-friendly website builder like Wix, Squarespace or WordPress.com can be an option (more on those later).

These platforms offer intuitive drag-and-drop editors, pre-designed templates and built-in features that make it relatively easy to create a professional-looking website without any coding knowledge. However, while these DIY solutions are cost-effective and convenient, they might have limitations in terms of customisation, flexibility and functionality compared to a professionally designed website.

On the other hand, hiring a professional web designer or developer can ensure that your salon website is tailored to your specific needs and reflects your brand identity effectively.

A pro can create a custom-designed website for you. They can also provide ongoing support, maintenance and updates to keep your website running smoothly and up to date with the latest trends and technologies. It’s often much more expensive and time-consuming than a DIY website but you have more control of the end result.

 

Which salon website builder should you use?

If you’ve decided that you’re going to use a salon website builder to create your website, here’s a closer look at some of the most popular services, along with some pros and cons of each one.

Wix

Wix is a popular website builder known for its drag-and-drop interface and customisation options.

With a wide range of templates tailored for salons and spas, Wix makes it simple to create a professional-looking website without any coding knowledge—that’s why it’s one of the most popular website builders.

Costs: Wix offers a free plan with limited features. Paid plans start at £7.50 per month, depending on the services and plans you want.

Pros

• intuitive drag-and-drop editor for easy customization
• a vast library of templates, including many designed specifically for salons
• built-in tools for appointment scheduling and online bookings
• affordable pricing plans with a free option available

Cons

• limited e-commerce capabilities on lower-tier plans
• some advanced features may require third-party integrations or coding
• some limitations with templates and layout

Squarespace

Squarespace is best known for its sleek and modern templates, making it a favourite among creative professionals or people who really want their aesthetic to be perfect (which is incredibly important in the beauty industry).

With its intuitive interface and built-in features, Squarespace totally simplifies the process of building and managing a salon website.

Costs: Squarespace offers four pricing plans ranging from £12 per month when billed annually. A 14-day free trial is available.

Pros

• plenty of templates suitable for showcasing salon services and portfolios
• integrated appointment scheduling and payment processing through squarespace scheduling
• powerful blogging tools for content marketing
• excellent customer support and resources

Cons

• less flexibility compared to some other builders
• limited third-party integrations

WordPress

WordPress offers max flexibility when it comes to building a salon website. While it needs a bit more technical knowledge than hosted website builders, WordPress has thousands of plugins and themes to customise your website.

Costs: WordPress software is free, but you'll need to pay for hosting and a domain name. Costs vary depending on the hosting provider and any premium themes or plugins you choose.

Pros

• complete control over design and functionality
• extensive selection of themes and plugins, including many tailored for salons
• scalability for growing businesses
• no limitations on e-commerce capabilities

Cons

• requires more technical expertise to set up and maintain
• hosting and domain registration are separate expenses

Square Online

Square Online is an all-in-one solution for salon owners, combining website building with e-commerce and appointment scheduling. It integrates Square's payment processing, inventory management and customer engagement tools, so if you also want to sell products or services through your website, this is perfect.

Costs: Square Online offers a free plan with basic features. Paid plans start at $12 per month, with transaction fees for online payments.

Pros

• easy-to-use interface with drag-and-drop functionality
• seamless integration with square's suite of business tools
• built-in appointment scheduling and payment processing
• option for selling products online

Cons

• limited customisation compared to other builders
• transaction fees apply for online payments (though waived for square merchants)

Shopify

While it’s mainly known as an e-commerce platform, Shopify also offers salon website building capabilities suitable for salons looking to sell products online. With its user-friendly interface and extensive app store, Shopify provides everything you need to create a stylish and functional salon website.

Costs: Shopify offers three pricing plans ranging from $29 to $299 per month. Transaction fees apply unless using Shopify Payments.

Pros

• dedicated e-commerce features for selling salon products
• a wide range of customisable templates tailored for beauty and wellness businesses
• seamless integration with payment gateways and shipping providers
• access to numerous third-party apps for additional functionality

Cons

• monthly subscription costs can be higher compared to other builders
• transaction fees apply unless using shopify payments

Weebly

Weebly is a beginner-friendly website builder known for its simplicity and affordability.

With its intuitive drag-and-drop editor and a selection of professionally designed templates, it’s easy for salon owners to create a stylish and functional website without any technical expertise.

Costs: Weebly offers a free plan with basic features. Paid plans start at £6 per month, depending on the functionality and services you want.

Pros

• easy to customise with drag and drop
• mobile-responsive templates that have been created for beauty and wellness businesses
• built-in tools for appointment scheduling and contact forms
• affordable pricing plans with a free option available

Cons

• limited scalability for growing businesses
• less flexibility compared to some other builders

GoDaddy Website Builder

GoDaddy Website Builder is a straightforward platform designed for small businesses, including salons and spas. With its easy-to-use editor and pre-designed templates, GoDaddy makes it simple to create a professional-looking website in minutes.

Costs: GoDaddy Website Builder offers three pricing plans ranging from $10 to $25 per month when billed annually. A 30-day free trial is available.

Pros

• intuitive drag-and-drop editor and mobile responsive design
• integrated marketing tools for SEO and email campaigns
• affordable pricing plans with a free trial available

Cons

• limited design flexibility compared to more advanced builders
• fewer customisation options for template layouts

 

Each of these salon website builders offers unique features and benefits, so take the time to consider which aligns best with your salon's goals and what you want for your website. With the right builder, you can create a stunning online presence that attracts clients and showcases your salon space. Take advantage of free trials and explore different options to find the best fit for your business.

 

Specialist salon insurance through Ripe

After spending time building a website to promote your business, you may also want to consider protecting your physical premises with specialist salon insurance.

Specialist insurance through Ripe provides up to £10m Public and Products Liability cover and up to £5m Treatment Risk cover as standard to protect you against third-party claims for injury or property damage.

You can also choose additional cover options, such as Employers' Liability and Buildings cover, so you're only ever paying for the cover you need. 

You can learn more about salon insurance through Ripe here or click to get a quick online quote today.