Vagaro Review (Jan 2023)

by Shlomi

About Vagaro

Vagaro is a cloud-based software solution that provides businesses in the beauty and wellness industry with the tools they need to manage their operations and grow their customer base. The platform offers a variety of features, including appointment scheduling, online booking, customer management, and marketing tools.

Vagaro is designed for businesses such as hair salons, spas, and fitness studios, and it helps them streamline their operations and increase their revenue. The software is easy to use and can be accessed from any device with internet access, making it convenient for both business owners and their customers.

One of the standout features of Vagaro is its appointment scheduling system. Businesses can easily create and manage their schedules, and customers can book appointments online or through the Vagaro mobile app. This eliminates the need for phone calls and makes it easy for customers to book appointments on the go.

Another feature of Vagaro is its customer management system. Businesses can use the platform to store customer information, such as contact details and appointment history. This information can be used to target marketing campaigns and offer personalized service to customers. Additionally, Vagaro has integrated a feature of sending email and text message reminders to customers to help them remember their appointments.

Vagaro was established in 2010, in San Francisco, California, and it’s headquartered in the same city. The company currently has a team of over 50 employees, who are dedicated to helping businesses succeed with their software solutions.

In summary, Vagaro is a comprehensive software solution that helps businesses in the beauty and wellness industry manage their operations and grow their customer base. With features such as appointment scheduling, online booking, customer management, and marketing tools, Vagaro makes it easy for businesses to streamline their operations and increase their revenue. It was established in 2010 in San Francisco, California, and currently has a team of over 50 employees. With its easy-to-use interface and convenient mobile app, Vagaro is an ideal solution for businesses looking to improve their operations and engage with customers.

Who Uses it?

Vagaro typically serves businesses in the beauty and wellness industry such as hair salons, spas, and fitness studios. These businesses use the platform to manage their operations and grow their customer base.

Some examples of businesses that use Vagaro include:

  1. Luxe Beauty Lounge, a hair salon in New York City that uses the platform for appointment scheduling and customer management.
  2. Spa Jouvence, a spa in Los Angeles that uses Vagaro for online booking and marketing.
  3. Fit Factory Fitness, a gym in Chicago that uses the platform for class scheduling and membership management.
  4. The Waxing Room, a waxing salon in San Francisco that utilizes Vagaro for appointment scheduling and customer management.
  5. Glo Yoga Studio, a yoga studio in Miami that uses the platform for class scheduling and membership management.

In general, Vagaro serves small to medium-sized businesses across the United States and Canada, helping them to manage their operations and grow their customer base. The company has a wide range of customers, from single-location businesses to multi-location franchises.

How it can help your practice?

Vagaro can help your business in several ways:

  1. Appointment scheduling: Vagaro’s appointment scheduling system allows you to easily create and manage your schedules, and customers can book appointments online or through the Vagaro mobile app. This eliminates the need for phone calls and makes it easy for customers to book appointments on the go.
  2. Customer management: Vagaro’s customer management system allows you to store customer information, such as contact details and appointment history. This information can be used to target marketing campaigns and offer personalized service to customers. Additionally, Vagaro has integrated a feature of sending email and text message reminders to customers to help them remember their appointments.
  3. Marketing tools: Vagaro provides marketing tools such as email marketing and social media integrations, which can help you promote your business and attract new customers. The platform also allows you to create special offers and discounts to encourage repeat business.
  4. Online booking: Vagaro’s online booking feature allows customers to book appointments through your website or through the Vagaro mobile app. This makes it easy for customers to schedule appointments at their convenience.
  5. Reporting and analytics: Vagaro provides various reporting and analytics tools that allow you to track and analyze your business performance, such as appointment history, revenue, and customer behavior. This can help you make data-driven decisions to improve your business.
  6. Easy to use and accessible from anywhere: Vagaro is user-friendly and accessible from any device with internet access, making it convenient for both business owners and their customers.

Overall, Vagaro can help your business by streamlining your operations and making it easier to manage your appointments, customers, and marketing efforts. It can also help you increase your revenue by making it easier for customers to book appointments and by providing tools to help you attract new customers.

Vagaro Vs Competitors

Vagaro is a popular software solution for businesses in the beauty and wellness industry, but it does have several alternatives on the market. Here are the alternatives to Vagaro and a comparison of their features, prices, vendor size, customer type, and cost of implementation:

  1. Mindbody: Mindbody is a comprehensive software solution for businesses in the fitness and wellness industry. It offers features similar to Vagaro such as appointment scheduling, online booking, and customer management, as well as additional features such as membership management and class schedule. The pricing for Mindbody starts at $69 per month and the vendor size is considered large. The company’s target customer is small to medium-sized businesses.
  2. Booker: Booker is a cloud-based software solution for businesses in the beauty and wellness industry. It offers features similar to Vagaro such as appointment scheduling, online booking, and customer management. However, Booker does not have as many marketing tools as Vagaro. The pricing for Booker starts at $49 per month, and the vendor size is considered medium. The company’s target customer is small to medium-sized businesses.
  3. Schedulicity: Schedulicity is a scheduling software for businesses of all sizes. It offers features similar to Vagaro such as appointment scheduling, online booking, and customer management. However, Schedulicity does not have as many marketing tools as Vagaro. The pricing for Schedulicity starts at $25 per month, and the vendor size is considered small. The company’s target customer is small businesses.
  4. Zen Planner: Zen Planner is a software solution for businesses in the fitness and wellness industry. It offers features similar to Vagaro such as appointment scheduling, online booking, and customer management, as well as additional features such as membership management and class schedule. The pricing for Zen Planner starts at $59 per month, and the vendor size is considered medium. The company’s target customer is small to medium-sized businesses.

Vagaro Pricing in 2023

Vagaro pricing is straightforward and it depends on the number of users. The more users you have the more you pay for it.

  • For one user, the price is $25 per month.
  • For Two users, the price will increase to $35 per month.
  • For three users, the price is $45 per month.
  • For four users, the price is $55 per month.
  • Five users will pay $65 per month.
  • For 6 users, the price will be $75 per month.
  • And for 7+ users the price will be $85 per month.

Vagaro – Cost of Implementation

The cost to implement Vagaro depends on the plan you choose and your business needs, but it is a low-cost solution with a pay-as-you-go subscription model, no long-term contract, and a 14-day free trial. The implementation process is easy and straightforward, and the platform offers free training and support to help you get started and make the most of the software.

Vagaro Pros

  1. Variety of features: Vagaro offers a wide range of features such as appointment scheduling, online booking, customer management, and marketing tools, which can help businesses streamline their operations and increase their revenue. Compared to some competitors, Vagaro offers a more comprehensive solution for businesses in the beauty and wellness industry.
  2. User-friendly interface: Vagaro has a user-friendly interface that makes it easy for businesses to navigate and manage their operations. This makes it easy for business owners and staff to use the software, which can save time and increase productivity.
  3. Mobile app: Vagaro has a mobile app that allows customers to book appointments and manage their account information on the go. This can make it more convenient for customers to book appointments and can increase the number of bookings for businesses. This feature is not available in all competitors.

Vagaro Cons

  1. Higher pricing: Vagaro’s pricing plans may be higher than some of its competitors, which may make it less accessible for smaller businesses or those on a tight budget.
  2. Limited integration: Vagaro’s integration options with other platforms may be limited compared to some of its competitors. This can make it difficult for businesses to integrate Vagaro with other tools they may be using.
  3. Limited industry focus: Vagaro is primarily targeted toward businesses in the beauty and wellness industry, which means that it may not be the best option for businesses in other industries. Some competitors may have a broader focus and may be more versatile in terms of the industries they serve.

How To Use Vagaro

Here is a tutorial on how to use some specific features of Vagaro:

  1. Appointment scheduling: To schedule an appointment in Vagaro, log in to your account and click on the “Appointments” tab. From there, you can either create a new appointment or edit an existing one. To create a new appointment, select the date, time, and service, and then choose the staff member who will be performing the service. You can also add notes and attachments, and then click “Save” to schedule the appointment.
  2. Online booking: Vagaro allows customers to book appointments online through your website or through the Vagaro mobile app. To set up online booking, log in to your account and click on the “Settings” tab. From there, you can customize your booking page and select the services, staff members, and availability that you want to offer for online booking.
  3. Customer management: To manage your customers in Vagaro, log in to your account and click on the “Customers” tab. From there, you can view a list of your customers and filter them by name, phone number, or email address. You can also create new customers, edit existing ones, and view their appointment history.
  4. Marketing tools: Vagaro offers various marketing tools such as email marketing and social media integrations, which can help you promote your business and attract new customers. To access these tools, log in to your account and click on the “Marketing” tab. From there, you can create and send email campaigns, view your email statistics, and connect your social media accounts.
  5. Reporting and analytics: Vagaro provides various reporting and analytics tools that allow you to track and analyze your business performance, such as appointment history, revenue, and customer behavior. To access these tools, log in to your account and click on the “Reports” tab. From there, you can view various reports and export them to Excel, CSV, or PDF formats.

By following these steps, you will be able to use some of the main features of Vagaro and take advantage of its capabilities to manage your appointments, customers, and marketing efforts. Keep in mind that Vagaro is a comprehensive platform and you may need to explore the platform more to discover all the features and options it has.

How it Integrates with Other Software

Vagaro offers integration capabilities with other healthcare technologies to help businesses streamline their operations and provide a seamless experience for customers. Some examples of integrations include:

  1. Electronic medical records (EMR) systems: Vagaro can integrate with EMR systems such as Athenahealth and Practice Fusion to easily transfer patient information and appointment details. This can help to save time and improve the accuracy of patient information.
  2. Payment processors: Vagaro can integrate with payment processors such as Square, Stripe, and Authorize.net to facilitate online payments and make it easy for customers to pay for their appointments.
  3. Marketing automation tools: Vagaro can integrate with marketing automation tools such as MailChimp and Constant Contact to help businesses create and send targeted marketing campaigns.
  4. Social media platforms: Vagaro can integrate with social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram to allow businesses to create and post content, and manage their social media accounts directly from the Vagaro platform.
  5. Google Calendar: Vagaro can integrate with Google Calendar to sync appointments and make it easy for staff to manage their schedules across multiple platforms.
  6. SMS messaging: Vagaro can integrate with SMS messaging providers such as Twilio to send automated text message reminders to customers about upcoming appointments.

These are just a few examples of the integrations that Vagaro offers. The exact integrations may vary based on your business needs, and it’s worth checking with the vendor if they have a specific integration that you need. Keep in mind that these integrations can help businesses to improve their operations, reduce manual effort and increase customer satisfaction.

Free Alternatives to Vagaro

There are several free alternatives to Vagaro that offer similar features and capabilities. Here are a few examples:

  1. Simplybook.me: Simplybook.me is a free scheduling software that allows businesses to create and manage appointments, accept online payments, and send automated email and text message reminders to customers. It also offers the ability to customize your booking page and offers a variety of widgets and booking buttons that can be added to the website. It’s a great option for small businesses that don’t need advanced features like inventory management, automated marketing, and custom reports.
  2. Appointlet: Appointlet is a free scheduling software that allows businesses to create and share their availability, and customers can easily book appointments online. It’s easy to use, and it has a simple and clean interface. Appointlet is a great option for businesses that don’t need advanced features like inventory management, automated marketing, and custom reports.
  3. Appointy: Appointy is a free scheduling software that allows businesses to create and manage appointments, accept online payments, and send automated email and text message reminders to customers. It’s easy to use, and it has a simple and clean interface. Appointy is a great option for businesses that don’t need advanced features like inventory management, automated marketing, and custom reports.

Alternative for Small Practice

Here are a few alternatives for small businesses that offer similar features and capabilities, with a focus on cost-effectiveness and ease of use:

  1. Book Like A Boss: Book Like A Boss is a scheduling software for small businesses, it allows businesses to create and manage appointments, accept online payments, and send automated email and text message reminders to customers. It also offers a customizable online booking page, and a mobile app to make it convenient for customers to book appointments. The pricing for Book Like A Boss starts at $9 per month, which is more affordable for small businesses compared to Vagaro.
  2. Appointy: Appointy is a free scheduling software that allows small businesses to create and manage appointments, accept online payments, and send automated email and text message reminders to customers. It’s easy to use, and it has a simple and clean interface. Appointy is a great option for small businesses that don’t need advanced features like inventory management, automated marketing, and custom reports.
  3. Appointedd: Appointedd is a scheduling software that offers a wide range of features such as appointment scheduling, online booking, customer management, and marketing tools. It also offers integrations with payment processors, social media platforms, and email marketing software. The pricing for Appointedd starts at $19 per month, which is more affordable for small businesses compared to Vagaro.

Alternative for Large Practice

There are several alternatives to Vagaro for large businesses, including Booker and MINDBODY. These software options offer similar features such as online booking and appointment scheduling, client management, and marketing tools.

Booker is an alternative that is particularly well-suited for large businesses. It offers a wide range of features including appointment scheduling, client management, and marketing tools. It also includes a built-in payments processing system, which allows businesses to process payments directly through the software. Additionally, it offers an inventory management system for businesses that sell products and gift cards.

MINDBODY is another alternative that is widely used by large businesses, particularly those in the wellness and fitness industry. It offers similar features to Vagaro, including online booking and appointment scheduling, client management, and marketing tools. It also includes a robust point-of-sale system, making it well-suited for businesses that sell products or services in addition to appointments. Additionally, it offers a feature that allows clients to book and pay for classes and appointments through the mobile app, which is a great advantage for large businesses that have a mobile-savvy client base.

In summary, these alternative solutions to Vagaro all offer similar features such as online booking and appointment scheduling, client management, and marketing tools. The main differences between the solutions are their additional features, such as point-of-sale systems, inventory management, and mobile app integration. They all fit large businesses because they offer a lot of features that can help large businesses to manage their appointments and clients in an efficient way. Additionally, they are scalable, meaning they can handle a large volume of bookings and clients.

Some Surprising Facts About Vagaro

  • Vagaro was founded in 2008 by a husband-and-wife team who had previously owned a hair salon. They created the software to help manage their own business more efficiently.
  • Vagaro offers a free mobile app for both iOS and Android devices, which allows customers to book appointments, view their appointments history, and purchase products and services.
  • Vagaro has over 50,000 business owners using its software, including salons, spas, gyms, and wellness centers.
  • Vagaro’s software is available in more than 20 languages and can be used in any country.
  • Vagaro has a feature called “Vagaro Social” which allows businesses to post photos, videos, and other content on social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
  • Vagaro supports a variety of payment methods including credit cards, PayPal, Square, and Apple Pay.
  • Vagaro’s software includes a built-in marketing feature that allows businesses to create, send and track emails, SMS, and push notifications to their customers.
  • Vagaro is also integrated with other business tools such as Google Calendar, QuickBooks, and Zapier, which allows businesses to automate certain tasks and processes.
  • Vagaro also offers an online learning platform called the Vagaro Academy, which provides training and resources for businesses to help them grow their business.

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