The problem
Gift vouchers sold at the desk get lost and need writing out by hand, and nobody can buy one at 10pm in December. If a salon sells 6 vouchers a month at £40 and each takes 10 minutes to write and record, that's an hour a month.
What the AI does
Booksy lists online gift cards on its pricing page and upfront service packages, which let clients pay for several visits in advance, on its site. Both are included in the £40 a month plan, with each extra user £5 a month, plus VAT. Clients buy a gift card from your Booksy page and the recipient books with it. Set the terms plainly before purchase: what it covers, any expiry and whether it is refundable. For packages, say clearly how many visits, how long they last and what happens to unused sessions. Check Booksy's settings for exactly how gift cards and packages are redeemed.
A worked example
A three-therapist beauty salon in Cheltenham sells vouchers across the year, with a spike before Christmas, and offers a pack of 5 lash infills.
Before
6 paper vouchers a month at £40, 10 minutes each to write up and record: 60 minutes a month, no sales outside opening hours
After
6 online gift card sales a month, no write-up; if half (3) are bought by people who wouldn't otherwise book: 3 x £40 = £120 of new gross takings
What it's worth
About £145 a month: £120 of new gross takings, before product, staff and card costs (3 of 6 sales at £40 from new clients, an assumption) plus 1 hour of write-up time saved, worth £25 at £25 an hour. Cost is £40 plus 2 extra users at £5 = £50 plus VAT, or £60 with VAT you can't reclaim, so the net is about £85 to £95. If you already use Booksy the cost is nil. Payment fees come off each sale.
How to set it up
- Switch on online gift cards in Booksy and set the amounts you want to sell.
- Write the terms: what it covers, how long it lasts and whether it is refundable, and show them before purchase.
- Create one treatment package, such as 5 lash infills, with a price, a validity period and the rules for unused sessions.
- Promote the link on Instagram, your website and in-salon before Christmas and Mother's Day.
- Track redemptions each month so unredeemed gift cards don't surprise you.
What goes wrong
- Prepaid packages are money you hold for services you haven't delivered. Keep records, and don't spend it as profit.
- Terms must be clear before purchase, including expiry and refunds; vague terms invite disputes.
- Extra users cost £5 each on top of £40, plus VAT, and card processing fees apply to each sale.
- Not every gift card is new business: some of your sales are regulars paying early.