How to Price Salon Prepaid Packages

A single facial or haircut is a one-off sale. A prepaid package turns the same client into a regular: they pay for several visits up front, you receive the cash earlier, and they have a reason to book with you again instead of trying a new place. Done well, packages are one of the simplest ways to make a salon's income more predictable. Done badly, they quietly eat your margin.

Start with the price of one visit

Before you discount anything, know what a single session earns you after products, time and any commission. A package price is only safe if the discount still leaves you a margin on every visit.

A simple way to set it:

1. Take your normal price for one session.
2. Decide how many sessions the package includes.
3. Offer a modest discount, or one bonus session, rather than a deep cut.

For example, six sessions for the price of five is easy to explain and easy to count. A 10 to 15 percent discount is often enough to make the up-front payment attractive without hurting your margin.

Keep the offer small and clear

Two or three packages are plenty. Too many choices make clients hesitate, and every extra package is one more thing for your team to remember.

• A starter pack for new clients, such as three sessions at a small discount.
• A regular pack for your usual treatment, such as six or ten sessions.
• A premium pack that bundles a few different treatments.

Name each package after what the client gets, not after the discount.

Decide the rules before you sell

Most package arguments come from rules that were never stated. Decide these in advance, and tell the client when they buy:

• Expiry. Packages that never expire become a liability on your books. A validity period of three to six months is common, and it nudges clients to actually use what they paid for.
• Who can use it. One person only, or can they share it with a friend?
• What happens when a client cancels. Is a missed appointment a used session?
• Refunds. State plainly whether unused sessions are refundable.

Write the rules on the invoice or in your terms so there is nothing to dispute later.

Track every session

A package only works if the count is right. Every visit should reduce the balance, and the client should be able to see how many sessions are left. Without a clear count you will see free sessions given by mistake, clients who forget they have a package, and awkward "I thought I had two left" conversations.

In EzInvoice you can set up a package as a product, with the number of sessions and how long it stays valid. When a client buys one it is added to their profile, and each visit uses up a session. Clients can check their balance themselves in the customer portal, which saves you a lot of messages.

Review it every month

Look at which packages sell, how many sessions are still unused, and how many expire without being used. If a lot of sessions expire unused, the package may be too big. If a package sells out quickly, you may have priced it too low.

A quick checklist

1. Work out your margin on a single session.
2. Offer two or three packages with a modest discount.
3. Set an expiry and put the rules in writing.
4. Reduce the balance on every visit.
5. Let clients see their own balance.
6. Review sales, unused sessions and expiries monthly.