The 6 best POS solutions for beauty service providers (2026)

Whether you run a hair salon, beauty salon or nail studio, a modern POS system has long been more than just a tool for processing payments. It organises appointments, manages customer data, sells vouchers and, at the same time, ensures legal compliance with the tax authorities. The range of POS providers is correspondingly broad: from simple POS solutions for pure payment processing to comprehensive salon management systems with appointment booking, CRM and inventory management in one.

Whether you are looking for a POS system for hair salons, a POS system for beauty salons or a solution for another area of the beauty industry, the requirements are broadly similar. This POS system comparison introduces six established solutions for beauty service providers:

• Tillhub by Unzer
• ready2order
• Shore
• Treatwell
• studiolution
• Zettle by PayPal

What makes a good POS system for hairdressers, beauty salons and similar businesses?

A POS system for beauty service providers should go beyond pure payment processing. You should consider the following criteria when comparing systems:

• POS system with appointment booking: Can appointments be booked online, via social media or Google? Are reminders sent automatically?
• POS system with customer management: Can customer profiles, including preferences, history or photos, be stored?
• Inventory management: Does the system record product sales and services separately, including the applicable tax rates, and keep stock levels automatically up to date?
• Discount and voucher systems: Can gift cards and vouchers be created, sold and redeemed digitally?
• Payment methods and fees: Which payment methods are supported, and how transparent is the pricing structure?
• Legal compliance: Does the system meet the requirements of the German Cash Register Security Ordinance (KassenSichV)?
• Tip and employee management: Can tips be assigned to individual employees, and are user rights and shift management available?

Important: Not every system covers all criteria equally well. Providers often differ significantly depending on whether their focus is appointment booking, the core POS function or a combination of both.

The 6 leading POS providers for the beauty industry in detail

1. Tillhub by Unzer

With Tillhub, Unzer offers an all-in-one POS system that has also included an industry-specific online appointment booking system for the beauty sector since 2024. For off-site use, POS Go is also available as a compact mobile 4-in-1 POS solution.

Features:

• Online appointment booking integrated directly into the POS system
• Discount and voucher system for customer loyalty campaigns
• Inventory management for product sales alongside treatments
• Payment processing directly integrated – no external provider required
• DATEV export and automatic updates for legal compliance
• Centralised management of multiple branches via one dashboard
• POS Go, a compact mobile POS solution, available for off-site use: 4-in-1 device with up to 17 hours of battery life
• German-speaking support seven days a week
• GoBD and KassenSichV compliant
• Officially tested and certified cloud TSE from fiskaly available
• Individual pricing structure tailored to salon size and required functionality
• Supplier management and stock alerts / inventory warnings

Suitable for: Both hair salons and beauty salons looking for a complete solution combining POS, appointment booking and payment processing from a single source – from small salons and mobile beauty service providers to multi-branch businesses.

2. ready2order

ready2order is cloud-based POS software with a clear focus on value for money, which can be configured modularly for different industries.

Features:

• Customer database and voucher/discount function included in the basic package
• Inventory management with CSV import and stock alert
• Supplier management for purchasing goods
• Offline operation possible in the event of internet failure
• TSE available as a separately bookable package
• Prices from around EUR 35 to EUR 46 per month, plus TSE and cash book, as well as a one-off activation fee

Suitable for: Price-conscious salons and studios looking for a flexible modular system without unnecessary extra features.

3. Shore

Shore combines appointment booking, customer management (CRM) and POS functionality in one platform and has a strong positioning in the service sector.

Features:

• Online booking via Google Maps, Google Reserve and Instagram
• CRM with newsletter and marketing functions
• Voucher management and tip function included directly in the POS
• Multi-location management in the premium plan
• POS function available, although according to independent tests, inventory management is less comprehensive than with specialised POS providers
• Prices for the standalone POS from around EUR 60 per month; combined packages with appointment booking and marketing up to around EUR 130

Suitable for: Salons where appointment organisation and customer loyalty are the main priorities and the POS function plays a supporting role.

4. Treatwell

Treatwell originally started as a booking portal for end customers and has expanded its offering to include its own salon software: Treatwell Connect for desktop management and Treatwell Pro as a mobile app for use on the go. The POS function, Treatwell POS, is available from the Advanced package upwards.

Features:

• Connection to the Treatwell marketplace for acquiring new customers
• Appointment management, customer data and review management
• Terminal app for Android/iOS including check-in, check-out and tip prompt
• Voucher and discount management, as well as DATEV export, in the POS module
• POS module only included in a higher-tier plan
• 35% commission on the first booking of new customers via the marketplace
• Prices from around EUR 39 for Starter or EUR 49 per month for Advanced including POS, plus TSE fee

Suitable for: Salons that actively want to acquire new customers via the Treatwell marketplace and are willing to accept a commission for doing so.

5. studiolution

studiolution is specialised salon software for hair, beauty and nail studios, with a focus on ease of use and transparent pricing without contractual commitment.

Features:

• Appointment book and online appointment booking already included in the entry-level plan
• POS function including voucher sales in the Aufbau plan
• Full inventory management with product stock and tax adviser reports
• Own payment system with customer display for tip prompts
• Cloud-based TSE can be activated
• Prices from around EUR 23 per month without POS, from around EUR 33 per month with POS

Suitable for: Small to medium-sized studios looking for a specialised, affordable solution without contractual commitment and wanting to move gradually from appointment booking to a full POS system.

6. Zettle by PayPal

Zettle currently operates under the new name PayPal Point of Sale and positions itself as a simple entry-level solution for card payments.

Features:

• Easy setup, free app
• Gift vouchers and discounts possible
• Basic inventory and stock management
• No appointment booking, limited customer management
• Standard transaction fee of 1.39% per card payment instead of a basic monthly fee

Suitable for: Smaller businesses or mobile beauty service providers that primarily need a straightforward payment solution without complex salon management.

Features compared

POS system obligation for beauty businesses: what do you need to consider legally?

Since 1 January 2020, all electronic POS systems in Germany have been subject to the requirement for a technical security device (TSE) under the German Cash Register Security Ordinance (KassenSichV). This also applies to hair salons, beauty salons and nail studios. The TSE records every POS transaction – every receipt, every payment, every cancellation – continuously and in a tamper-proof manner. During a tax audit or cash register inspection, the tax authorities can read the TSE directly and check whether all transactions have been recorded completely. In addition, the full POS data must be exportable in DSFinV-K format – a standardised format that the tax authorities can process digitally. The TSE data is included in this export.

All six providers presented in this article meet the requirements of the KassenSichV and the GoBD. A paper-based cash book is therefore no longer sufficient for electronic POS systems – regardless of whether it is a stationary touchscreen POS or a mobile tablet solution.

Anyone who violates these requirements risks a fine of up to EUR 25,000 per violation under Section 379 of the German Fiscal Code (AO) – for example, for operating a POS system without a certified TSE or for failing to issue receipts.

Nevertheless, it is worth taking a close look at the pricing structure: with some providers, the TSE is already included in the basic price; with others, it is charged as a separate module. This should be factored into the cost calculation.

Conclusion: which POS system is right for your salon?

Choosing the right POS system depends heavily on how your business is organised today – and how you want to grow in future. A solo nail studio has different requirements from a hair salon with several employees or a beauty salon with extensive product sales.

Systems that combine payment processing, appointment booking and customer management in one platform – such as Tillhub by Unzer – reduce complexity and avoid additional interfaces with external providers. By contrast, businesses primarily looking for a straightforward payment solution or relying heavily on a specific booking marketplace will find suitable alternatives among more specialised providers.

The free Conversion Boosting Calculator from Unzer shows you specifically, based on your business data, how much additional revenue may be possible through extra functions such as vouchers and customer management.

When choosing a provider, you should consider not only the range of functions, but also price transparency, scalability as your team grows and the quality of support. Especially in the hectic day-to-day running of a salon, having a reliable point of contact pays off.

FAQ on POS systems for the beauty industry

Which POS system is suitable for hairdressers and beauty salons?

The most suitable systems are those that combine appointment booking, customer management and POS functionality, such as Tillhub by Unzer or studiolution. The specific choice depends on business size, budget and the desired range of functions. For salons with several employees, it is also worth looking at the employee management and user rights options offered by the relevant system.

How much does a POS system cost for a beauty salon?

Depending on provider and range of functions, monthly POS system costs are around EUR 25 to EUR 90, plus a TSE fee if this is not already included. Some providers also charge transaction fees or commissions on marketplace bookings, which should be taken into account when calculating total costs.

Which POS system for beauty salons offers appointment management and online booking?

Tillhub by Unzer, Shore, Treatwell and studiolution all offer appointment management with an online booking function. Shore has historically had the strongest focus in this area, for example with bookings via Google and Instagram, while Tillhub by Unzer combines appointment planning directly with POS, payment processing and customer management in one system.

Which POS system for beauty salons supports card payments?

All six providers presented support card payments. They are most seamlessly integrated with Tillhub by Unzer, which directly connects POS, appointment booking and payment processing, as well as with ready2order and Zettle, which focus on straightforward card payment processing – though without the full functionality of a specialised salon system with appointment management and customer records.

Buying or renting a POS system – which is more worthwhile for beauty businesses?

The systems presented are mostly offered on a subscription model rather than as a fixed purchase. This has the advantage that TSE updates, maintenance and new functions are automatically included. A one-off POS system purchase with your own hardware is usually only worthwhile if your requirements are very stable and unlikely to change over the long term.

Is there a POS system obligation for beauty businesses?

At present, an electronic POS system is not mandatory – an open cash register with an individual recording obligation is still permitted. However, if an electronic POS system is used, it has had to include a certified technical security device (TSE) since 2020 and meet the requirements of the KassenSichV and the GoBD. Violations may be punished with fines of up to EUR 25,000.

According to the coalition agreement, a mandatory cash register requirement is planned from 2027 for businesses with annual revenue of more than EUR 100,000 – but the law has not yet been finally adopted.

Which POS system offers appointment booking and customer management in combination?

Tillhub by Unzer, Shore, Treatwell and studiolution offer this combination. Zettle by PayPal does not currently cover appointment booking and is more suitable for pure payment processing.

Do POS systems for beauty salons also support vouchers and gift cards?

Yes, most of the systems presented – including Tillhub by Unzer, ready2order, studiolution and Zettle – offer digital voucher and discount functions. With Shore and Treatwell, this area is less of a focus.