CASE STUDY 02 · SOLO & BOUTIQUE BEAUTY STUDIOS
Simply Booking (US$20/mo) → FavCRM Pro (US$29/mo)Eliminating unpaid DM slot holds and manual package spreadsheets in beauty studios
When solo and 1–4 chair beauty operators book appointments by Instagram DM and track 10-treatment packages on paper cards or Excel, two leaks happen every week: unpaid prime Saturday slots no-show, and remaining package counts trigger awkward checkout disputes. Here is how studios run deposit-first checkout and client-visible session ledgers on FavCRM.
- Deposit mechanism
- Stripe Connect paid before slot locks
- Marketplace cut
- 0% commission (100% your client list)
- Package ledger
- Auto-deducted + client-visible balance
- Setup time
- 10-min self-serve or concierge import
Manual DM & paper-card workflow
- Replying to Instagram and WhatsApp DMs at 11 PM to negotiate Tuesday vs. Saturday slot openings.
- Holding prime 2-hour treatment slots on a verbal promise—losing the entire slot when a guest cancels last minute.
- Handwritten package cards or Excel trackers where staff and clients disagree on how many treatments remain.
- Marketplace apps displaying competing salons next door and charging new-client commissions.
Deposit-first Branded Client Portal + Pack Ledger
- One link in Instagram bio and WhatsApp auto-reply opens your own Branded Client Portal—zero competitor listings.
- New guests pay a configurable deposit (for example $40–$80 / HK$298–HK$628 on real studio checkouts) within 15 minutes before the slot is locked.
- Returning VIPs redeem 1 credit from their prepaid treatment package, with updated remaining sessions visible immediately.
- Treatment notes, skin/style preferences, and package expiry tasks stay on one unified client profile.
End-to-end production workflow
- 01
Service menu with treatment duration, prep buffers, and deposit rules
Operators publish exact service durations, cleanup buffers, and per-service deposit amounts so guests only see genuinely bookable therapist slots.
- 02
Guest browser checkout in under 60 seconds (no app install)
Clients tap from Instagram or WhatsApp, pick their stylist and time, and complete deposit payment via Apple Pay, Google Pay, or card through Stripe Connect at 0% FavCRM commission.
- 03
Automatic session-pack deduction & Apple / Google Wallet pass
When a package holder checks in, FavCRM deducts 1 session from their Memberships & Session Packs ledger and updates their digital wallet pass balance automatically.
- 04
Company-owned WhatsApp reminders & rebooking prompts
Booking confirmations and pre-visit reminders go out with transparent Meta per-message cost preview, while chats stay in the salon’s workspace even if a technician leaves.
Active FavCRM modules & published pricing
| FavCRM module | Role in this workflow | Published tier |
|---|---|---|
| Simply Booking (Branded Portal) | Direct IG/WhatsApp booking link, 15-min hold, Stripe deposit collection, up to 3 staff. | US$20/mo (1-month free trial) |
| Memberships & Session Packs | Prepaid 5/10-treatment bundles, stored value, digital wallet pass, expiry visibility. | FavCRM Pro (US$29/mo, up to 5 staff) |
| Official WhatsApp Inbox | Shared salon inbox on official API; customer history stays with the business. | FavCRM Pro (Meta fees at cost) |
| Core Client CRM | Formula/allergy notes, visit timeline, RFM retention segments, CSV import/export. | Starter ($0 forever) |
Frequently asked questions
Can new clients pay a deposit while regular clients book with their prepaid package?
Yes. First-time guests can pay a card/Apple Pay deposit via Stripe Connect to lock their slot, while existing package holders redeem an available session credit on the same Branded Client Portal.
Does FavCRM hold my funds or take a booking percentage?
Never. Payments flow directly into your own connected Stripe account, and FavCRM charges 0% commission on bookings, deposits, and packages.
What if I currently track client packages in Excel or paper cards?
You can bulk-import client contacts and opening session balances via CSV in minutes—or work with our Hong Kong onboarding team for done-for-you ledger migration.