Saloniq
SalonIQ is a UK-based vertical SaaS platform that provides cloud-based salon management software — combining online booking, automated marketing, AI-assisted reception, integrated payments and team analytics — to 2,500+ independent hair and beauty salons and 180+ multi-location groups.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2012
- HeadquartersDurham, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What Saloniq does
SalonIQ (legal entity Intelligent Salon Software Ltd, Tunbridge Wells, UK) is a vertical cloud-SaaS platform for hair and beauty salons, serving 2,500+ UK salons and 180+ multi-location groups under a subscription model starting at £47/month with no long-term contracts. The product combines online 24/7 booking, automated SMS/email marketing, client and consultation management (with face/body mapping, allergy screening via Colourstart and Vish colour-measuring integration), team performance dashboards, multi-location reporting, and integrated payments through IQ Pay. Distinctive add-ons include an AI Receptionist that autonomously handles missed calls and the Smart Tip solution co-developed with Revolut for same-day, cashless tipping.
The company was founded in 2012 by Andy Atherton and David Le Vine (who previously built Computill and iSalon from 1993), launched SalonIQ in 2013, and is independently owned with no external investors. Sales is hybrid: a named field/inside sales team (Sales Director, Senior Sales Consultant, Key Account Executive, multiple SDRs) targets enterprise groups while a self-serve digital funnel and a referral program (£150 incentive) address SMBs. Geographic expansion is distributor-led, with Digital Salon as exclusive Irish distributor (2024, 60 of 150 salons live in three weeks) and a UAE brand partnership.
Revenue mechanics rest on per-salon subscription tiers, enterprise pricing for groups, embedded payments through IQ Pay, and add-on modules (AI Receptionist, Smart Tip, branded salon app, eCommerce, memberships, finance reporting). The platform integrates with Stripe, Klarna, Reserve with Google, Mutu, SalonSpy, Flossie, Green Salon Collective, and Revolut, and exposes an IQapi for third-party developers. Operating scale cited by the company includes 20,000+ users, 10M+ annual bookings, 13.5M+ SMS/year, and 825,000+ payment transactions/year.
Saloniq firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Saloniq
- Legal name
- Intelligent Salon Software Ltd
- Website
- https://saloniq.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2012
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- SalonIQ is a UK-based vertical SaaS platform that provides cloud-based salon management software — combining online booking, automated marketing, AI-assisted reception, integrated payments and team analytics — to 2,500+ independent hair and beauty salons and 180+ multi-location groups.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Saloniq industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Salon Management Software
- SIC
- Services-Management Services (8741)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Appointment Reservations (Spa, Salon, Wellness) (HSACALAK)
Keywords
Where Saloniq is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Durham
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Saloniq business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Subscription Software Licensing: Monthly subscription model for cloud-based salon management software with access to all core features including online booking, marketing automation, client management, team tools, and integrated payments. No long-term contracts required.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Core subscription from £47/month |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels9 records
Saloniq product offering
Product offeringCore offering
SalonIQ is a UK-based cloud-based salon management software platform that combines online appointment booking, client management, automated marketing, team performance tools, and integrated payments in one system. It is designed and built by salon owners for hair and beauty salons, barbers, spas, and multi-location salon groups, available from £47 per month with no long-term contracts. The platform includes an AI Receptionist for 24/7 missed-call handling, IQ Pay for integrated payments, Tip Smart for cashless tipping, a branded mobile app, and multi-location enterprise management.
Product overview
SalonIQ is an all-in-one salon management software platform built by salon owners for salon owners, combining a core unified platform with multiple integrated modules. The core SalonIQ Platform serves as the central hub, complemented by specialized modules including: AI Receptionist (automated call handling), IQ Pay (integrated payments), Online Booking Portal (24/7 appointment booking), Salon Marketing (automated SMS/email campaigns), Team Engagement (performance tracking), Salon Management (dashboard and reconciliation), Client Experience (deposits and intake), Salon App (branded mobile app), Group & Enterprise (multi-location management), Salon eCommerce (retail sales), IQ Finance (financial reporting), Smart Consultation (forms with face/body mapping), Smart Tip/Tip Smart (cashless tipping via Revolut), and a free Stock App for multi-location inventory management. The platform integrates with payment processors (Stripe, Klarna), communication tools (Reserve with Google, Flossie), and industry-specific tools (SalonSpy, Vish, Colourstart, Green Salon Collective) to provide comprehensive salon management.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- SalonIQ Platform All-in-one cloud-based salon management software combining online booking, automated marketing, client management, team performance tools, and integrated payments; designed for hair salons, beauty salons, barbers, spas and multi-location salon groups in the UK.
- AI Receptionist AI-powered autonomous receptionist that handles missed calls and enquiries 24/7, books appointments, answers common questions, and captures new clients when the team is busy.
- IQ Pay Integrated payment processing solution for salons that talks directly to card terminals, eliminates payment mistakes and saves admin time during cash-up.
- Smart Tip (Tip Smart) Integrated cashless tipping solution developed in partnership with Revolut that transfers tips directly from client to team members' Revolut accounts the same day, with 100% of tips going to staff and helping salons comply with UK tipping rules.
Quantifiable outcome
- 86% of bookings made online without staff involvement (SalonIQ customer data, 2025)
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use Saloniq
Customer profileNamed customers19 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Saloniq technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration10 records
AI capability6 records
Feature10 records
Saloniq partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Digital SaloncoreAppointed as exclusive Irish distributor for SalonIQ technology. 150 Irish salons in process of switching with 60 already live in first three weeks. Partner is website and digital marketing expert in beauty and wellness industry.
- StripecorePayment processing integration enabling salons to take deposits and payments online. Technology-first approach to payments and finance.
- Green Salon CollectiveminorRecycling partner for specialist hair salon waste across UK and Ireland. Diverts hair, foil, and colour tubes from landfill with over 10 different recycling methods.
- RevolutcorePartnership for Tip Smart solution enabling cashless tipping. Tips transferred directly from client to team member's Revolut account same day. Developed to help salons comply with UK tipping rules.
Scale indicators15 records
Recent moves10 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Saloniq competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- GlossGenius: US-originated salon and spa software for independent beauty professionals with strong brand-led marketing and integrated payments. Similar SMB-focused, payments-inclusive proposition aimed at independent salon owners; presence in the UK is limited but competes for the same customer mindshare.
- Booksy: Appointment booking and business management app targeted at barbers, hair and beauty salons with payments built in. Comparable online-booking-first proposition with overlap in the barbershop segment where SalonIQ also sells.
- Fresha: Global salon and beauty marketplace-plus-software platform with a strong freemium/marketplace motion. Competes for the same small-business salon customer as SalonIQ but with a different GTM emphasis (app marketplace and payments).
Broad incumbents
- Square Appointments: Block/Square's appointment booking and POS suite widely adopted by small salons and barbers because of its bundled payments hardware and software. Competes indirectly with SalonIQ's IQ Pay and online booking in the SMB salon segment.
- Mindbody: Large, broad wellness and beauty SaaS incumbent covering salons, spas and fitness studios with booking, payments and marketing at enterprise scale. Competes with SalonIQ for multi-location and enterprise salon groups but operates across a much wider vertical surface.
Direct peers
- Phorest Salon Software: Ireland-based salon software platform serving hair and beauty salons with online booking, marketing, client management and multi-location tools. Closest direct competitor to SalonIQ, particularly in the UK and Irish markets where it has a strong installed base.
- Shortcuts Software: UK-headquartered salon and spa management software for hair, beauty and barber businesses offering booking, CRM, marketing and stock control. Direct competitor; multiple ex-Shortcuts staff appear in SalonIQ's team, evidencing direct category overlap.
- SalonPartner Software: UK-based salon management software serving independent salons and groups. Direct competitor in the same vertical; cited as a prior employer of SalonIQ's Head of Support, indicating category and customer overlap.
- iSalon: UK salon software originally built by the same founders (Computill) as the heritage of SalonIQ. Operates as a continuing competitor in the UK hair and beauty market, with overlapping customer base and switching activity (e.g., Taylor Taylor London switched from iSalon to SalonIQ).
- SalonGenius: UK salon management software offering booking, CRM and marketing tools to hair and beauty businesses. Direct competitor; cited as the former employer of multiple SalonIQ team members.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Saloniq social profiles
Digital presenceSaloniq compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Saloniq financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Saloniq leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Saloniq subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Saloniq funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Saloniq M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Saloniq
What does Saloniq do?
SalonIQ is a UK-based cloud-based salon management software platform that combines online appointment booking, client management, automated marketing, team performance tools, and integrated payments in one system. It is designed and built by salon owners for hair and beauty salons, barbers, spas, and multi-location salon groups, available from £47 per month with no long-term contracts. The platform includes an AI Receptionist for 24/7 missed-call handling, IQ Pay for integrated payments, Tip Smart for cashless tipping, a branded mobile app, and multi-location enterprise management.
Is Saloniq a public or private company?
Saloniq is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Saloniq founded?
Saloniq was founded in 2012. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Saloniq based?
Saloniq is headquartered in Durham, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Saloniq make money?
One revenue line is on record: subscription Software Licensing.
Who are Saloniq's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are GlossGenius, Booksy and Fresha. Broad incumbents are Square Appointments and Mindbody. Direct peers are Phorest Salon Software, Shortcuts Software, SalonPartner Software, iSalon and SalonGenius.
Does Saloniq have an API?
Yes. SalonIQ offers IQapi which allows third-party software houses to integrate and leverage the salon software. The platform has an open architecture approach enabling API integrations with external systems.
What industry is Saloniq in?
Saloniq's product category is Salon Management Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HSACALAK, Appointment Reservations (Spa, Salon, Wellness). Its SIC code is 8741.