Answers about Astra POS across every business type, feature, and payment option — all in one place. 109 questions and counting.
Yes. Astra is purpose-built for nail salons and beauty businesses. Features like technician turn tracking, multi-tech tickets and tip-by-technician payouts are core to the system rather than add-ons, so it fits the way nail salons actually operate.
Absolutely. The check-in screen and turn queue handle walk-ins, while the built-in calendar manages booked appointments — all on the same system, so your front desk sees one unified view of the day.
Every service on a ticket is tied to the technician who performed it, so when a tip is added at checkout it is automatically attributed to the right person. At the end of the day you get an accurate per-technician breakdown of tips and commission.
Astra runs on modern salon-ready hardware, including tablet stations and card readers that accept tap, chip and swipe. We will recommend the right setup for your space, and many salons qualify for a free POS through our current offers.
Most salons go live within a few days. Our team helps migrate your client list, service menu and staff, and provides onboarding so your team is comfortable before your first shift on the new system.
Yes. Multi-location salons get a single dashboard with visibility across every shop, plus per-location reporting, so owners can compare performance and manage the whole group from one login.
Yes. Astra is built for mixed staffing models. You can set commission structures per stylist or service and track booth-rent balances in the same system, then generate clean payroll and reports for everyone.
Every client profile stores service history, color formulas and notes, so any stylist can deliver consistent results and pick up where the last visit left off.
Yes. Clients can book their preferred stylist online any time, and automated reminders reduce no-shows. Rebooking at checkout keeps the calendar full.
Astra tracks product inventory and back-bar usage, flags low stock, and makes it easy to add retail to any ticket so your product wall turns a profit.
Absolutely. Astra scales from a two-chair studio to multi-location groups, with per-location and per-stylist reporting from a single dashboard.
Most hair salons are live within a few days. We migrate your data and provide onboarding so your team is comfortable before the first shift.
Yes. Astra supports varied service durations, pricing and specialist assignments, so facials, waxing, lashes, brows and skincare all schedule accurately on one calendar.
It does. You can sell prepaid packages and recurring memberships, and Astra automatically tracks redemptions, balances, billing and member perks.
Every client profile holds preferences, allergies, skin notes and full service history, giving each provider the context they need for safe, personal treatments.
Yes. Astra tracks retail and skincare inventory and lets you add products to any ticket, so you grow revenue and never miss a sale to low stock.
Absolutely. Astra scales from a single studio to multi-provider and multi-location businesses, with reporting and staff management to match.
Most beauty salons are live within a few days. We migrate your data and provide onboarding so your team is confident before the first appointment.
Yes. Astra tracks chair-rent balances and per-barber commission in the same system, so every barber is paid correctly and owners get clean daily totals.
It can. A live walk-in queue and an appointment calendar run on the same system, so booked regulars and walk-ins never collide.
Tips are captured per barber at checkout and attributed automatically, giving you accurate, dispute-free payouts at the end of each day.
Yes. Regulars can book their barber online any time, while walk-ins flow through the queue, all managed in one place.
Astra works for a one-chair operation and scales up to busy multi-barber and multi-location shops, with reporting to match.
Most barbershops are live within a few days. We migrate your data and get your team comfortable before your first shift on Astra.
The best POS system is one that combines payment processing, appointment scheduling, customer management, technician payroll, inventory tracking, gift cards, loyalty programs, and reporting into one integrated platform designed specifically for salon operations.
Costs vary depending on features, hardware, and whether you choose a monthly subscription or lifetime license. When comparing options, consider the total value, including support, updates, payment integration, and included features—not just the monthly price.
Yes. Features like online booking, loyalty programs, gift cards, customer history, automated reminders, and detailed sales reports can help increase bookings, improve customer retention, and encourage higher spending per visit.
Many modern salon POS systems support multi-location businesses, allowing owners to manage appointments, inventory, staff, and reports across several salons from a single account.
Absolutely. Online booking gives customers the convenience of scheduling appointments anytime, reduces phone interruptions for staff, and helps minimize scheduling errors and missed opportunities.
Yes. Astra offers 24/7 online booking so clients can schedule their preferred provider and service from any device, even when the salon is closed.
Automated text and email reminders go out before each appointment, and you can require deposits on high-value or new-client bookings. Together these dramatically reduce no-shows.
It does. Appointments live inside the same system as your POS, so booking, client history and payment are all connected with no double-entry.
Yes. You can require deposits on specific services or for new clients to protect your time and reduce cancellations.
Astra can automatically offer the open slot to your waitlist, helping you fill last-minute cancellations instead of losing the hour.
Absolutely. Astra handles multiple providers and locations, each with their own availability, on one connected calendar.
Yes. Astra online booking is open 24/7, so clients can book their preferred provider and service from any device, even when the salon is closed.
They do. Every online booking appears in Astra instantly with the client's details attached, so there is no double-entry and no second calendar to manage.
Yes. Clients select their favorite stylist, technician or barber and see that person's real availability when they book.
It does. Online booking is paired with automated reminders and optional deposits, so more of your booked appointments become real, paid visits.
Clients can book from your website, your social profiles or a shareable link, so you capture appointments wherever they find you.
No. Booking syncs with your calendar in real time, so clients only see slots that are genuinely open, preventing double-booking.
Yes. Astra supports self check-in at a kiosk as well as front-desk check-in, so you can use whichever fits your salon's style.
It does. Every check-in flows directly into the turn queue or the client's appointment, keeping the order accurate without manual entry.
Yes. Astra gives clients visibility into their wait, so they can relax instead of hovering by the desk.
Absolutely. Walk-ins and booked clients move through the same smooth check-in flow on one system.
Yes. Returning clients are recognized on check-in and their profile and history are ready for their provider before they sit down.
Check-in runs on standard reception hardware such as a tablet kiosk. We will help you set up the right configuration for your space.
The queue follows the rotation rules you set, updating automatically as clients check in and services are assigned, so the order is always fair and transparent.
Yes. The current order and who is next are visible to your team, which ends the constant questions and builds trust in the process.
It does. Astra manages requested clients alongside the walk-in rotation without throwing the fairness of the queue off balance.
Yes. Turns tie into service assignment and checkout, so every service is attributed to the right technician for accurate tips, commission and payroll.
That is exactly what it is designed to do. A transparent, automatic rotation removes the memory and bias that cause turn disputes, keeping the floor calm.
Yes. Any salon that rotates walk-ins among staff — nail salons, barbershops and more — can use Astra's turn queue to keep rotations fair.
Yes. Because payroll runs on your actual POS data, commission and tips are attributed to the right staff member automatically and totaled for each pay period.
It can. Astra supports commission, hourly, booth-rent and hybrid pay structures in the same system. You set each person's rules once and the software applies them.
Yes. Astra provides clear per-employee breakdowns of commission, tips, hours and deductions, which builds trust and reduces disputes.
Astra generates payroll-ready totals you can export in a few clicks for your payroll service or accountant.
Yes. Tips are captured at checkout and can be reported by type, so cash and card tips are clear and accurate for payouts.
Payroll setup is a one-time configuration we help you complete during onboarding. After that, each pay period calculates automatically.
Clients earn points automatically on services and retail at checkout, and redeem rewards with a single tap. There are no punch cards or apps to manage.
No. Clients are enrolled automatically at checkout, so there are no forms to fill out and nothing to download.
Yes. You choose the rewards that fit your salon — dollars off, free add-ons, bonus perks — and set how points are earned.
It does. You can reward clients for referring friends, turning word of mouth into a measurable growth channel.
Yes. Loyalty lives inside your POS, so points and rewards tie directly to each client's real spending, history and bookings.
Absolutely. Loyalty works across locations so clients can earn and redeem wherever they visit within your salon group.
Yes. Astra supports branded digital eGift cards and physical gift cards, sold online or in-store, whichever your clients prefer.
They are. Every purchase and redemption updates the card balance instantly, so there are no manual logs and no confusion at checkout.
Yes. Clients can buy and send digital gift cards from your site any time, capturing sales even when the salon is closed.
Redemption is a single tap at checkout, and the remaining balance is shown clearly so there is never a question about what is left.
Astra reports on gift card sales and outstanding balances, giving you clean numbers for your books and clear visibility into your liability.
Yes. Both digital and physical cards are branded to your salon, so every gift extends your brand to a new potential client.
Yes. Astra sends branded email and text message campaigns, so you can reach clients through the channels they actually check.
Astra watches your client data and automatically reaches out to clients who have not visited in a while with a timely offer, helping recover them before they are lost.
They are. Because Astra's marketing runs on your real POS data, campaigns target the right clients — lapsed, VIP, birthdays and more — so messages are relevant.
Yes. You can send targeted promotions to fill specific gaps in your calendar, turning slow hours into booked appointments.
It can. Astra prompts happy clients to leave reviews at the right moment, steadily building the online reputation that wins new clients.
No. Marketing is built into Astra and powered by your client history, so there is no separate platform to learn or sync.
Yes. Online booking is built into your Astra website and connected to your calendar, so visitors can book instantly and appointments appear in your system automatically.
It will. Astra websites are mobile-friendly and designed to look and work perfectly on phones, where most clients will find you.
Yes. Astra sites are SEO-ready, structured so local clients searching for salons like yours can discover you.
It does. Bookings and client details flow directly from your site into Astra, so there is no double-entry and nothing to sync manually.
Absolutely. Your site can showcase your full service menu, pricing, gallery and reviews to help win new clients.
No. Your site stays current with your services and availability through Astra, and our team helps with design and updates whenever you need.
Astra accepts tap, chip, swipe and contactless payments from cards, phones and watches, so you never lose a sale because a payment type is not supported.
Yes. Every transaction is encrypted, tokenized and handled to PCI-compliance standards, protecting your clients' card data and your business.
They are. Astra keeps pricing clear and honest, without the surprise fees that make typical processing statements hard to understand.
Astra offers dependable funding options designed to keep your cash flow steady, so you know when your deposits are coming.
Yes. Processing is built into Astra, so payments, tips and reporting all reconcile automatically with nothing to match up by hand.
Many salons qualify for a free POS or a card-device upgrade through our current offers. Our team will recommend the right setup for your salon.
It is a pricing approach where clients who pay with cash receive a discount off the listed price, while card payers pay the standard price. It helps offset the cost of card processing.
Yes. Astra applies the cash discount automatically at checkout, with no manual math, so it runs consistently on every ticket.
They will. Astra shows the listed price and the cash discount clearly at checkout and on the receipt, so pricing is transparent.
Yes. Because it is built into Astra, the program works alongside tips, loyalty, gift cards and reporting without any separate device.
Savings depend on your card volume, but because the program applies to every sale, the reduction in processing costs adds up meaningfully over a year.
No. Our team configures the program for you during setup, and once it is on it runs automatically across every station and staff member.
Dual pricing shows a cash price and a card price side by side at checkout. Clients choose how to pay, which helps salons offset the cost of card processing transparently.
Rather than adding a fee on top, dual pricing simply displays two clear prices from the start, so there is nothing hidden and clients choose with full information.
Yes. Astra applies the right price based on the payment method automatically, with no manual math for your team.
They will. Both the cash and card prices are shown clearly at checkout and on the receipt, keeping everything transparent.
Yes. Dual pricing is built into your POS and works alongside tips, loyalty, gift cards and reporting with no separate device.
No. Our team configures dual pricing for you, and once it is on it runs automatically and consistently across every station.
Fees vary depending on the processor, card type, and pricing model. In addition to transaction fees, some providers may charge monthly service, PCI compliance, gateway, or statement fees. Always request a full pricing breakdown before signing an agreement.
A Cash Discount Program offers customers a lower price when paying with cash, while Dual Pricing displays separate cash and card prices. Both approaches are designed to help businesses recover some or all of their credit card processing costs while remaining transparent.
Some POS providers allow third-party payment terminals, while others require specific hardware for full integration. Check compatibility before purchasing equipment.
Yes. Integrated payment processing automatically connects transactions with appointments, customer records, technician commissions, inventory, and reports, reducing manual entry and improving accuracy.
Look for transparent pricing, secure payment technology, fast funding, reliable hardware, responsive customer support, and seamless integration with your salon POS software. A provider that understands the salon industry can also help streamline your daily operations and support your long-term growth.
Dual pricing is a payment model that displays two prices for products or services: one cash price and one card price. Customers choose the payment method they prefer before completing the transaction.
No. A cash discount rewards customers paying with cash, while dual pricing presents separate cash and card prices before payment. Although both strategies can reduce processing costs, they operate differently.
Yes. Many businesses use dual pricing to recover a significant portion of their payment processing expenses, helping improve overall profitability.
Most modern salon POS systems that support dual pricing can automatically calculate pricing, process payments, generate compliant receipts, and provide accurate reporting.
In many jurisdictions, dual pricing is permitted when implemented in compliance with applicable laws and card network requirements. Because regulations vary by location, consult your payment processor or legal advisor before launching a dual pricing program.