What software does a small aesthetics clinic actually need?

The short answer: one booking system that handles your diary, consent forms and payments, and then a small number of tools for the jobs it doesn't do. Most small clinics need far less software than they're paying for.

The base: one booking system

Fresha, Pabau, ANS (Aesthetic Nurse Software) and Glowday are the ones I hear about most from other UK owners. They all cover online booking, reminders, consent and medical forms, and card payments. The differences are mostly price, how clinical the records are, and whether there's a marketplace attached.

My honest advice is to pick one and stay put. Switching systems is a big job, and I've done it.

The gaps nobody mentions

• Treatment plans patients read. Most systems store a plan. Few send the patient something clear and good-looking with a way to book the next step.
• Notes that don't eat your evening. Typing up at 9pm is the bit most of us hate.
• Your numbers, in plain view. Reports exist, but working out which days and treatments earn your living takes a spreadsheet.
• Who has stopped coming. The most valuable list in your clinic, and usually the hardest to pull.

What I'd skip

A second diary, a separate form builder, and anything you signed up for after a webinar and haven't opened since. If two tools do the same job, cancel one.

The gaps above are what I ended up building for my own clinic, and they're what the Studio is.

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