Clover for salons, barbers and spas in Canada.

The short answer

• You need Services Growth for bookings. Clover lists appointments, staff booking, online client booking and email reminders on that plan only.
• Reminders are email. Clover's appointment page mentions email, not text.
• Deposits and no-show fees come from an app. Clover's Canadian blog describes them in Cojilio, a booking app in its App Market.
• Chairside checkout means a Flex. A front desk suits a Mini or Station Duo. Solo workers can look at a Flex Pocket or the Clover Go app on a phone.
• Quebec: Clover's Gift Cards app isn't available there, and tip rules apply to you too.

Which setup suits your shop

These are our starting points, based on what Clover lists for service businesses.

What Clover's own booking does

All of this needs Services Growth. Clover's Canadian pages list:

• A list of services, each with a price and a length. Anything you want people to book has to be marked as a service, not an item.
• Staff booking and a client history, with a dashboard you can sort by date, time or employee and rearrange by drag and drop.
• Online booking from a simple website Clover hosts: a home page, your services, an About page, up to 5 categories, your colours and your own domain if you want it.
• Email reminders and confirmations.

Clover says creating that website costs nothing extra, but your plan and processing fees still apply.

Deposits, no-shows and text reminders

Clover's Canadian appointment pages don't mention deposits, no-show fees or text reminders. Its Canadian blog does, under an outside app called Cojilio, which it describes as fully linked with Clover payments.

Clover's blog posts carry no dates, so check the current features and prices with Cojilio. Cojilio costs extra each month, on top of your Clover plan. Clover's app list also includes a separate app for commission structures.

Tips at the chair

Tips go through your terminal, so check three things before you go live.

• In Quebec, the rule covers you. Quebec's consumer protection office says any merchant that suggests tips must work out percentages before GST and QST and include a choose-your-own option, presented evenly. It isn't only about restaurants. You stay responsible even if someone else set up your terminal.
• Check the math. We couldn't find how Clover calculates its suggestions, so run a test sale.
• Who gets the tip? Ask how your setup reports tips by staff member, and agree how you'll pay them out.

Gift cards and retail shelves

Clover lists gift cards for service businesses, but it says its Gift Cards app is unavailable in French and in Quebec. If you're in Quebec, ask what you'd use instead.

If you sell product at the desk, you'll want items and stock counts as well as services. Clover's Flex plan table lists variants and an online store on Services Growth, so ask whether that plan covers your shelf too.

Moving from another booking system

• Get your client list out first, with history if your current system allows it.
• Don't assume saved cards move over. Ask both companies. Plan on clients adding their card again.
• Keep your old system running until future bookings are safely in the new one.
• Read your current contract before you cancel. Our guide to early termination fees explains exit fees and when you can leave without one.

Common questions