The Challenge
Maria Kowalska opened Bella Hair Studio in Warsaw in 2019. Like many salon owners, she faced common challenges:
- High no-show rate: 25% of appointments were missed
- Time-consuming admin: 20+ hours per week on scheduling
- Limited growth: Stuck at €8,000/month revenue
- Burnout: Working 60+ hours per week
"I was spending more time on the phone than cutting hair," Maria recalls. "Something had to change."
The Discovery
In early 2025, Maria discovered TLBO through a recommendation from another salon owner. Initially skeptical, she decided to try it with our 7-day money-back guarantee.
"I thought automation was for big businesses," she says. "I didn't realize how accessible it had become."
The Implementation
Week 1: Setting Up
Maria started by:
"The setup was surprisingly easy," Maria notes. "I had everything running in about 2 hours."
Week 2: Launching Automation
With the basics in place, Maria activated:
- Booking confirmations: Instant SMS after booking
- 24-hour reminders: Sent automatically
- 1-hour reminders: Final reminder before appointment
- Follow-up messages: Thank you + rebooking prompt
Week 3-4: Fine-Tuning
Based on initial results, Maria:
- Adjusted reminder timing
- Personalized message templates
- Added birthday automation
- Set up review requests
The Results
After 3 Months
| Metric | Before | After | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| No-show rate | 25% | 3% | -88% |
| Admin hours/week | 20 | 5 | -75% |
| Monthly revenue | €8,000 | €13,200 | +65% |
| Client satisfaction | 4.2★ | 4.9★ | +17% |
The Numbers Breakdown
No-Show Reduction:
- Before: 25 no-shows per month (100 appointments × 25%)
- After: 3 no-shows per month (100 appointments × 3%)
- Saved appointments: 22 per month
- Average service value: €50
- Additional monthly revenue: €1,100
Time Savings:
- Before: 20 hours/week on admin
- After: 5 hours/week on admin
- Time saved: 15 hours/week
- Monthly time saved: 60 hours
- Value of time (at €30/hour): €1,800/month
Increased Bookings:
- Better availability visibility led to 20% more bookings
- Automated follow-ups increased repeat bookings by 35%
- Review requests improved online reputation, attracting new clients
Key Learnings
1. Start Simple
"Don't try to automate everything at once," Maria advises. "Start with reminders, then add more over time."
2. Personalize Messages
"Generic messages feel cold. I added my personality to the templates, and clients responded much better."
3. Monitor and Adjust
"I check my analytics weekly. Small tweaks to timing and wording made a big difference."
4. Embrace the Change
"Some clients were surprised by the automated messages at first. Now they love the convenience."
Maria's Advice for Other Salon Owners
> "If you're still managing appointments manually, you're leaving money on the table. The ROI on TLBO was immediate—I made back the subscription cost in the first week just from reduced no-shows."
What's Next for Bella Hair Studio
With the time saved through automation, Maria is now:
- Training a second stylist
- Expanding to a larger location
- Launching a loyalty program
- Planning to open a second salon
"Automation didn't replace the personal touch," Maria reflects. "It freed me to focus on what I love—making clients feel beautiful."
Try It Yourself
Ready to transform your salon like Maria did? Get started today with our 7-day money-back guarantee and see the results for yourself.