Payroll That Works the Way Your Salon Does
Whether you pay percentage commission, tiered rates, or flat fees, Tilavon calculates everything automatically so you can focus on running your business.
Commission Structure Types
Choose from percentage, tiered, flat, or hybrid commission models.
Setting Up Commission Rules
Configure default rates, service overrides, and threshold triggers.
Tip Distribution
Track tips automatically and choose how they are split among staff.
Pay Period Configuration
Set weekly, biweekly, or monthly pay cycles.
Commission Structure Types
Every salon compensates technicians differently. Tilavon supports four commission models, and you can assign a different one to each staff member.
Percentage Commission
The technician earns a fixed percentage of every service they perform. For example, a 60% commission on a $50 manicure pays the technician $30. This is the most common model in the nail salon industry.
Tiered Commission
Commission rates increase as the technician hits revenue thresholds during the pay period. For instance, 50% on the first $3,000 in sales, then 60% on everything above that. This rewards high performers.
Flat Per-Service
The technician earns a fixed dollar amount for each service regardless of the service price. For example, $20 per manicure and $35 per pedicure. This model is simple and predictable.
Hourly Plus Commission
The technician receives a base hourly wage plus a smaller commission percentage on services. This model works well for newer technicians who are still building a client base.
Tip
Not sure which model to use? Start with percentage commission at 50-60% for experienced technicians. You can switch models at any time without losing historical payroll data.
Setting Up Commission Rules
Once you choose a commission type for a technician, fine-tune the rules to match your business agreements exactly.
Default Commission Rate
Set a base commission rate in the technician's profile under the Payroll tab. This rate applies to all services unless overridden at the service level.
Per-Service Overrides
Want to pay a different rate for high-margin services? Open the service in your menu, scroll to Commission Overrides, and enter a custom rate. The override takes precedence over the technician's default rate for that service only.
Product Sales Commission
Optionally enable commission on retail product sales. Set a separate percentage for products so technicians are incentivized to recommend take-home items without inflating their service commission.
Revenue Thresholds
For tiered commission, define the dollar thresholds and corresponding rates. Add as many tiers as you need. Tilavon recalculates the blended rate automatically at the end of each pay period.
Tip Distribution
Tips are captured at checkout whether the client pays by card or cash. Tilavon gives you three options for distributing tips to your team.
Direct Pass-Through
Each tip goes directly to the technician who performed the service. This is the default setting and the simplest to manage. The tip amount appears on the technician's pay stub alongside their commission.
Pooled Tips
All tips collected during a pay period are combined and split evenly among eligible staff. This model encourages teamwork and is common in salons where multiple technicians collaborate on services.
Custom Split
Define a percentage split between the service technician, front desk staff, and a house share. For example, 80% to the technician, 10% to the receptionist, and 10% to the house. Adjust the percentages to fit your salon's culture.
Pay Period Configuration
Configure your pay schedule once and Tilavon handles the rest. Pay periods control when commission and tips are tallied and when reports become available.
Weekly
Pay periods run Monday through Sunday. Payroll reports are available for review every Monday morning. Best for salons that pay staff each week.
Biweekly
Two-week pay periods aligned to your chosen start day. Payroll reports generate every other week. This is the most common schedule for salons with W-2 employees.
Monthly
Pay periods cover the 1st through the last day of each month. Reports are available on the first business day of the following month. Common for booth rental salons tracking rent and commissions.
Tip
You can change pay period frequency at any time. Tilavon will close the current period on the switch date and start the new frequency immediately.
Generating Pay Stubs
At the end of each pay period, generate individual pay stubs that break down exactly how each technician's pay was calculated.
Generate Pay Stubs
Navigate to Reports then Payroll. Select the pay period and click Generate Pay Stubs. Tilavon creates a stub for each active staff member showing their gross pay calculation.
Pay Stub Details
Each stub lists every service performed, the commission earned on each, total tips received, any bonuses or deductions, and the final gross pay amount. Technicians can also view their own stubs in the employee app.
Delivery Options
Pay stubs can be emailed to each technician automatically, downloaded as PDF for printing, or accessed directly through the employee app. Choose your preferred method in Payroll Settings.
Payroll Reports & Exports
Tilavon generates comprehensive payroll reports that give you a complete picture of labor costs and technician earnings.
Summary Report
The summary view shows each technician's total services, revenue generated, commission earned, tips, adjustments, and gross pay for the selected period. Use this for a quick overview before finalizing payroll.
Detailed Transaction Report
Drill down into a technician's pay stub to see every individual transaction: the client name, service performed, service price, commission rate, and commission amount. This level of detail helps resolve any pay disputes.
Export Options
Export payroll data as CSV for import into external payroll providers like Gusto or ADP, or as PDF for your records. The CSV includes all fields needed for standard payroll processing.
Tax Reporting
Tilavon helps you stay organized at tax time by tracking total compensation for every staff member throughout the year.
W-2 Employees
For employees on your payroll, Tilavon tracks gross wages, tips, and withholding information. Export this data to your payroll provider or accountant for W-2 preparation. Integration with Gusto and ADP streamlines the process.
1099 Contractors
For booth renters and independent contractors, Tilavon tracks total payments made during the tax year. Generate a 1099 summary report showing each contractor's total compensation, making year-end filing straightforward.
Tip
Tilavon calculates gross pay and generates reports but does not file taxes or withhold payments directly. Always work with a qualified accountant for tax compliance specific to your state.
Adjustments & Bonuses
Real payroll is rarely just commission and tips. Tilavon lets you add adjustments to any pay period before finalizing.
Bonuses
Reward a top performer or celebrate a milestone by adding a one-time bonus. Enter the amount and a note explaining the reason. The bonus appears as a separate line item on the pay stub.
Deductions
Deduct amounts for supply charges, uniform costs, or cash register shortages. Deductions are subtracted from the technician's gross pay and clearly labeled on the stub.
Corrections
Made a mistake on a previous pay period? Add a correction adjustment to the current period with a reference to the original transaction. This keeps your books accurate without editing closed periods.
Recurring Adjustments
For deductions that repeat every pay period, like a loan repayment or equipment lease, set up a recurring adjustment. It is applied automatically until you cancel it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What commission structures does Tilavon support?
Tilavon supports percentage-based commission, tiered commission that increases at revenue thresholds, flat per-service commission, and hourly plus commission hybrid models. You can configure a different structure for each staff member.
How are tips handled in payroll?
Tips are tracked automatically at checkout, whether paid by card or cash. Tilavon lets you choose between direct tip pass-through to the technician, pooled tips split evenly, or a custom split percentage. Tip totals appear on each pay period report.
Can I set different commission rates per service?
Yes. You can define commission overrides at the service level so that high-margin services pay a different rate than standard services. The override takes precedence over the technician's default commission rate.
How do I generate payroll reports?
Navigate to Reports then Payroll in the owner portal. Select a date range and click Generate. The report shows each technician's services, revenue, commission, tips, adjustments, and total pay. You can export to CSV or PDF.
Does Tilavon handle tax withholding?
Tilavon calculates gross pay and generates detailed reports you can hand to your accountant or payroll provider. For W-2 employees, it integrates with payroll services like Gusto and ADP. For 1099 contractors, it tracks total payments for year-end reporting.