Set Up Your Salon in Under 30 Minutes
Follow these seven steps to configure your Tilavon account and start managing appointments, payments, and clients right away.
Seven Steps to Go Live
Complete each step at your own pace. You can start taking appointments as soon as you finish steps 1 through 3.
Complete Your Salon Profile
Add your salon name, address, business hours, and contact information.
Add Your Services & Pricing
Create service categories, set prices, and define appointment durations.
Set Up Staff Profiles & Schedules
Add technicians, assign services, and configure working hours.
Configure Payment Processing
Connect your payment processor to start accepting card payments.
Import or Add Clients
Bring your existing client list into Tilavon or start adding clients manually.
Set Up Online Booking
Let clients book appointments from your website or social media.
Customize Your Settings
Fine-tune notifications, commissions, taxes, and receipt preferences.
Complete Your Salon Profile
Your salon profile is the foundation of your Tilavon account. This information appears on your online booking page, client receipts, and appointment reminders. Navigate to Settings > Salon Profile to get started.
Salon Name
Enter your salon's official business name. This appears on receipts, your booking page, and all client-facing communications.
Address & Location
Add your full street address. Tilavon uses this for your online booking page and for clients who search by location. If you have multiple locations, each one gets its own profile.
Business Hours
Set your operating hours for each day of the week. These hours determine when clients can book online and when your calendar is available. You can adjust individual days or set holiday hours later.
Contact Information
Add your salon phone number and email address. These are displayed on your booking page and used for system notifications like daily summary emails.
Pro Tip
Upload your salon logo during this step. It appears on your online booking page, email notifications, and printed receipts, giving your clients a polished, branded experience from day one.
Add Your Services & Pricing
Your service menu is what clients see when booking online and what your front desk uses to create tickets. Navigate to Settings > Services to build your menu.
Create Service Categories
Organize your services into categories like Manicures, Pedicures, Acrylics, Gel, Waxing, or Facials. Categories help clients browse your offerings and keep your menu organized. Click Add Category, name it, and optionally set a display order.
Set Prices
For each service, enter the base price. If your pricing varies by technician level (e.g., junior vs. senior), you can set price tiers under each service. Prices can be updated at any time without affecting existing appointments.
Define Durations
Set the estimated duration for each service in minutes. This determines how much calendar time the appointment blocks. Be accurate here — it prevents double-bookings and gives clients realistic wait time estimates.
Set Up Staff Profiles & Schedules
Each staff member gets their own profile, calendar column, and performance tracking. Navigate to Settings > Staff to add your team.
Add Staff Members
Click Add Staff Member and enter their name, phone number, and email. Choose their role: Technician, Front Desk, or Manager. Each role has different default permissions that you can customize later.
Set Working Schedules
For each technician, configure their working days and hours. You can set a repeating weekly schedule or customize individual weeks. Their calendar column only shows during their scheduled hours, keeping your view clean.
Assign Permissions
Control what each staff member can access. Technicians see their own appointments and clients. Managers can view reports and modify schedules. Front desk staff can check in clients and process payments. Customize these defaults under each profile.
Configure Payment Processing
Tilavon integrates with Stripe, Square, and SumUp for card processing. You only need to connect one processor to start accepting payments. Navigate to Settings > Payments to begin.
Choose Your Processor
Select from Stripe, Square, or SumUp based on your preference. All three support chip, tap, and swipe transactions. If you already have an account with one of these providers, connecting takes under two minutes.
Connect Your Account
Click Connect next to your chosen processor. You will be redirected to their secure sign-in page to authorize Tilavon. Once connected, your terminal devices are automatically detected and ready to process payments.
Already Processing Cards?
If you are switching from another salon software, you can keep your existing payment processor account. Just connect it to Tilavon and your processing rates, deposit schedule, and terminal hardware stay the same.
Import or Add Clients
Having your client list in Tilavon lets you track visit history, send reminders, and build loyalty. Navigate to Clients to manage your list.
Import from CSV
Export your client list from your previous software as a CSV file. In Tilavon, go to Settings > Import Data, upload the file, and map columns to fields like name, phone, and email. The import handles duplicates automatically and typically completes in under a minute.
Add Clients Manually
New clients are automatically created when they book online or when you add them during appointment creation. You can also click Add Client on the Clients page to enter their details directly. Client profiles build over time with visit history, preferences, and notes.
Set Up Online Booking
Online booking reduces phone calls and fills your calendar around the clock. Navigate to Settings > Online Booking to configure your booking page.
Enable Online Booking
Toggle on Online Booking to activate your personalized booking page. Choose which services and technicians are available for online booking. You can require new clients to create an account or allow guest bookings.
Share Your Booking Link
Copy your unique booking URL and add it to your website, Google Business Profile, Instagram bio, and Facebook page. Clients see your available time slots in real time and can book instantly. You receive a notification for each new booking.
Customize Your Settings
These optional settings let you tailor Tilavon to your salon's specific needs. You can configure them now or come back to them later.
Appointment Notifications
Configure when and how clients receive appointment reminders. By default, SMS and email reminders go out 24 hours and 2 hours before each appointment. You can adjust timing or disable specific channels under Settings > Notifications.
Commission Rules
Set up commission structures for your technicians. Choose from percentage-based, tiered, or flat-rate models. Commission calculations appear automatically in your payroll reports. Configure these under Settings > Commission Rules.
Tax Settings
Enter your local sales tax rate so it is applied automatically at checkout. You can set different rates for services vs. retail products. Navigate to Settings > Tax to configure.
Receipt Preferences
Choose your default receipt format: printed, emailed, texted, or a combination. Customize the footer text with your salon's return policy or a thank-you message. Set these under Settings > Receipts.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does setup take?
Most salon owners complete the initial setup in under 30 minutes. You can add your salon profile, services, and first staff member in one sitting. Additional configuration like importing clients or setting up online booking can be done at your own pace.
Can I import data from another system?
Yes. Tilavon supports CSV imports for client lists, service menus, and staff rosters. Export data from your previous software and upload it through Settings > Import Data. The import wizard walks you through column mapping and handles duplicates automatically.
Do I need to set up everything at once?
Not at all. Tilavon is designed for progressive setup. Start with your salon profile and services, then add staff, clients, and advanced features like online booking as you get comfortable with the system. You can start taking appointments after completing just the first three steps.
How do I add my first appointment?
Once you have at least one service and one staff member, navigate to the Calendar page and click any open time slot. Select the client or add a new one, choose the service, assign the technician, and confirm. The appointment appears on your calendar immediately.
Is training available?
Tilavon offers free onboarding support for all plans. Our documentation covers every feature in detail, and our support team is available via chat and email to help you get set up quickly. We also offer live walkthroughs for Pro and Elite plans.