How Much Does Salon Software Really Cost? (Full 2025 Breakdown)

The Sticker Price Is a Lie

Most salon software vendors advertise a monthly subscription price that sounds reasonable. But by the time you've added your actual use case, that number can grow well beyond the sticker price. This guide breaks down where the full cost of ownership comes from so you can compare apples to apples.

The Five Cost Buckets

When evaluating any salon software, look at all five:

1. Base subscription — the advertised monthly fee
2. Per-location or per-staff fees — the multiplier most vendors bury in pricing pages
3. Add-on modules — payroll, marketing, forms, inventory often sold separately
4. Payment processing rate — often 2.6%–3.5%+ per transaction
5. Hardware costs — card readers, terminals, iPads, receipt printers

What Santurg Costs

Santurg is priced in tiers, and each tier names what it unlocks:

• Studio Starter, $99/month ($1,010 billed yearly, save 15%): scheduling, client CRM, services, POS and billing, the client booking portal and SMS reminders.
• Studio Pro, $169/month ($1,724 billed yearly, save 15%): everything in Starter plus inventory, vendors, memberships, gift cards, digital forms, loyalty, reports and analytics, integrations and expenses.
• Studio Elite, $299/month ($3,050 billed yearly, save 15%): everything in Pro plus an audit log, for one location.
• Enterprise, from $349/month: for salons with two or more locations.

What You Should Actually Ask During a Demo

• What's the cost per additional staff member or location?
• What features require a paid add-on vs. included in base?
• What hardware do I need and where do I buy it?
• What's the payment processing rate — and is there a monthly minimum?
• What does onboarding cost and how long does it take?

The lowest subscription fee doesn't mean the lowest total cost. Run the full model for your actual volume and staff count before deciding.