Running a salon, spa, or clinic today takes more than great hands and sharp instincts. You’re navigating rising client expectations, growing admin, and the ever-present challenge of keeping a top-tier team motivated, happy, and performing their best.
At Phorest, we know that when you get the team right – that’s when the magic happens. Clients feel it. Reviews show it. Your bottom line reflects it. We believe that building a strong team is an advantage, and that’s why we’re committed to investing in features designed to support, reward, and empower your team at every stage of their journey with you.
From transparent tipping tools that boost morale in real-time, to bite-sized education that builds confidence and retention, to performance features that make growth feel good, we’re here to help your team thrive.
This blog is part of our 2025 August Collection series: short, practical reads designed to help you strengthen your business and spark long-term growth. Let’s get into it.
When Culture Clicks, Performance Sticks
A strong team culture isn’t just “nice to have” – it’s the foundation of your business success. When staff feel valued and supported, they bring their best to every shift, creating the kind of energy and service that clients notice instantly. That positivity translates into loyalty, glowing reviews, and higher spend per visit.
After all, teams that report high morale can lead to up to 20-30% higher client satisfaction and 12% greater productivity. In the hair and beauty business, where every experience matters, that kind of boost is golden.
But culture isn’t just about the vibe; it’s about longevity. When staff feel valued, they stick around. That means less time recruiting, less money spent training, and a whole lot more consistency for your clients. Studies indicate that a strong internal culture can cut staff turnover by up to 40%… and we all know how costly churn can be.
With Phorest, you don’t need to micromanage to maintain a healthy culture. Tools like Staff Goals and PhorestTips allow your team to track their progress, celebrate wins, and take ownership of their performance, all without you needing to hover or handhold.
Happy staff lead to happy clients, and to a healthy business. It really is that simple.
Boost Morale and Motivation with PhorestTips
Your team brings their best to every appointment… and with PhorestTips, they’ll feel that effort rewarded. This smart, streamlined tipping system is built right into your PhorestPay Card Terminal, prompting clients to leave a gratuity at checkout (no need to ask). Tips are sent directly to the team member’s bank account – fast, fair, and fully compliant – with no awkward cash handling, no envelope admin, and no confusion over who gets what.
On average, staff see 25% more tips with PhorestTips (and now, it’s even better). What’s new in 2025:
- Full control over who gets tipped: Exclude roles like owners, juniors, or techs when needed.
- Include extra team members on the go: Add assistants or apprentices right at checkout.
- Skip the tip prompts altogether: For off-days or services where tipping isn’t expected.
And the latest feature? Vaults. It’s a final flourish for your team’s earnings journey. These are separate pockets within their tipping accounts for different goals, so they can save, spend, or splurge that extra income however they want.
Not only does PhorestTips make life easier for your front-of-house team, but it also builds real trust. Everyone sees exactly what they’ve earned in real-time, with no guesswork or chasing. That transparency fuels motivation, pride in their work, and a healthy drive to keep raising the bar.
With PhorestTips, we’ve turned something that used to be a hassle into a genuine highlight. Find out more here.
Staff Goals – Turning Targets Into Team Wins
When expectations are unclear, even your most talented team member can start to coast. “Was I supposed to upsell that product? Are we focusing on rebooking this month? Am I doing okay?” can all turn into common questions.
Phorest’s Staff Goals feature clears up the guesswork, bringing clarity and motivation to your team’s day-to-day. Think of it as a performance compass: personalised, real-time, and actually kind of addictive.
Each team member gets their own dashboard, showing clear targets in key areas like retail sales, rebooking rates, and client retention. With the new Forecasting upgrade, those bigger goals are broken down into daily, personalised targets based on rostered hours and real-time sales – updating live as shifts change or sales come in. No more manual calculations, just clear and achievable steps that keep everyone on track.
Since its launch, salons, spas, and clinics using Staff Goals have seen a 41% lift in retail sales, a 50% increase in upselling, and an 18% boost in average ticket value. Goals can be set by the individual or by a manager for one or multiple team members, with custom names, rewards, and even fun performance badges (like the unicorn) to keep the motivation high.
For staff, it’s a brilliant motivator. For owners and managers, it’s a game-changer for coaching. You get instant visibility into performance patterns, which means smarter one-to-ones, better recognition, and constructive conversations that don’t feel like a telling-off.
Plus, watching your team light up as they smash their goals? Unparalleled.
Why Education Means Retention
If you want your team to stay, help them grow. As it turns out, one of the biggest predictors of staff happiness and loyalty isn’t Friday drinks or fancy uniforms. It’s ongoing training and development.
People want to get better at what they do. They want to feel confident, competent, and like they’re constantly moving forward. That’s where Phorest Education comes in.
Learning That Fits Into Real Life
Whether you’re onboarding someone new or helping a seasoned stylist or therapist brush up on their retail skills, Phorest Academy makes it easy. Phorest offers bite-sized, on-demand lessons that your team can drive into between appointments, or with a coffee in hand during a quiet afternoon.
From navigating software to elevating client care, to building a strong business mindset… there’s a course for that.
Inspiration, Delivered at the Salon Owners Summit
Every year, the Salon Owners Summit brings together some of the best and brightest minds in the industry… and it’s not just a good excuse for a business trip. It’s where ideas are sparked, motivation is rekindled, and your team comes back buzzing with new energy and ideas.
Learn As You Go with PhorestFM
Need a quick hit of insights? The PhorestFM podcast is perfect for learning on the go, with episodes covering everything from boosting team performance to elevating client experience – all featuring industry experts and salon, spa, and clinic owners who’ve been there. Whether you’re commuting, setting up for the day, or taking a lunch break, it’s an easy way to sharpen your skills and stay inspired. Listen here.
And if you prefer reading, we share even more expert-backed advice through our blog, which is worth subscribing to, so you never miss a tip.
Build the Culture, and the Numbers Will Follow
Great teams don’t just show up. They’re built, and they grow – with support, and the kind of motivation that lasts well beyond the end of the week.
Whether it’s real-time tipping, shared goals, or bite-sized education, Phorest gives you the tools that help your team feel valued, driven, and connected to your business. When your team thrives, so does everything else: client experience, revenue, and retention.
You don’t need to overhaul your business to get there. Even small shifts, like making tips visible, or introducing individual performance goals, can spark major impact.
Ready to inspire your team with our 2025 August Collection?
