Loyalty program setup
Two programs, run them both
The two highest-leverage retention programs for a solo beauty pro: a punch-card loyalty program for repeat visits, and a referral-credit program for word-of-mouth growth. They reward different behaviors. Run them both.
Program 1
Punch-card loyalty
How it works
Every paid visit earns one punch. When the client hits the threshold (5-7 typical), they unlock the reward: a free or discounted version of the service they’ve been punching on. Punches and rewards surface on their booking-page account portal + every confirmation message.
- Threshold: 5 punches for monthly-cadence services, 7 for biweekly.
- Reward:“Free standard spray tan” or “50% off your next fill”: describe in the artist’s voice. Goldenhour stores the text as-is.
- Reward value: if the reward is a dollar discount (not a free service), set the value in cents so it shows on receipts + reports.
Program 2
Referral credit
How it works
Each existing client gets a personal referral code + a one-tap share link from their account portal. When a new client books using the code, BOTH the referrer and the new client earn the configured credit (typically $25-$50). Credit auto-applies to the next booking.
- Credit amount: $25 for entry- level services ($40-$80), $35-$50 for premium ($90+). Match the rough ratio of credit-to-service-price at 25-40%.
- Mutual credit:goldenhour fires the credit issuance when the new client’s first appointment is COMPLETED, not just booked. Prevents fraud from no-show referrals.
- Already had your friend in: No retroactive credit. The referrer + new client must use the code at the time of the first booking.
Setup
Four steps in goldenhour
- 01Open Settings → Loyalty.
- 02Toggle on Punch-card loyalty. Set the threshold (5-7), the reward text, and (if dollar-discount) the reward value in cents.
- 03Toggle on Referral program. Set the credit amount ($25-$50).
- 04Tell your existing book about both programs: one SMS broadcast announcing the launch is the cleanest kickoff.
Tracking
What success looks like
- ~15% redemption rate.If <5% of clients are earning rewards, the threshold is too high or your retention is weaker than you think.
- 2-5 referrals per month for an active solo book.0-1 means your existing clients don’t love you enough to tell friends, or they don’t know the referral program exists. Re-announce.
- Referral cost = (credit × 2) per new client. Compare against your other acquisition channels (IG ads, Google ads, Booksy Boost). Referrals should be the cheapest channel by ~3x.
FAQ
- How many punches should I require?
- Five to seven visits is the sweet spot for most services. Too few (3) and you give away revenue on clients who would have come anyway; too many (10+) and clients lose motivation. Aim for a cadence where a regular client earns the reward in 4-6 months.
- What's a good reward?
- A free or discounted version of the service the client just earned punches on: never cash. For a spray-tan punch card: free standard tan after 5 paid tans. For lash fills: free fill after 7 paid fills. The reward should feel like a meaningful gift, not a discount.
- How much credit should I give for referrals?
- $25-$50 mutual credit (both the referrer and the new client get the same amount). The credit should cover roughly 25-40% of a single service. Lower than that feels stingy; higher and you're paying for clients you'd attract via reviews anyway.
- Can I run loyalty and referrals at the same time?
- Yes. They reward different behaviors: loyalty rewards repeat visits, referrals reward bringing friends. A client can earn both simultaneously. Goldenhour tracks them separately on the client card.