A weekly checklist for salon owners in Ireland
Running a salon means the urgent always pushes out the important. Clients, staff and the phone fill the week, and admin waits until something goes wrong. A short routine at the same time every week stops most problems early. Here is a checklist built for salon owners in Dublin and across Ireland.
Updated 9 October 2026 · Dublin Salon Desk Kit
Why a weekly routine works
Most salon problems are small when they start: a rota gap on Saturday, a supplier bill due Friday, a one-star review left unanswered, a till that's a few euro out. Spotted on Monday, each one takes minutes. Spotted a fortnight later, they cost money and goodwill. Twenty minutes at the same time every week is usually enough.
1. Chair and rota gaps
- Check this week's and next week's rota against the appointment book. Are there enough stylists on for busy days?
- Answer holiday requests so staff aren't left waiting.
- Look ahead to public holidays. Ireland has ten, including the first Monday in February. Decide early whether you open and how staff will get their public holiday benefit.
- Note anyone off sick and who is covering.
2. Last week's no-shows and late cancellations
- List each one: client, service, value, whether a deposit was kept and whether they rebooked.
- Look for patterns. Are they new clients, long services or certain days?
- If no-shows keep happening, review your deposit and cancellation policy.
3. Stock and supplier bills
- Check colour, developer, retail and back-bar stock. Reorder before you run out, not on the day.
- List supplier bills, rent and other payments due this week.
- Check the bank balance after this week's payments. If it looks tight, you have time to act.
4. Till against card takings
Compare last week's totals on your booking system with what actually came in: card terminal reports, cash counted and any prepaid online bookings. Small differences are easy to explain the same week and hard to explain a month later. Note the reason for any gap.
Keep your VAT and payroll dates in your calendar. Revenue's VAT returns pages and its guidance on employing people set out what is due and when.
5. Reviews to answer
- Reply to new reviews on Google, Fresha, Treatwell and Facebook, good and bad.
- Keep replies short, specific and polite. Thank the client by first name and mention the service.
- For a negative review, apologise for the experience, avoid arguing in public and offer to talk directly.
- Never write reviews yourself or offer discounts for good ones.
6. One post this week
Choose one thing worth sharing: a before-and-after (with the client's permission), a new service, your public holiday hours, a quiet-day slot, or a shout-out to the café next door. Write it on Monday and schedule it. One good post a week, every week, beats a burst of daily posts that stops.
7. Compliance and safety
- Check fire exits are clear and any fire alarm test is done and recorded.
- Check patch test records for colour clients are up to date.
- Look a month ahead for renewals: insurance, equipment servicing and staff training.
- Make sure client records, consent notes and photos are stored securely. The Data Protection Commission has guidance for small businesses.
8. One improvement
End with one small change that would make next week easier: a price to review, a supplier to call, a process to write down for a new junior. One improvement a week adds up to dozens a year.
The checklist on one page
- Rota checked against bookings, this week and next
- Holiday requests answered, public holidays planned
- No-shows logged and patterns noted
- Stock reordered, bills listed, balance checked
- Till against card takings reconciled
- VAT and payroll dates checked
- New reviews answered
- One post written and scheduled
- Fire, patch tests and renewals checked
- One improvement chosen
Print the free Monday sheet and keep it at reception or in the back office. A pile of filled-in sheets is also a handy record of how the salon is doing.
Get the free Monday sheet
The Dublin salon owner's Monday sheet puts this whole routine on one printable A4 page: chair and rota gaps, no-shows, stock and bills, reviews, one post and till against card takings. PDF or Word, free, no email needed.
Frequently asked questions
What should a salon owner check every week?
The rota against bookings, last week's no-shows, stock and bills, till against card takings, new reviews, one social post and any safety or compliance checks.
How long should weekly salon admin take?
Around 20 minutes once it becomes a habit. Doing it at the same time every week keeps it short.
How many public holidays are there in Ireland?
Ten, according to the Workplace Relations Commission, including the first Monday in February (or 1 February when it falls on a Friday).
More guides
- Salon deposit and cancellation policy in Ireland: a fair, clear guide
- Salon pricing per minute: how Irish salons can price every service
- All guides
General information, not legal, tax or professional advice. Rules change, so check the official sources linked above before you rely on them.