Hi guys,
I'm currently studying IT and I am looking to develop a salon software package. Before I start I wanted to ask those in the know what the most important features for such a system would be? Your help would be much appreciated as I want to develop a system that's functional has really simplifies life for the user. Thanks

Cool, what language will you primarily be developing in? Will you be going for a stand-alone application, or an online/web-based system?

From what I've seen so far, the majority of salon software packages will offer some or all of the following features:

(1) Client details, e.g. name, address, date of birth, contact details, etc.

(2) Client history, e.g. list of treatments (with dates), any medical conditions or contra-indications, also amount spent by the client in the salon, etc.

(3) Booking system, e.g. timetable/planner, where you can list the available time slots and people available to perform particular treatments.

(4) List of treatments, with information such as time taken, cost, which employees in the salon are qualified to do each treatment, etc.

(5) List of employees, including a planner for things like holidays, etc.

(6) Accounting functionality, e.g. the ability to generate accounting details in the format required by the accountants, tax man, etc.

(7) Reporting/statistics functionality, e.g. working out who your most profitable clients are; which treatments are most popular/bring in the most profit/etc...

(8) Marketing functionality, e.g. the ability to send out e-mails, special offers, etc, to clients.

(9) Online booking functionality, e.g. a client can log on to the salon's website and book treatments online.

(10) Client reminders, e.g. an email/SMS to be sent the day before a treatment so that a client does not forget to come in for their treatment, thus reducing the number of no-shows; also reminders for a client to re-book for their next treatment, e.g. booking their next wax or nail rebalance after a set number of weeks etc...