Ukilu is an all-in-one booking system and operations workspace for salons, clinics, spas and service businesses. It combines online appointments, walk-in check-in, CRM, staff, payments, inventory and analytics in one platform.

Does Ukilu include customer check-in?

Yes. Ukilu supports walk-in and appointment check-in so front-desk teams can manage arrivals quickly and keep the calendar in sync — alongside full online booking.

Can I move my data from another system?

Yes. Export your client list from your current system as a CSV or Excel file and upload it to Ukilu. Our team can help with the import during onboarding.

What happens after I pay?

We create your workspace immediately and email your login PIN and sign-in details, then help you import your customers and services.

Summer Rush Checklist for Nail Salons and Spas

From December to February, Australian nail salons and spas are at their busiest: Christmas parties, holidays, weddings and sandal season all at once. The rush rewards salons that prepared in October and November — and catches out the ones that didn't.

Use this checklist to get your salon ready. Work through it over two or three weeks, not the night before.

1. Plan your team

Roster from last year's bookings. Look at which days and times filled first last December and roster to match, rather than adding the same shift every day.
Collect leave requests now. Agree who is off over Christmas and New Year before you open the calendar.
Protect breaks. A full day with no lunch break is how mistakes and walk-outs happen. Put breaks in the calendar so they can't be booked over.
Check public holiday pay. Penalty rates apply on public holidays. Check the current pay guide for your award on Fair Work before you set holiday shifts. Our guide to rostering and paying nail technicians covers the basics.

2. Set up your booking rules

Open December early so regulars can book before the good times fill.
Set service times honestly. In a rush, a 45-minute service that really takes 60 pushes every booking after it.
Add buffer time after long services so your team can clean up and reset.
Turn on reminders the day before each appointment.
Consider a deposit for long or high-value services in December. Our post on taking online deposits explains how and when it's worth it.

3. Prepare for walk-ins and gaps

December brings walk-ins and last-minute cancellations at the same time. Keep a waiting list of clients who want an earlier time, and contact them as soon as a gap opens. A gap filled from the waiting list is pure extra revenue.

4. Get the counter ready

Test your EFTPOS terminal and keep a backup plan if the internet drops.
Remember the card surcharge ban. From 1 October 2026, businesses can no longer add a surcharge for payments on Visa, Mastercard, American Express and eftpos cards. If you still have a surcharge sign, take it down — see our post on the card surcharge ban for nail salons.
Have vouchers ready to sell at the counter and redeem quickly.
Stock up on your best-selling colours, gel, files and pedicure supplies before suppliers close for the holidays.

5. Plan your holiday trading hours

Decide which days you'll close and which days you'll open with fewer staff, then block those days on your booking page well in advance — clients plan around them. Tell clients your hours by message and on your Google profile.

6. Line up your marketing

Most of the season's work is done by a few messages sent at the right time: December booking reminders, gift vouchers from early November, and a "we'd love to see you again" message to clients who haven't booked lately. Our Christmas marketing ideas and gift voucher guide go into detail.

7. Check your system can keep up

If your bookings, payments and client notes live in three different places, the rush makes it worse. Before the busy weeks, check that your booking system handles online bookings, staff breaks, reminders, vouchers and payments in one place. Our guide on how to choose a salon booking system lists what to look for.

The checklist

Roster planned from last year's busy days
Christmas and New Year leave agreed
Breaks blocked in the calendar
Public holiday pay checked
December open for online booking
Service times and buffer times correct
Reminders on; deposits decided
Waiting list ready
EFTPOS tested; no card surcharge
Vouchers on sale
Stock ordered
Holiday hours blocked and announced
Marketing messages planned

Getting ready with Ukilu

Ukilu keeps the whole list in one app on iPad, iPhone and the web: online booking open 24/7, staff breaks and blocked times, buffer time, reminders, deposits, a waiting list, gift vouchers, loyalty and checkout with KPay, Square Terminal or your bank's EFTPOS terminal through Linkly.

Staff break times set in Ukilu POS on iPad

Setting up before the rush? See current deals for Australian salons on the offers page, or talk to our team.