Health, beauty & wellness
MTD software for hairdressers and barbers.
More time for the chair. Less time chasing receipts.
Chair rental, mobile appointments and product sales make salon finances more varied than a card payout suggests. Avona helps independent stylists and barbers keep daily takings and supplies organised.
- Who it is for
- Hairdressers and barbers working as sole traders, managing their own business records and MTD for Income Tax updates.
- Available now
- Digital records, bank feeds, statement imports, transaction categorisation and quarterly self-employment updates. Pro adds customer invoicing, VAT accounting and reporting.
- Monthly price
- From £15/month for Lite. Pro is £20/month.
- Free trial
- Full access for 7 days. No credit card required.
- Annual-return limitations
- Quarterly updates do not replace your annual tax return. HMRC lists annual-return items including PAYE income, interest, dividends and pensions as in development. Check the listing and confirm support for your income sources before relying on Avona for your annual return.
Making Tax Digital
It’s what comes in.
Before costs go out.
Appointments and retail product sales both add to turnover. Chair rent, colour stock and card fees are costs to record separately, rather than amounts to subtract before checking MTD.
Understand Making Tax Digital →When does MTD apply?
Combined qualifying self-employment and property income, before expenses:
- Over £50,000 in 2024/25
- From 6 April 2026
- Over £30,000 in 2025/26
- From 6 April 2027
- Over £20,000 in 2026/27
- From 6 April 2028
Eligibility and exemptions matter. These are income thresholds, not tax-free allowances.
Check HMRC’s eligibility guidance ↗From the work to your records
Clear records for your salon appointments.
Bring the evidence into Avona, review the suggested categories and check the figures before submitting. These three examples show the records behind your salon appointments, shared purchases and a card-terminal settlement for appointments.
| What you bring | How you use Avona | What you check |
|---|---|---|
| £480 for your salon appointments £105 spent on chair rental for the trading day | Connect your bank or import the payment, then upload the invoice or receipt for chair rental for the trading day. Review the income and the purchase as separate records. | Keep £480 as the sale and the £105 cost separately. The £375 left after this cost is not turnover. Check that the spending is eligible for your business. |
| £100 mixed purchase £80 for colour products used on clients; £20 for hair products for your own use | Upload the itemised receipt and review the suggested category. Identify colour products used on clients separately from hair products for your own use. | Only the eligible £80 business portion belongs in business costs. Exclude the £20 personal purchase, and check that importing both the bank transaction and the receipt has not counted the spending twice. |
| £285 net payout £300 of your sales; £15 processing or platform fees | Import the bank receipt and retain the breakdown for a card-terminal settlement for appointments. Review the original sales and the charge shown on the statement. | Where the £300 represents your sales under the agreement, keep it as income and record the £15 fee separately. Do not add the £285 payout as a second sale. Check any refunds or other adjustments too. |
Keep supporting documents alongside your figures, review business use and apply your accounting method consistently. HMRC: keeping business records ↗
The costs behind your work
Six expenses worth
keeping records for.
Examples for hairdressers and barbers. Claim only eligible business costs; mixed use, equipment and your accounting method can change the treatment.
Chair rental fees
Professional scissors and clippers
Tool servicing
Colour and bleaching products
Gown laundering
Salon booking subscriptions
One thing to watch
Keep takings separate from chair rent
Where a salon collects payments and passes on a balance, establish your arrangement and keep the underlying statement. A net transfer may not show your full sales and costs.
HMRC: keeping business records ↗Fit the admin around the work
A routine around your salon appointments.
Bring card and cash appointment records together, attach weekly chair-rent evidence and review product purchases before submitting a summary.
Capture the supporting documents
Upload receipts or invoices for chair rental for the trading day. Keep the date, supplier and amount legible, and distinguish colour products used on clients from hair products for your own use.
How document capture works →Reconcile your salon appointments payments
Review each customer receipt against the work it covers. Keep the breakdown for a card-terminal settlement for appointments available alongside the bank entry, so fees, refunds or timing differences can be explained.
How bank review works →Review before you submit
Review Avona AI’s suggested categories, check that your salon appointments income is complete, and remove duplicate or personal spending. Keep the evidence for a card-terminal settlement for appointments ready for your annual-return review too.
Before you get started
Questions from hairdressers and barbers.
Does MTD apply to everyone in this profession?
No. This page covers hairdressers and barbers working as sole traders. Your start date depends on combined qualifying self-employment and property income before expenses, and any exemptions. Employment and limited-company work have different reporting arrangements.
What if chair rent is deducted before I receive my money?
Keep the salon agreement and the payment breakdown. Establish which sales are yours and which charges the salon has deducted before reconciling the net transfer.
How do I record a card-terminal settlement for appointments?
Example: £285 net payout (£300 of your sales; £15 processing or platform fees). Where the £300 represents your sales under the agreement, keep it as income and record the £15 fee separately. Do not add the £285 payout as a second sale. Check any refunds or other adjustments too.
Which bookkeeping issue should I watch for?
Keep takings separate from chair rent. Where a salon collects payments and passes on a balance, establish your arrangement and keep the underlying statement. A net transfer may not show your full sales and costs.
Can I keep using my existing spreadsheet?
Yes. Bring your salon appointments income records and evidence of chair rental for the trading day into Avona using supported spreadsheet uploads. Check dates, categories, personal spending and duplicates against the original documents before you approve the records.
Do quarterly updates complete my annual tax return?
No. You still need the annual tax return and any relevant adjustments or other income. HMRC currently lists annual-return items including PAYE income, interest, dividends and pensions as in development for Avona. Confirm support for your own income sources and circumstances before relying on Avona for the annual return.
Built for the way you earn
Give your salon records a fresh start.
Choosing Avona
Your questions, answered.
Can I create customer invoices?
Yes. You can create customer invoices with Avona Pro.
What if I am VAT-registered?
Full VAT accounting is available with Avona Pro, so you can manage your VAT-registered business with Avona.
Can my accountant review my records?
Yes. You can connect your Avona account to your bookkeeper or accountant so they can review your records.
Can I use my phone on site?
Yes. Every feature has a mobile-friendly version, so you can manage your accounts from your phone while you are on the move.
Can I keep using my personal bank account?
Yes. Avona supports Open Banking connections and PDF bank statement uploads. You can clearly separate personal and business transactions to keep your business records organised.