Grow the Book · November 12, 2026
You do not need a till to sell gift cards in December. Decide the amounts, offer them where clients already book, and keep a record of every card you sell.
You do not need a till to sell gift cards in December. Decide the amounts, offer them where clients already book, and keep a record of every card you sell.
This is for the owner of a barbershop, salon, nail or lash studio. The person buying the card is your client. The person using it can be someone who has never been to your shop.
Pick three amounts
Base the amounts on your own price list, so a card buys something whole.
| Card | What it covers at a barbershop with a $40 cut |
|---|---|
| $40 | One cut |
| $75 | A cut and a beard trim |
| $120 | Three cuts |
If your most booked service is $65, a $50 card leaves the recipient paying $15 on their first visit. Match at least one amount to that service.
Offer them where clients already are
The people most likely to buy a card from you are the clients you already see. Tell them where they already look:
- Say it at the chair in the last two weeks of November and in December.
- Put a card at the desk with the amounts.
- Add one line next to your booking link in your Instagram bio, and one post in the first week of December.
Keep a record of every card
Gift card money is money for work you have not done yet. Our post on gift card money explains how to treat it in your books.
Whatever you use to sell the cards, you need a record of each one: who bought it, the amount, the balance, and the date. Paper cards with a handwritten number need a notebook or a spreadsheet next to them. A card with no record is a card you cannot check when someone brings it in.
Know the expiry rule
In the US, federal rules (Regulation E, 12 CFR 1005.20) do not let the money on a gift card expire within five years of the date the card was issued or last loaded. Some states do not allow gift card money to expire at all. Do not print an expiry date on a card until you have checked your state's rule.
Turn the recipient into a client
A gift card brings in a new client who did not choose you. The first visit is your chance to keep them.
Book them in at a time you can give them full attention. At the end, offer to book the next visit, the same way you would for a regular. Our post on rebooking at the chair has the line to use.
Selling them through Booked
Booked can sell gift cards to your own customers, redeemed against bookings, with no till. It is listed in Features at a glance.
Do this now
| Step | Minutes |
|---|---|
| Pick three amounts that each cover a whole service | 10 |
| Set up the record: buyer, amount, balance, date | 15 |
| Check your state's gift card expiry rule | 15 |
| Add a gift card line next to your booking link in your Instagram bio | 5 |
| Print a desk card with the amounts | 15 |
| Schedule one Instagram post for the first week of December | 10 |