Asking your clients what opening hours work for them? by Joe Cignetti

Asking your clients what opening hours suit them best is a smart, customer-first approach. It shows you’re listening, open to feedback, and want to serve them in the most convenient way possible.

I would start this conversation with your team first here is a rough script for you

I’ve been thinking — it might be time to check in with our clients about our opening hours.

We all know some days are quieter than others, and sometimes we get that last-minute rush when we’re already wrapping up. So instead of just guessing what times work best, I think it makes sense to ask our clients directly when they’d ideally like to come in.

The idea is simple:
Let’s find out what suits them — early mornings, later nights, or maybe even something like a Sunday morning if there’s enough interest. That way we can tweak our hours to better match when people actually want to book.

We’d only be asking a couple of quick questions — either while they’re in the chair, through a quick little form at reception, or maybe a short survey online. Could even do a fun poll on Instagram or Facebook, just something casual like:

“Would you love a late-night Thursday? Yes or no?”

Even if we only get 20–30 responses, that’s already good info to work with.

The goal isn’t to overhaul everything — it’s to spot opportunities where we might fill more appointments, especially in the quieter parts of the week or for people who can’t usually make it in.

If we get a strong trend (like lots of people asking for late nights), we can try it out as a trial for a few weeks and see how it goes. Worst case, it doesn’t work — and we just go back to what we were doing.

So over the next week or two, if you’re chatting with clients, feel free to ask them:

• “Hey, would later nights ever make it easier for you to get in?”
• “If we opened earlier or later on a certain day, what would you prefer?”

We’re not committing to anything yet — just gathering ideas. But if we can find even a small way to make life easier for our clients and bring in more bookings, it’s worth it.

Let me know if you’ve got any ideas, or if you’d like me to put together a quick little script or survey we can all use!

Thanks

Below is a more structured social media/ survey info on how to ask.

I think its really important that we do changes from regular hours that have stayed the same for years and keep up with trends and client’s downtimes. It cannot hurt to try and below will give you even more reasons to try.

 

Why Ask Clients About Preferred Opening Hours?

1. Match Demand to Supply: You may be open during slow periods and missing peak demand.
2. Improve Client Retention: Clients feel valued when you consider their schedule.
3. Boost Bookings: Offering flexible or late-night slots may attract new or working clients.
4. Avoid Guesswork: Instead of assuming what works, get clear data from your real clients.
5. Test Potential Changes: Before changing hours, you’ll know if it’s worth the adjustment

How to Ask Clients — 3 Easy Methods

1. In-Salon Conversation (Personal & Casual)

Ideal for regulars or long-time clients.

• Example Script:

“We’re looking at possibly adjusting our hours to better suit our clients. Can I ask — if we opened earlier or later some days, would that help you fit your appointments in more easily?”

2. Quick Survey (Digital or Printed)

Use paper at the reception desk or digital tools like Google Forms, Typeform, or Fresha’s email/text features.

• Sample Questions:

What time of day do you usually prefer for your hair appointments?

Would you use early-morning (7–9?AM), late-night (6–9?PM), or Sunday appointment options?

What days/times would make booking more convenient for you?

Any changes to our hours you’d love to see?

You can keep it to 2–3 questions, so it’s fast to answer.

3. Social Media Polls (Great for Fast Feedback)

Use Instagram Stories, Facebook polls, or email campaigns.

• Examples:
  • “Would you book in if we opened until 8?PM on Thursdays?”
  • “Vote your favourite time slot: ? 8?AM | ? 10?AM | ? 4?PM | ? 7?PM”

How to Frame It (Message Example)

? We’re Listening!

We’re thinking of updating our salon hours to better suit your lifestyle — and we’d love your input.
What times work best for your appointments?
Click here to take our 30-second survey ? ………..

Or in-salon signage:

“Help us serve you better! Let us know what opening hours suit you — ask at reception or fill out our short survey.

What to Do with the Feedback

• Look for patterns: Are people asking for Thursday late nights? Earlier Saturday mornings?
• Consider a trial period with new hours, then re-evaluate.
• Announce any changes with a “By popular request…” message to build goodwill and trust.

Good Luck and I would love to hear how this went for your salon.