Protect service and retail margin
See unit-cost increases on color and backbar SKUs before you absorb them across appointments.
IndustriesSalons & spas
CostBeacon for salons
Watch product and backbar vendor costs without spreadsheet drift
Color, treatment, and retail SKU costs shift with brand promos and minimum-order changes.
30-day free trial · No credit card required
Common suppliersProfessional color lines · Backbar products · Retail shelves
The problem
Backbar and retail product costs slip between appointments
Salon and spa owners buy the same color, treatment, and retail SKUs every week. Brand promos, MOQ changes, and quiet list-price moves hide in PDFs until service and retail margins feel off.
Try a sample
Watch the unit-cost spike on a sample invoice
Upload vendor invoices and CostBeacon tracks recurring color, backbar, and retail lines—so you see movers before you reorder or reprint shelf tags.
Interactive sample
Invoice spike chart
Step through three orders. Color and backbar trails show the quiet climb.
Permanent color tube$9.60 → $10.15 · +5.7%
On this order: +$0.55 each · Review service cost before the next color appointment block.
What changes for your team
Invoice evidence your team can act on
Evidence for every vendor conversation
Alerts link to the invoice line—so you renegotiate or reprice with proof, not memory.
How it works
From supplier PDF to a buying decision
Upload supplier PDFs, extract every line, then review alerts before the next color order or retail restock.
- Upload invoicesDrop PDFs, email attachments, or scans from your usual suppliers.
- Extract line itemsCostBeacon reads unit costs, quantities, vendors, and product names.
- Review what movedOpen alerts with the source invoice attached—then reprice, renegotiate, or accept on purpose.
Signals to watch
What good review looks like
Operators usually check a short alert queue after each buying cycle—not a full re-type of every invoice.
| Signal | Typical range | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Color SKUs | +4–8% | Review before the next order |
| Backbar consumables | +2–5% | Check per-service cost |
| Retail COGS | +3–7% | Reprice tags when needed |
FAQ
Common questions
No. CostBeacon is built for owner-operators who upload invoices themselves and want alerts without a procurement department.
No. CostBeacon works from uploaded supplier invoices. QuickBooks Online sync is optional when you want it.
Upload a few weeks of recurring color and backbar invoices. That is usually enough history to flag the next unit-cost move.
Browse industries
Same product. Different buying rhythm.
Catch supplier cost moves before they become your new normal
CostBeacon turns supplier invoices into line-item history and price-change alerts for salons.