Planity, a French startup, has capitalized on France’s fascination with hair salons by introducing a Software as a Service (SaaS) product tailored specifically for these businesses. Initially focusing on online appointment booking, Planity expanded its services to encompass various beauty salons, including barbers and nail salons. The company recently secured €45 million in a Series C funding round, led by InfraVia Capital Partners, with participation from existing investors Crédit Mutuel Innovation, Revaia, and Bpifrance’s Digital Venture fund. Planity’s innovative approach involves providing a SaaS platform that replaces traditional appointment booking methods, streamlining salon management processes.
Antoine Puymirat, co-founder and CEO of Planity, has a background in online appointment booking, having founded ClicRDV in 2007, a white-label online booking solution acquired by Pages Jaune (now SoLocal). Unlike Treatwell, a competitor already active in a dozen European countries, Planity adopted a SaaS model with a monthly subscription fee rather than charging a commission on each future sale. The main product is priced at €69 per month, making Planity a cost-effective solution for salon owners, with a likely substantial annual recurring revenue.
The key to Planity’s success lies in its ability to replace the traditional paper-based appointment system prevalent in hair salons. When customers call to book an appointment, employees record it directly into Planity, which also offers online booking through its app and website. This approach eliminates the need for salons to pay a commission on each reservation and encourages customers to use Planity regularly, improving overall salon efficiency.
In addition to appointment booking, Planity’s platform handles various salon management tasks, including managing working hours, clocking in and out for employees, handling vacations, exporting payroll information, and even providing a point-of-sale solution. With approximately 10 million bookings per month, of which four million are booked directly by end customers on Planity, the platform has become a reliable and indispensable tool for more than 40,000 small businesses in the beauty industry.
The recent funding round will support Planity’s expansion efforts, allowing the startup to hire more sales personnel to onboard new clients and expand its services beyond France. While the primary market remains in its home country, Planity is making strides in Belgium and Germany. The company’s unique SaaS approach, coupled with its focus on simplifying salon operations, positions it as a major player in the digitization of the beauty and wellness industry, contributing to the growth and efficiency of small businesses in the sector.
