Five-year floor on expiry
Federal law (the CARD Act) generally bars gift cards from expiring within five years. Several states ban expiry entirely.
Gift cards that are easy to give and impossible to lose track of.
Sell them at the desk or online, redeem them on any visit, and let the receipt remember the balance.
For someone special
GIFT 4821 7730 1956
Why gift cards matter more in a salon than anywhere else
Salon and spa services are among the most given gifts in the US at Mother's Day, Valentine's Day and the December holidays. A gift card is money in the drawer today and, very often, a brand new client tomorrow, which is why the redeem step has to be quick and the balance clear.
The life of a gift card.
- 1
Sell it like any product
Pick an amount at checkout, or let the client type their own. The card gets a unique number and the sale is recorded as a gift card, not as service revenue.
- 2
Hand over a card or send it
Print a gift certificate, hand over a physical card, or send the number by text or email for last-minute gifts.
- 3
Redeem at checkout
Scan or type the number. GetSpaPOS takes what is needed from the balance and the client pays any difference another way.
- 4
Balance always on record
Remaining balance shows on the receipt and in the gift card report, so neither you nor the client needs to remember it.
Gift card rules worth knowing
A short summary for US salons, as of October 2026. Your state may be stricter; check before you print terms on a card.
Fees are restricted
Dormancy and inactivity fees are limited federally and banned in many states. The simple path: no fees.
Unclaimed balances
Some states require very old unused balances to be reported as unclaimed property. Your accountant will know.
Promotional cards differ
A free bonus card can carry its own terms. Sell it separately and print the terms on it.
Gift card questions, answered.
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Salon ownerHow does a salon gift card system work?
GetSpaPOSA gift card is sold for an amount, given a unique number, and then used as a payment method on later visits until the balance runs out. GetSpaPOS records every sale and redemption so the balance is always correct and visible on the receipt.
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Salon ownerCan clients buy gift cards online?
GetSpaPOSYes. Gift cards can be listed on your online store page, which is built from your menu, so clients can buy them any time.
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Salon ownerDo gift cards expire?
GetSpaPOSUnder the federal CARD Act, most US gift cards cannot expire within five years of purchase or of the last money added, and many states set stricter rules or ban expiry outright. GetSpaPOS lets you leave expiry off, which is the safest choice.
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Salon ownerCan a gift card pay for tips?
GetSpaPOSYou decide. Many salons let clients put the tip on the gift card; others keep tips to card or cash. Either way, the tip still goes to the technician.
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Salon ownerDo technicians earn commission on gift card visits?
GetSpaPOSYes. A gift card is only a way to pay. The service line still earns its normal commission.
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Salon ownerCan I sell gift cards in UAE dirhams or Pakistani rupees?
GetSpaPOSYes. Gift cards use your business currency, so a Dubai spa sells them in AED and a Lahore salon in PKR.
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Salon ownerHow are gift cards shown in my books?
GetSpaPOSUnused gift card balances are money you owe in services, so most accountants record them as a liability until redeemed. The gift card report lists outstanding balances for that.
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Salon ownerCan I run a gift card promotion?
GetSpaPOSYes. For example, "buy a gift card, get a smaller bonus card free". Sell the bonus as a separate card so its terms can differ, and write those terms on it.
Be ready for Mother's Day.
Set up gift cards in the free trial now, so the busiest gift week of the spring runs from one screen.
14-day free trial. No card needed. Cancel any time.