FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Everything you need to know about Clairgest. If not, drop us a line.

Category 1

About Clairgest

Understand what Clairgest is and who it's for.

What is Clairgest and who is it for?
Clairgest is an all-in-one management software for Canadian beauty professionals: estheticians, hairdressers and massage therapists. It bundles POS, agenda, client records, SMS reminders, GST/PST/HST accounting and Law 25 tools in a single bilingual app.
Which trades are supported?
Three main verticals: esthetics (facials, waxing, mani-pedi), hair (multi-stylist, chair rental contracts (booth-style staff), colorings) and massage therapy (insurance receipts, 60-90 min slots, confidential notes). An "other" mode handles hybrid cases.
Is Clairgest a Canadian product?
Yes. Built by Logiciels Cygsoft inc., a Quebec company based in Sept-Îles. Data hosted only in Canada (OVH Beauharnois). Support in French and English. Built-in Law 25 tools.
Category 2

Pricing and plans

How much it costs, what's included, how to switch.

Are the displayed prices final?
The displayed prices ($19 / $39 / $79 / $149 CAD) are our current rates, before taxes (GST or HST depending on your province, plus QST in Quebec). They may evolve over time.
How many users for my team?
Simple and Solo = 1 user (you). Pro = up to 3 users (you + 2 employees). Salon = unlimited users. Simple is for self-employed without SMS or public booking; Solo adds SMS and public booking. If you have 4+ people, Salon is the right plan.
Can I switch plans later?
Yes, no fees. You can upgrade or downgrade anytime from your settings. Pro-rata is calculated automatically.
Is there a free trial?
Yes. All plans include 14 days of free trial with no credit card required. Subscription is activated only if you decide to continue.
Category 3

Security and Law 25

Hosting, encryption, Law 25, your data rights.

Where is my data stored?
All Service data is hosted only in Canada at OVH (Beauharnois datacenter, Quebec). Automatic daily encrypted backups. A few subprocessors (payments, email, SMS) handle some data outside Canada; they are named in our privacy policy.
Which third-party services do you use?
OVH Canada (hosting), Twilio for SMS, SendGrid for emails — emails signed so they don't end up in spam, Microsoft Clarity (anonymized heatmaps, opt-in only), Google Analytics 4 (with anonymize_ip, opt-in only). Full details in the privacy policy.
How do I exercise my right to be forgotten?
Law 25 guarantees your right to access, rectify and delete your data. From your Clairgest profile, you can download your data ("My data") or request full deletion. Maximum response time 30 days, per the law.
Law 25: what does Clairgest do?
Clairgest gives you the tools to meet your obligations: consent forms signed electronically by your clients, data export and deletion on request, an access log, hosting in Canada, and subprocessors named in our privacy policy. Protecting your clients' personal information remains the salon's responsibility.
Is the data encrypted?
Yes, in transit: everything between your device and Clairgest goes through an encrypted connection (HTTPS). Your data is hosted in Canada (OVH Beauharnois) and access is protected by role (owner, employees). Passwords are never stored in plain text. Optional second-step login for extra security. Multiple layers of security, checked internally 24/7.
Category 4

Integrations

SMS, emails, accounting, payments.

SMS reminders — which provider?
Twilio is our SMS provider. SMS sent from a Canadian number. Included in Solo, Pro and Salon plans.
Emails — which provider?
SendGrid for our emails, digitally signed so they don't end up in spam. Enables PDF receipt sending, confirmations and reminders with excellent deliverability.
QuickBooks or Sage integration?
For now, CSV export of transactions is compatible with QuickBooks and Sage (manual import). Direct integration is on the roadmap but no confirmed date yet.
Online payments?
For now, Clairgest records payments (cash, debit, credit, gift cards) without terminal connection. Stripe integration for online payments via the public booking page is on the roadmap.
Category 5

Migration and setup

Bring your data, get started fast, training included.

How do I migrate from Excel or paper?
During onboarding, we import your clients, appointments and history from Excel (template provided), Google Calendar or any structured CSV. Migration from paper requires manual data entry that we guide step by step.
How do I migrate from another software?
We accept CSV exports from most competitors (Mindbody, Booker, Square Appointments, Cygnus, etc.). Our team handles the import for free during Salon plan onboarding. Solo and Pro plans: we provide the CSV template and a step-by-step guide.
How long does setup take?
Initial setup: 30-60 minutes (account creation, services, employees, taxes). Data migration: 1-2 hours for a solo practice, up to 1 day for a multi-employee salon. We guide you on a video call throughout onboarding.
Is there training?
Yes. Onboarding is included in all plans (short videos + written guidance). Salon plan: personalized onboarding including employee training. You can also contact us before signing up with any specific question.
Category 6

Support

How to reach us, languages, response times.

What are support hours?
Support available Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 6 PM Eastern Time. In French and English. Response within 24 business hours. Salon plan benefits from priority support.
Which support channels?
Email (admin@clairgest.ca), contact form, and in-app support widget. Live chat is on the roadmap. No phone hotline for now — we prefer written communication to keep traceable resolutions.
Is support in French?
Yes, and English too. Our team is bilingual. We respond in the language of your inquiry. No chatbot, no outsourcing — only humans who know the product.
Average response time?
Within 24 business hours for the first message (Monday-Friday). A blocking issue (POS down, data inaccessible) goes ahead of everything else as soon as we receive it. Salon plan: your requests go to the front of the queue.
Category 7

Multi-user

Employees, roles, time tracking, contractors.

How do I manage employees and access?
From Settings → Employees, you create each employee with their role (admin / user / employee). Each role has different permissions: admin can do everything, user can make sales but not change settings, employee can only clock in/out.
What is employee time tracking?
Available on Pro and Salon plans. Your employees clock in/out via a dedicated kiosk (URL or tablet) with a personal PIN. Hours are calculated automatically (including lateness and overtime) and exportable for payroll.
Difference owner / admin / user?
Owner: the salon's account creator, cannot be deactivated, controls billing. Admin: extended permissions except managing the owner. User: POS + agenda + client records access without global settings access. Employee: limited to time tracking and own profile.
Can my contractors use Clairgest?
Yes (Pro and Salon plans). The chair rental contracts (booth-style staff) mode lets each contractor have their own GST/PST/HST numbers, their own accounting reports, their own receipts in their name — while sharing the salon's agenda and POS.
Category 8

Mobile and tablet

Native app, mobile booking, on-the-go access.

Is there a mobile app?
No native app for now. Clairgest is a responsive web app that works on any modern device (iPad 11", iPhone, Android, desktop). A native iOS/Android app is on the roadmap if demand is strong.
Can my clients book from their mobile?
Yes (Solo, Pro, Salon plans). Your public booking page (clairgest.ca/t/your-salon/book) is fully responsive and works on mobile. Your clients book in a few clicks, 24/7.
Are client records accessible on the go?
Yes. Log in from any mobile or tablet to access client records (history, contraindications, notes), take a quick note or modify an appointment. Optional second-step login protects your account from anywhere.

Didn't find your answer?

Email us directly. We respond within 24 business hours, in English or French.

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