GiftVoucher Maker

Gift vouchers bring in money now for a service later, and they bring in new customers: the person who receives one often hasn't visited before. Salons, cafes, studios, coaches and shops all sell them, especially around the holidays, Mother's Day and Valentine's Day.

Many vouchers are only partly used or redeemed alongside a bigger purchase, so they tend to raise the average spend too.

Keep it simple and clear so there's no confusion at the counter.

• The value ("$50") or the offer ("One 60-minute massage").
• A unique code for each voucher, so you can track it.
• The expiry date, or "no expiry" if you don't set one.
• Who it's for and who it's from, if it's a personal gift.
• How to redeem: book online, call or visit.

Give each voucher its own code and log it in a simple spreadsheet: code, value, date sold and date redeemed. That stops copies being used twice and shows how many are still out there.

Check the law before you set an expiry. In the US, federal rules say gift certificates sold to consumers can't expire within five years of being issued, and some states ban expiry dates altogether. Promotional vouchers you give away for free are usually treated differently. Print the expiry clearly either way.

For printed vouchers, use thick card stock (around 250 to 300 gsm) and print at 100% scale. The print sheet fits several vouchers to a page with room to cut. For digital gifts, download the PNG and send it by email or text. A QR code linking to your booking page makes redeeming online quick.

Sell vouchers in round amounts close to what a typical visit costs, like $25, $50 and $100, plus one or two popular services as fixed offers. Round amounts are easy to give, and fixed offers feel more personal.

Promote them a few weeks before gift-giving dates. Put a sign by the till, add a line to your emails, and pin a post to your profile. Make buying easy: a gift voucher option on your booking page or online shop lets people buy at midnight on December 23rd.