6 min read · Updated October 18, 2026
Google reviews for salons, clinics, garages and services
In an appointment-based business, you know your customers and you have time with them. That’s a huge advantage for reviews — as long as you ask at the right moment and follow a few rules specific to your field.
The right moment: at the end, not during
- Hair or beauty salon: when the client sees themselves in the mirror, and at checkout.
- Clinic: at reception, when booking the next appointment or paying.
- Garage: when handing back the keys, once the work has been explained.
- Studio, gym, classes: at the end of a session, not the start.
Where to place the card
At reception, next to the payment terminal: every customer passes through there. A second card in the waiting room works well too: people have their phone in hand and time to spare.
Sending the link by text or email?
You can, but two laws apply:
- Canada’s Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL) governs commercial electronic messages. Make sure you have the customer’s consent to write to them, and offer an easy way to stop receiving messages.
- Québec’s Law 25 governs the use of personal information: only use contact details for the purposes the customer gave them for.
A card at the counter avoids these questions: the customer makes the gesture themselves, without you having to write to them.
Clinics and regulated professions: care in your replies
When you reply to a review, never confirm that someone is your patient or client, and give no detail about any treatment or file — even if the person mentions it themselves. A general reply (“Thank you for your message; please call us to discuss it”) protects confidentiality. Also check your professional order’s rules on advertising and testimonials.
Google’s rules, for everyone
- No reward for a review (discount on the next appointment, free product).
- Ask every customer, not only the ones who seem happy.
- No reviews written by staff, family or accounts created for the occasion.