Treatwell
- Fee per new-client booking inc VAT
- £21.00
- What the salon keeps
- £29.00
- Yearly new-client fees
- £5,040.00
BOOKING OPTIONS / A FAIR COMPARISON
Booksy alternatives for UK salons
Booksy, another marketplace and your own booking website are different routes, not automatic upgrades over one another. Marketplaces bring new clients and are useful for discovery. Compare Booksy’s default model separately from optional Boost, then weigh the value of a direct route.
The facts and the limits
Booksy
- The summary reports £40 a month plus £5 per extra user.
- The new-client fee is 0% by default. Optional Boost charges 30% plus VAT, with a £5 minimum; do not confuse the default route with Boost.
- Payment fees are 0.99% to 1.29% plus 20p plus VAT.
Your own website is not cost-free
A direct booking route can avoid a marketplace new-client commission, but website setup, hosting, booking software, support, marketing and card processing can still cost money. Confirm whether your chosen booking provider charges any commission. CareRank scopes and prices projects after a review; there is no invented package price here.
Compare the whole cost and the discovery value, not only one fee. Read how CareRank prices work.
YOUR WORKED EXAMPLE
Compare new-client fees
Fresha
- Fee per new-client booking inc VAT
- £12.00
- What the salon keeps
- £38.00
- Yearly new-client fees
- £2,880.00
Booksy default
- Fee per new-client booking inc VAT
- £0.00
- What the salon keeps
- £50.00
- Yearly new-client fees
- £0.00
Booksy with Boost
- Fee per new-client booking inc VAT
- £18.00
- What the salon keeps
- £32.00
- Yearly new-client fees
- £4,320.00
New-client fees only. Subscriptions and card fees are not included.
This is a worked example from published rates, not a quote.
What the salon keeps is the booking value minus the new-client fee only, not profit. These figures include VAT on the fee and do not account for any VAT recovery. A minimum fee can exceed a very small booking value.
When a marketplace makes sense
Booksy can make sense if its scheduling tools and marketplace discovery suit your business. Its default new-client fee is different from optional Boost. Review whether any additional promotion fits your appointment margins rather than treating all Booksy bookings as commission-bearing.
When your own platform makes sense
Your own platform can make sense when you want control over your domain, content and permitted direct booking links. It can sit alongside Booksy while you assess client preferences and operational needs. It is designed to make booking directly easier, not to promise sales or rankings.
How to move across safely
- Read your own contract first. Check notice periods, client solicitation restrictions, data exports, deposits and existing bookings. Ask the platform to clarify anything uncertain.
- Keep the marketplace running while your own platform is built. Test appointment availability, confirmations, payments and mobile booking before changing permitted links. Avoid double bookings and preserve existing appointments.
- Use permitted channels. Make direct booking available through your own website, Google Business Profile and normal service communications only where your agreement, consent and privacy obligations permit. Treatwell’s partner terms prohibit soliciting customers to book outside its marketplace or widget.
- Move carefully, not by breaking terms. Do not scrape or export client details without permission, send unauthorised marketing or divert restricted bookings. Review the channel mix once the new route is working.
QUESTIONS
Useful answers
Does Booksy charge commission on every new client?
The supplied summary reports a 0% new-client fee by default. Optional Boost charges 30% plus VAT with a £5 minimum. Subscription and payment costs are separate; confirm your settings and contract.
How much is Boost in the £50 example?
At a £50 booking and 20% VAT, the supplied rate gives £15.00 plus £3.00 VAT, or £18.00. This is a worked example, not a quote, and excludes subscription and card fees.
Can I keep a marketplace and add direct booking?
Yes. Read your own contract first. Keep the marketplace running while your website is built, and use only permitted channels for your direct booking link. Never solicit marketplace clients in a way your terms prohibit.
Does an owned booking website have running costs?
Yes. Hosting, booking software, support, marketing and card processing can still cost money. Ask for a written scope covering setup, ongoing costs and ownership before choosing.
BOOKING OPTIONS / KEEP EXPLORING
Compare your routes
YOUR NEXT STEP