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
Fresha alternatives for UK salons
Looking beyond Fresha does not have to mean leaving marketplaces entirely. They bring new clients and are useful for discovery. Compare another marketplace, an owned booking website or a combination, using your actual booking mix and costs.
The facts and the limits
Fresha
- The summary reports £14.95 a month for one person, or £9.95 per bookable team member. Confirm which plan and charges apply to your business.
- The new-client fee is 20% plus VAT, with a £4 minimum, charged once.
- Payment fees are 1.19% plus 20p in person, and 1.40% plus 25p online.
Other routes to compare
Treatwell offers marketplace discovery; Booksy offers a default route and an optional Boost model. Their terms and charges differ. The calculator compares new-client fees only, not the full cost of switching.
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
Fresha or another marketplace can make sense when discovery, scheduling and a booking experience in one service fit your salon. Check how many genuinely new clients it brings, and compare subscriptions, new-client charges and payment costs with the value of those appointments.
When your own platform makes sense
An owned website can make sense when you need control over your service presentation and booking links, or already attract clients through your own channels. A booking system connected to your domain is designed to support direct appointments. Check software, processing and marketing costs before deciding.
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
What is Fresha’s new-client fee?
The supplied summary reports a one-time 20% fee plus VAT, with a £4 minimum. At £50 and 20% VAT, this is £12.00. Confirm current eligibility rules and terms with Fresha.
What are the alternatives to using a marketplace?
Options include a booking system connected to your own website, a different marketplace, or keeping a marketplace alongside direct booking. Compare discovery, diary features, contract terms and full costs.
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