Treatwell, Fresha and Booksy fees compared

The facts and the limits

Treatwell

• The published summary reports 35% plus VAT commission on a new client’s first marketplace booking and 0% on repeat bookings. A client counts as new again if they have not completed a booking in the last 365 days.
• Since 1 April 2025, a salon-side cancellation of a new client’s appointment after midnight before the visit still incurs the 35% commission.
• Online prepayment carries a payment fee of 2.5% plus VAT.
• The UK subscription price is not published. Whito estimates a budget of £30 to £50 a month; this is a third-party estimate, not a published Treatwell price or a quote.
• Treatwell’s partner terms say salons must not solicit customers to book outside the marketplace or its widget. Read your own agreement before changing client communications.

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.

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.

A £50 new-client booking, with VAT at 20%

• Treatwell: £17.50 commission + £3.50 VAT = £21.00. The salon keeps £29.00 before any other costs.
• Fresha: £10.00 fee + £2.00 VAT = £12.00. The salon keeps £38.00 before any other costs.
• Booksy default: £0.00 new-client fee; the salon keeps £50.00 before other costs.
• Booksy with Boost: £15.00 fee + £3.00 VAT = £18.00. The salon keeps £32.00 before other costs.

New-client fees only: subscriptions, payment fees, taxes on the service and other business costs are not included. This is a worked example from published rates, not a quote.

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.

When a marketplace makes sense

A marketplace makes sense when the clients it introduces and the tools it provides justify the full cost for your business. Compare how a new client is defined, repeat-booking rules, optional promotions, cancellation terms and payment charges—not just headline commission.

When your own platform makes sense

Your own platform makes sense when you want an independent booking route and control over your website. You may still retain a marketplace for discovery. A direct setup is designed to support appointments through your own channels, but it needs ongoing upkeep and may need marketing.

How to move across safely

1. Read your own contract first. Check notice periods, client solicitation restrictions, data exports, deposits and existing bookings. Ask the platform to clarify anything uncertain.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.