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
Treatwell vs your own booking website
Treatwell can introduce your salon to new clients and is useful for discovery. Your own booking website offers a separate direct route. The fair question is how much each route costs, what it brings to your business and what your contract allows.
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.
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
Treatwell can make sense when you want marketplace discovery, a familiar booking experience and access to people who do not already know your salon. A commission can be a worthwhile acquisition cost if the appointment economics work for you. Compare that value with the terms and other charges.
When your own platform makes sense
Your own platform can make sense when clients already find you through your website, Google Business Profile or permitted service communications, and you want more control over booking, content and the client relationship. It is designed to make direct booking easier, not to guarantee more bookings.
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 does Treatwell charge for a new client?
The supplied third-party summary reports 35% plus VAT on a new client’s first marketplace booking. At £50 and 20% VAT, that is £21.00 before subscription or card fees. Always confirm current terms.
Are repeat Treatwell bookings commission-free?
The summary reports 0% commission on repeat bookings, but a client counts as new again after no completed booking in the last 365 days. Other charges may still apply.
Can I invite Treatwell clients to book elsewhere?
Treatwell’s partner terms prohibit soliciting customers to book outside its marketplace or widget. Read your own agreement and use only channels and communications it permits.
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