How much does salon booking software cost in the UK?
By Martynas Gecas, Founder, Elite Booker. Updated .
Salon booking software is rarely just one monthly price. Most bills combine a subscription with charges that depend on how many people work in the salon, how clients find you and how they pay. This guide explains each part so you can price a normal month on any platform.
The five parts of the bill
1. The software subscription: a monthly price for the plan. Some providers charge a flat price, others charge for each bookable team member or additional user.
2. Booking or marketplace fees: a charge on some or all bookings. Marketplace fees usually apply to new clients the marketplace introduces, not to clients who book through your own link.
3. Card processing: a percentage plus a fixed amount on each online or in-person card payment, charged by the payment provider.
4. Messages: text reminders and marketing messages are often limited to an allowance or sold as an add-on. Email is usually included.
5. Optional extras: paid promotion, extra locations, hardware, setup or training. Check whether any of these come with a minimum contract.
Worked example: the subscription for a three-person team
This example only covers the subscription line, using each provider's published UK price on 10 September 2026, before VAT. It shows why counting your team matters; it is not a full bill, because booking, card and message charges depend on your own month.
Monthly subscription for three people who take appointments, from published UK prices (10 September 2026)| Provider | How the subscription is charged | Three-person team, per month |
|---|
| Elite Booker Basic | £0, unlimited staff. Your client pays a £0.99 booking fee when they pay online. | £0 |
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| Elite Booker Professional | £9.99 flat, unlimited staff. No booking fee. | £9.99 |
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| Fresha Team | £9.95 per bookable team member. | £29.85 |
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| Booksy | £40, plus £5 for each additional user. | £50.00 |
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| Treatwell or Phorest | Price given in a quote. | Ask for a quote |
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Fees that depend on how clients find you
Marketplace fees reward the marketplace for introducing a new client. Fresha charges 20% once, minimum £4, for eligible new clients from its marketplace. Booksy charges nothing on standard bookings unless you switch on its optional Boost promotion. Treatwell's UK FAQ quotes 35% on first bookings by new clients it introduces and 0% on repeat bookings.
Elite Booker charges no commission on any booking. On the Basic plan your client pays a £0.99 booking fee when they pay online; on Professional and Enterprise there is no booking fee. To compare fairly, split last month's bookings into new marketplace clients, returning clients and direct bookings, then apply each provider's rule to each group.
Card payments and deposits
Taking a deposit or full payment online reduces payment admin, but every card payment has a processing charge. Published UK rates differ by provider and payment method, and some are quoted before VAT. Elite Booker pays online payments into your own Stripe account, and Stripe charges its standard card fees.
Multiply your typical number of online payments by the rate for the payment method your clients use, and add in-person card payments if you take them through the same provider.
Messages and reminders
Count the reminder texts you send in a normal month: appointments multiplied by the number of reminders per appointment. Compare that with each provider's allowance and the charge after it. Elite Booker includes email confirmations and reminders on every plan; text reminders are an optional paid add-on, and the price is shown in your dashboard before you subscribe.
Questions to ask before you sign
Is there a minimum contract or notice period? Is the price per person, per location or flat? Which fees apply to clients who already know you? What does a text message cost after the allowance? Can you export your client list and future appointments if you leave?
Ask each provider to put the answers in writing with the date, and keep VAT treatment consistent. A plan that looks cheaper on the pricing page can cost more once your booking mix is included, and the reverse is also true.
Sources and further reading
See Elite Booker plans and charges