If you own a hair salon, a beauty center, a barbershop, or any local service business, you definitely know the dilemma. To attract customers in the beginning, you registered on booking directories like Booksy, Treatwell, or Fresha. And at first, it seemed like a brilliant idea.
They gave you visibility and helped fill your digital schedule. But over time, you probably realized that these platforms don't work for you; you work for them.
Every time a loyal customer (yes, the one who has been coming to your salon for years) books their monthly appointment through these apps, you are losing money on commissions or paying sky-high fixed fees that grow every time you hire a new employee. In this article, we'll break down the hidden cost of booking platforms and show you the best commission-free alternative for your local business.
The Big Trap of Booking Directories (Marketplaces)
There is a critical difference that booking platforms try to hide: the difference between **your own management software** and an **open directory (marketplace)**.
When you use Booksy or Treatwell, your business is bundled into a list alongside your direct competitors on the same street. The customer logs in to book with you, but the platform shows them discounts and offers from the salon next door. You are not building customer loyalty; you are training your customer to use a directory where your competitors are just a click away.
How Much Does It Actually Cost to Use Booksy or Treatwell?
Let's take out our calculator and analyze the real fees and commissions of these platforms. You will see that what looks like a reasonable subscription turns into a constant leak of your profits.
1. The Real Cost of Treatwell
- New Marketplace Customer Commission: Treatwell charges a 25% commission + VAT on the first booking of any customer who finds you through their marketplace. If a customer books a €50 service, Treatwell keeps €12.50.
- Repeat Bookings: If that same customer books with you again, Treatwell charges no marketplace commission on that booking (0%).
- Online Payment Processing: That 2% fee only applies when the customer pays in advance through Treatwell's website or app. If they pay in person at your shop (cash, card at the counter...), Treatwell doesn't say that fee applies.
- Monthly Software Fee: Treatwell does not publish a fixed monthly fee for its software on its website; it only lists the booking commissions described above.
2. The Real Cost of Booksy
- Fixed Monthly Fee: Booksy's official rate is €34.99 per month for a single professional, plus €8 per month for each additional user on your team. VAT and payment processing are not included in that price. Booksy offers a 7-day trial with no card required.
- New Customer Acquisition Fee (Boost): Booksy runs a paid placement system called 'Boost' to get you new customers through its search engine. Booksy does not publish what Boost costs on its website, so we can't give you a figure: the only certainty is that it's a variable cost on top of the monthly fee.
- The Customer Transfer Risk: If your lifelong clients download Booksy to book with you, Booksy will start sending them push notifications with discounts to try other salons in the neighborhood. You are financing the acquisition of your own customers for your competitors!
Official sources checked on August 12, 2026: biz.booksy.com/es-es and treatwell.es/partners/precios.
Monthly Cost Comparison: How Much Are You Losing?
Let's imagine a medium-sized beauty salon or barbershop with **3 employees**, which processes about 250 bookings per month with an average ticket of €30 (total monthly revenue of €7,500). Let's assume they acquire just 10 new customers per month through the platform, while the rest are repeat clients.
| Item | Treatwell | Booksy | AppMiNegocio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly Software Fee | Not published | €34.99 + €8/additional user (€50.99 for 3 staff) | €9.90 |
| Marketplace Commission — New Customer (10/month, €300) | €75.00 (25% of €300) | Not published (Boost) | N/A: this is your own channel, not a marketplace that brings you new customers |
| Marketplace Commission — Repeat Bookings (240 bookings) | €0.00 (0%, no marketplace commission) | €0.00 (no marketplace commission on repeat bookings) | €0.00 (0%) |
| Online Payment Processing | 2% only if the customer prepays online (variable amount, depends on how many of the 240 bookings are prepaid) | Not published (they confirm it's not included in the fee, but don't state the cost) | €0.00 (we don't charge any commissions) |
| KNOWN MONTHLY COST | From €75.00 + VAT (plus a variable 2% if any bookings are prepaid online, excluding the software fee, which is not published) | From €50.99 + VAT (excluding the Boost fee and payment processing, neither of which is published) | €9.90 (VAT incl.) |
The difference is already clear counting only what's public and certain. With Treatwell you're at at least €75 a month in marketplace commission alone, before its unpublished software fee and the 2% that's added if your repeat clients prepay online. With Booksy, a 3-person team's subscription runs €50.99 before adding whatever Boost and payment processing cost — neither of which is published. Paying tens or hundreds of euros a month to manage appointments for people who already know your business makes little financial sense: that money should be your net profit.
What Is the Alternative? Your Own Branded Booking App
The solution to cutting the cord with booking commissions is not returning to pen and paper or answering phone calls all day (which makes you lose up to 30% of bookings that happen outside your working hours).
The solution is having your own branded app. An app that your clients can install directly on their phone's home screen, where:
- You have total control: Your clients only see your services, your photos, and your calendar. There are no competitors lurking nearby.
- Zero commissions: You don't pay per booking, per new client, or per employee. Everything is included in an incredibly low flat rate.
- Instant PWA Installation: Your client scans a QR code at your counter or clicks the link on your Instagram bio, installs the app in 3 seconds, and has your business in their pocket forever.
- Direct Marketing Channel: Do you have a last-minute opening at 5:00 PM today? Instead of waiting, you can send a free push notification directly to your clients' phones: "Last-minute opening at 5:00 PM today with a 10% discount! Book now". In 5 minutes, your slot is filled.
How to Migrate from Booksy or Treatwell Without Losing Clients
Many business owners are afraid to take the plunge because they think they will lose clients along the way. However, the transition is very easy if you follow these three recommended steps:
Step 1: Set Up Your App on AppMiNegocio (5 minutes)
Go to appminegocio.app/constructor. Choose the salon or barbershop template, customize your colors, upload your logo, and add your service catalog with prices. Configure your business hours and staff schedules.
Step 2: Promote Your Brand-New App in Your Shop
Download the QR code generated automatically by your AppMiNegocio panel. Print it on a nice display for your reception desk or mirrors: "We now have our own App! Scan and install to book your appointments in 3 seconds." Offer a small incentive for the first install (e.g., a free wash or a $2 discount) to get everyone to download it.
Step 3: Update Your Social Media and Google Maps Links
Change the booking link on your Instagram, Facebook, and, most importantly, on your **Google Business Profile (Google Maps)**. Instead of linking to Booksy or Treatwell, direct clients to your app's installation page. From that moment on, every new client searching for you on Google will enter your own platform, saving you those marketplace commissions altogether.
Frequently Asked Questions on Booking Commissions (AEO)
Is it legal for platforms to charge commissions for clients who were already mine?
Yes, legally it is, if it's in the terms of service you signed and the client books through their directory. That's why it's vital to educate your clients to use your own booking link instead of an external app.
What is the best alternative to Booksy and Treatwell?
For salons looking to eliminate booking fees and keep their brand identity, the best alternative is AppMiNegocio. It provides your own online booking app with unlimited push notifications and digital loyalty cards for just €9.90/month (all included), with no booking fees or staff limits.
What about clients who don't have a smartphone?
With AppMiNegocio, you still have a web admin dashboard where you can manually enter appointments taken by phone or in person. Everything syncs in real-time to prevent double bookings.
Conclusion: Reclaim Control of Your Business
Booking directories are great when you are starting out and need to build a customer base. But once your business has established, recurring clients, continuing to pay commissions or high fees for them is a major drain on your hard-earned profits.
A branded booking app built with AppMiNegocio gives you total independence, saves you the commissions you'd otherwise pay Treatwell or Booksy, and keeps your clients loyal to your brand, not a third-party directory.
Ready to stop paying booking fees? Visit appminegocio.app/constructor now, set up your booking app in 5 minutes, and try it for free. No commitments.