Booksy provides salon scheduling and a consumer marketplace; Salon Manager focuses on direct salon booking and connected management. Booksy’s optional Boost can charge a commission on qualifying new-client visits. Compare promotion cost, customer relationships, card fees and the convenience of booking without a separate account.
WHY SALONS CHOOSE SALON MANAGER
Build repeat direct bookings, not a dependence on paid marketplace promotion.
KEEP MORE REVENUE
Salon Manager direct bookings do not attract Booksy Boost commissions. Optional Boost can charge 30% on qualifying new-client first visits.
YOUR SALON FIRST
Customers can book directly without opening another marketplace account. The booking API matches details with your salon’s client records.
GROW THE RELATIONSHIP
Use client referrals, targeted marketing and rebooking tools to bring clients back through your own channels.
THE DECISION THAT MATTERS
Illustrative case: optional Boost and discount, commission applied to the discounted £80 value.
01
£20 optional salon discount
02
£24 optional Boost fee at 30%
03
Before payment and service costs
Example only; see the feature comparison and published provider terms below.
THE CRITICAL QUESTION WITH BOOKSY
Booksy’s standard marketplace is commission-free without Boost. With Boost enabled, it publishes a 30% fee, minimum £5, on qualifying first visits. Ask how many clients you expect to acquire this way.
ASK BEFORE YOU BUY
When my client returns, are they returning to my salon or opening a marketplace?
THE SALON MANAGER APPROACH
Salon Manager provides direct online booking without compulsory customer sign-up. Our booking API matches details to the salon’s client records. Direct bookings do not carry a marketplace acquisition commission.
FEATURE AND COST EQUIVALENCE
Features may have different names and package rules. This compares practical capabilities, not marketing labels.
| Compare the detail | Booksy | Salon Manager |
|---|---|---|
| Starting subscription | £40 + VAT/month, with extra users at £5/month; published core features included. | Essentials from £29 + VAT/month; online booking optional, included from Premium. |
| Online booking | Unlimited bookings; standard marketplace bookings are commission-free when Boost is off. | Direct bookings with no marketplace acquisition commission. |
| Optional acquisition promotion | Boost increases marketplace visibility; 30% of qualifying first visit, minimum £5. | Referrals, campaigns and direct booking; no third-party acquisition percentage on direct bookings. |
| £100 first visit via promotion | With Boost, qualifying acquisition commission is £30 before VAT and payment fees; no fee if not Boost-attributed. | A £100 direct booking does not attract a marketplace acquisition fee; payment fees may apply. |
| Discounts and offers | Salons can run offers; any discount lowers revenue before other applicable charges. | Salons control their own offers and can promote services directly. |
| Customer booking identity | Consumers can book through Booksy customer accounts/app and marketplace. | Customers can book without creating an account; details connect to existing salon records. |
| Consumer discovery | Booksy marketplace can help find customers and displays competing salons. | Salon-branded direct booking; no consumer marketplace of competing salons. |
| Email and SMS marketing | Included built-in marketing and messaging tools. | Integrated email marketing, SMS, client reactivation and referral functionality. |
| Cancellation | Monthly subscription; cancel anytime per Booksy. | 12-month agreement; setup £199 + VAT. Compare switching workload too. |
| Card payments | Integrated payment options; request a card-mix quote. | SalonPay rates from 0.3% subject to quotation; compare effective fee. |
| Client data and portability | Request details of exports, access permissions and permitted marketing uses. | Client records connected to the booking diary; customers can export their own data. |
Prices and features vary by package, eligibility, location and quotation. Competitor information checked 24 October 2026. All illustrative commission figures exclude VAT, payment fees and service costs.
Check provider information: Official source 1 · Official source 2
WHY CUSTOMERS CHOOSE SALON MANAGER
Flexible monthly subscriptions elsewhere can be useful. But migrating data, training staff and changing routines still take time. Check the whole investment before you decide.
DETAILS WORTH CHECKING
Salon Manager Essentials starts at £29 + VAT monthly for a solo stylist, with £199 + VAT setup and a 12-month agreement. A 30-day notice period applies before the end of the term. Online bookings are optional in Essentials and included from Premium (from £49 + VAT per month). Premium Plus (from £99 + VAT per month) includes online vouchers. SMS 6p–8p each. SalonPay card rates are individually quoted from 0.3%.
Competitor terms can change. Ask providers to itemise the exact package, optional services, processing charges and cancellation conditions.
CLEAR ANSWERS
Straight answers about features, pricing and terms. Confirm current provider offers before signing.
No. Booksy says ordinary marketplace bookings are commission-free when optional Boost is not enabled. Boost can charge 30% of a qualifying new client’s first visit, with a £5 minimum under published UK terms.
Boost is an optional paid visibility and customer-acquisition service within Booksy. It is not the same thing as general marketing functionality; Salon Manager uses direct-booking, promotional, referral and retention tools to pursue related goals.
A discount can reduce the service revenue before any applicable acquisition commission and payment fee. Not every marketplace booking has a discount or commission, so salons should calculate each campaign using the relevant terms.
No. Customers can make a Salon Manager online booking without creating a separate account or password. Booking details are matched to the relevant salon client record through the API.
Both salon and platform can have responsibilities for different processing purposes. Check what client data the salon can access or export, which marketing permissions apply and whether the platform also has its own consumer account relationship.
Salon Manager combines salon-branded booking routes with client records, marketing and rebooking tools. Direct bookings avoid third-party marketplace acquisition commissions, although other software and payment charges may still apply.
