Treatwell Alternative: Why Salons Are Moving Away From Commission

Treatwell is the UK's largest beauty and wellness marketplace. If you're a salon or barbershop trying to get found online, the appeal is obvious: millions of consumers use the platform, and it handles booking, payments, and promotion.

The problem is how it makes money. Treatwell charges around 30% commission on every new client booking made through their platform. On a £40 colour treatment, that's £12 per booking to Treatwell — before your product costs, your time, or your rent.

The Treatwell Model, Honestly

Treatwell's marketplace works like this:

• New clients searching for beauty services in your area see your listing among competitors
• When they book through Treatwell, you pay a commission (reported as 20–30% depending on the plan and region)
• If that same client rebooks through Treatwell again, you pay again — even if they're now a loyal regular

The issue isn't that Treatwell charges commission. The issue is that it charges commission indefinitely, and it directs clients to competitors in your area at the same time. You're paying to acquire clients who are simultaneously being shown alternatives.

What UK Salons Report

The complaints from salon owners are consistent:

• Commission costs that compound as volume grows
• Clients who book through Treatwell even for rebookings, triggering repeat commission
• Difficulty moving existing clients to a direct booking channel
• Limited ability to contact clients who found them via Treatwell directly
• Price competition pressure from competing salons in the same marketplace

None of this is a surprise — these are natural properties of a commission-based marketplace model. Treatwell's incentives aren't to build your business. They're to keep clients booking through their platform.

What to Look for Instead

The alternative to Treatwell isn't to give up on new client acquisition. It's to build a direct channel that doesn't bleed margin indefinitely.

The path most salons take:

1. A booking link you own — embedded on your website, in your Instagram bio, in your Google Business Profile
2. Google reviews — the more consistent and recent, the higher you rank in local search. A 4.9-rated salon with 80 reviews showing in "hair salon near me" results doesn't need Treatwell to be discovered.
3. WhatsApp and email — direct client communication that builds loyalty without paying per interaction
4. Automated rebooking reminders — clients who booked once are the highest-conversion audience for the next booking

Treatwell Alternatives Worth Considering

Vomni Flat monthly fee. No commission. Booking link that works from WhatsApp, Instagram, and Google. Automated review requests and rebooking reminders. Works for barbershops and salons.

Fresha Free subscription, but 20% commission on new clients who discover you through the Fresha marketplace. Worth considering if you're not reliant on marketplace traffic. Better for established salons with a direct client base.

Timely No commission, no marketplace. Subscription-based. Stronger on staff management and service configuration. Better suited to multi-staff salons.

Phorest Premium salon software with marketing automation built in. From ~£99/month. No commission. For established salons wanting deep CRM and loyalty tools.

The Long Game

A salon on Treatwell paying 25% commission on 20 new clients per month at £50 average spend is paying £250/month. Every month. Indefinitely.

A salon that builds its own Google profile, sends review requests after every appointment, and uses a £29/month flat-fee booking tool has the same client acquisition capability after 6–12 months — and pays £29/month indefinitely.

The business that started building its direct channel today will significantly outperform one still dependent on marketplace commission in three years.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Treatwell charge existing clients commission? The commission primarily applies to new clients discovered through the marketplace. Some plans charge on all Treatwell-originated bookings including rebookings — check your contract terms carefully.

Can I remove my salon from Treatwell? Yes. Review your contract for notice period requirements (typically 30 days). Export your client data before cancelling.

Is Treatwell good for getting new clients? Treatwell can generate new client volume, particularly in London and larger cities where the platform has strong consumer penetration. The question is whether the commission cost per client is sustainable relative to direct channel alternatives.

What's the fastest alternative to replace Treatwell traffic? Google Business Profile optimisation with consistent review velocity. A salon with 80+ recent Google reviews ranking in the local pack generates organic bookings at zero commission. Takes 3–6 months to build but compounds indefinitely.

Ready to try Vomni?

Vomni gives independent barbershops and salons the tools to reduce no-shows, collect Google reviews automatically, and keep clients coming back. Start your free trial →