Picture this: you run a hair salon with two chairs. Each month around 80 bookings come in through Treatwell. Sounds good, but have you calculated what those bookings actually cost you?
Treatwell charges an average commission of €3.50 per booking. At 80 bookings per month, that is €280 per month. Per year: €3,360. That is almost a new styling chair, a complete waiting room refresh, or three months of rent.
This article helps you decide: is Treatwell worth it, or is it time for an alternative?
What Treatwell really costs you
Treatwell's commission sits between 20% and 35% per booking, depending on your subscription and visibility on the platform. For an average treatment of €35, that means €7 to €12 per client, before you have picked up a single pair of scissors.
On top of the commission, you often pay a monthly platform subscription. And those who want more visibility pay extra for featured listings.
Example calculation for a 2-chair salon:
- Bookings per month: 80
- Average commission per booking: €3.50
- Monthly commission costs: €280
- Annual commission costs: €3,360
A slightly busier salon (120 bookings, €4 average) racks up €5,760 per year. That is money you could have kept, or invested in your team, your salon, or your marketing.
Why so many stylists stay on Treatwell
To be fair: Treatwell has real advantages.
Visibility. Millions of consumers search the platform daily for hairdressers nearby. As a new salon, it is hard to match that flow on your own.
Trust. Clients book more easily through a known platform than through an unknown website.
Simplicity. No technical knowledge required. Everything is already set up.
But once your salon is established, once you have clients, reviews, a loyal base, the calculation shifts. Clients who come through Treatwell are often one-time visitors. They choose the best price or first availability, not you specifically. Your loyal clients who return every 6 weeks? They have been booking directly for a while already.
4 alternatives compared
1. Stay on Treatwell
For salons that are still growing, Treatwell makes sense. The platform brings new clients. But once your occupancy rate is consistently above 70%, you are paying commission on clients who would have come anyway. That is the moment to reconsider.
Best for: new salons that need visibility.
2. Salonized
Salonized is a full salon software suite with calendar, client management, point of sale and marketing. Fixed monthly price (from approx. €29), no commission. Professional tool, but requires more effort to set up.
Best for: multi-staff salons looking for complete business software.
Downside: no free version, steeper learning curve, no native WordPress integration.
3. Bookly (WordPress plugin)
Bookly is a popular WordPress plugin for online bookings. Inexpensive, extensible with add-ons. But the base version is limited and add-ons add up quickly. No built-in CRM or marketing tools.
Best for: DIYers with WordPress knowledge and time to configure.
Downside: add-ons cost extra, limited Dutch support, no integrated marketing tools.
4. NoveuFlow: own WordPress plugin, no commission
NoveuFlow is a WordPress plugin you install on your own website. Clients book directly with you: no platform in between, no commission per booking.
The plugin is built specifically for service businesses like hair salons. You get a complete booking module, client management, automatic reminders via email or SMS, and built-in marketing tools, all on your own WordPress site.
Best for: salons with an existing WordPress site and a stable client base who want to stop paying commission.
Advantages: free version available via WordPress.org, no commission, your data on your server, Dutch support.
Honest downside: NoveuFlow is newer than Salonized and has a smaller community. If you rely heavily on the platform for new clients, you will miss that flow without a replacement strategy.
How to switch from Treatwell to direct bookings
The transition does not have to be abrupt. The smartest approach:
Step 1: Set up your own bookings alongside Treatwell. Install NoveuFlow (or an alternative) on your website. Keep Treatwell active for now.
Step 2: Send existing clients to your own system. Add a link in your Instagram bio, your email signature, and on your receipt: "Book directly next time? [link to own booking page]". Existing clients who already know you switch easily.
Step 3: Track your occupancy rate. Once you are above 60 to 70% full through your own channels, every Treatwell booking becomes relatively more expensive. That is the moment to scale down or stop Treatwell.
Step 4: Replace Treatwell visibility with Google. Fill in your Google Business profile properly, collect reviews, and optimise your website for "[your city] hair salon". It takes a one-time effort but generates free traffic structurally.
Calculate it yourself: what are you paying Treatwell now?
Take your average treatment price, multiply by the commission percentage (check your contract), and multiply by the number of bookings per month. If that number is higher than the cost of an alternative, the choice makes itself.
Rule of thumb: with more than 50 bookings per month through Treatwell, a direct booking system almost always pays off.
Use NoveuFlow free on your own site
NoveuFlow is available as a free plugin from WordPress.org. You install it on your own WordPress site and immediately have online bookings: no commission, no platform, and no monthly costs for the basic version.
Want more? Discover what Pro adds, such as SMS and WhatsApp reminders and marketing tools: book a free demo. See the pricing page or read more about NoveuFlow for salons.
The question is not whether you will ever switch. The question is how much commission you want to keep paying before you do.