What does 0% commission booking software mean?
Zero commission (0%) booking software means you keep all your booking revenue—the software doesn't take a percentage of each appointment. You pay a flat monthly fee instead. This contrasts with marketplace-based platforms that charge 15-30% commission on bookings made through their discovery channels.
Two pricing models explained
Commission-based (marketplace) model
Some booking platforms operate marketplaces where potential clients can discover your salon. In exchange for this exposure, they charge a commission (percentage) on bookings that come through their platform—typically 15-20% on new clients acquired through their marketplace. Some platforms charge on all bookings, not just new clients.
Example: If a new client books a $100 service through the marketplace, you might pay $20-30 to the platform.
Flat-fee (0% commission) model
You pay a fixed monthly subscription regardless of how many bookings you receive or how much revenue you generate.
Example: You pay $79/month whether you do 10 appointments or 200 appointments that month. No percentage of your bookings goes to the software.
When each model makes sense
Commission might work if:
You're just starting out with few existing clients, you need help with client acquisition, your booking volume is low, or you don't mind sharing revenue for marketing exposure.
Flat fee typically works better if:
You already have an established client base, most bookings come from your existing clients or your own marketing, your booking volume is moderate to high, you want predictable monthly costs, or you prefer to keep all your revenue.
The maths
Let's compare costs for a small salon doing $8,000/month in services:
Commission model (20% on new clients)
If 30% of your revenue comes from marketplace clients: $8,000 × 30% × 20% = $480/month in fees.
Flat-fee model
Monthly fee: $50-100/month (varies by platform). Commission: $0. The busier you get, the more the flat-fee model saves.
What to look out for
Payment processing fees are different
Both models typically still charge standard payment processing fees (around 1.7-2.9% + fixed fee per transaction) when clients pay by card. These are charged by payment providers like Stripe, not the booking software.
Read the fine print
Some platforms advertise "free" but have commission on marketplace bookings, extra fees for premium features, or per-SMS charges that add up.
With a flat-fee model, client acquisition is up to you. You'll need to drive traffic to your booking page through your website, social media, and other marketing.
Making the choice
Ask yourself:
- Where do most of your clients come from?
- How much would commission cost you monthly?
- Can you do your own marketing effectively?
- Do you want predictable costs?
For most established salons with a client base, flat-fee models provide better value. For brand new businesses with no clients, marketplace exposure might justify the commission—at least initially.
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