Salon software
with no commission.

What "commission" actually means in salon software

"Commission" in this context is a percentage the software takes on top of a transaction — a booking, a deposit, a card payment. It's separate from a subscription fee. Most salon owners don't notice the commission until the end of the month when the numbers reconcile; by then, it's too late to change the plan.

The five pricing models

1. Marketplace (Fresha-style)

"Free" subscription. You get a marketplace listing. They take 15–20% on bookings that come via the marketplace, plus card processing. Your clients also get marketed your competitors when they book you. For a salon that already owns demand, this is expensive discovery traffic you don't need.

2. Freemium + per-booking fee (Booksy-style)

Free tier with limits, paid tiers €20–€60/mo per stylist. On top of the subscription, transaction fees and marketplace-referral fees. A 3-stylist salon easily reaches €180–€250/mo all-in — plus the commission on marketplace traffic.

3. Subscription + processing (Mindbody / Phorest-style)

Flat subscription, typically €100+/month, plus card-processing fees you can negotiate separately. No booking commission. Built for larger operations; overkill for most salons.

4. Subscription-only (HueSuite-style)

Flat subscription — €30/mo for HueSuite Pro — and that's it. Card processing on online payments (1%) goes to the payment processor, not to the platform. Cash, walk-ins, in-person card = 0% to us. No marketplace, no discovery fees.

5. Pay-as-you-go (Vagaro-style, optional add-ons)

Small base subscription, every feature priced separately. Works if you only need 2–3 features. Gets expensive fast when you add SMS, online booking, POS as separate line items.

Running the numbers on a €20k/month salon

Assume: 3 stylists, 70% of bookings are online, 30% cash/walk-in. €20k gross / month.

• Marketplace platform: 15% on half of online = ~€1,500/mo. Plus card fees. ~€1,600–1,800/mo.
• Freemium + per-booking: ~€180 subscription + marketplace commission if you use it. ~€200–600/mo.
• Big subscription: ~€100–150/mo base + optional add-ons. ~€150–250/mo.
• HueSuite: €30/mo subscription + 1% on online payments (€140) = ~€170/mo all-in. No marketplace cut.
• Pay-as-you-go: Hard to predict — easily €100–200/mo once you add the modules you actually need.

The gap between marketplace and subscription-only is ~€1,500/month for a salon at this volume. That's €18k/year staying in the salon instead of leaving.

When does a marketplace make sense?

Only when it's actually bringing new demand. If you're a new salon, or you work in a high-churn tourist area, discovery traffic has real value and paying a commission is rational. Run the math: if the marketplace brings 30% incremental bookings you wouldn't have otherwise, a 15% cut on those can still be profitable.

Most established salons in the HueSuite target markets (Cyprus, Greece, EU) already own demand through Instagram, referrals and a real client list. For them, the marketplace is pure extraction.

The bottom line

"No commission" is worth being specific about. HueSuite: 0% on bookings, 1% on online card payments (which goes to the payment processor, not us), €30/mo subscription. Compare any platform against that structure and you'll see where the money actually goes.

FAQ

Is any salon software really 0% commission?

Some pure-subscription platforms charge no commission on bookings. Others charge 'free-with-commission' (big marketplaces) — the subscription is free but they take 15–35% on anything booked through their marketplace. If you see 'free salon software,' assume there's a commission somewhere.

What do online payment processors charge?

Stripe, Adyen, and equivalent card processors charge ~1% + a small fixed fee per transaction on European cards. That's separate from salon-software commission — it's the bank / card network taking a piece. Even HueSuite's 1% on online payments is the payment-processor cost passed through.

Why do marketplaces take so much?

Because they bring you discovery demand: clients finding your salon through Fresha/Booksy/Treatwell without you running a marketing channel. The trade-off is margin, client ownership, and being listed next to your competitors. If your demand comes from Instagram, referrals, walk-ins and a real client list, the marketplace fee is pure cost.