How to Cancel Booksy and Switch Platforms: Complete Guide for Salons

If you're searching for how to cancel Booksy, you're not alone. Thousands of UK salon owners sign up, hit the steep learning curve, notice the pricing opacity, and start looking for a way out. The good news: switching booking platforms is entirely manageable if you do it in the right order.

This guide walks you through every step — from exporting your client list to telling your regulars where to find you. No data left behind.

Why salons leave Booksy

Booksy started as a marketplace in the US and expanded into the UK and Europe. It works well as a discovery tool, but many salon owners run into the same frustrations after a few months:

• Pricing opacity. Booksy doesn't publish its UK subscription fees publicly. You have to sign up to find out what you'll pay — and the price can change at renewal. Many salon owners feel blindsided when their bill goes up. You can read our full breakdown in Booksy pricing for salons: what you actually pay.
• Booksy Boost commissions. Want your profile to appear higher in the Booksy marketplace? That's Booksy Boost — and it charges a commission on every new client it sends you, on top of your subscription. One busy month of new clients can cost you significantly more than expected.
• No own website. Booksy gives you a profile page on their platform, not your own website. Your clients book through Booksy's brand, not yours. You don't rank in Google for your salon name — Booksy does.
• US-first product decisions. Features, support hours, and payment integrations are built around the US market. UK and European salons often find certain features missing or poorly adapted to local needs.
• Clients belong to Booksy. On a marketplace, clients who find you through Booksy are partly Booksy's clients. If you ever leave, there's a real risk some of those clients won't follow — especially if they're accustomed to booking through the app.

If any of those points resonate, this guide is for you. Here's the complete process for leaving Booksy cleanly.

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What happens to your data when you cancel Booksy?

Before you cancel anything, understand what you're dealing with:

• Your client data is yours. Under GDPR, you have the right to export personal data that clients gave you. Booksy provides an export function — use it before you cancel, because access ends when your subscription does.
• Your appointment history stays in Booksy's system. You can export a record, but once you cancel, you won't be able to log in to retrieve anything you missed.
• Your Booksy profile remains live for the duration of your billing cycle, then goes offline. Clients who try to book through your old Booksy link will find nothing — which is why updating your listings (Step 6 below) matters.
• Reviews stay on Booksy. Unfortunately, reviews written on the Booksy platform cannot be transferred. They belong to Booksy. Your best move is to start building Google reviews before and during the transition.

Step 1: Export your client list

This is the most important step. Do it before anything else.

In Booksy for Business (the desktop version at business.booksy.com):

1. Go to Clients in the left-hand navigation.
2. Select all clients using the checkbox at the top of the list.
3. Look for the Export option (usually a download or three-dot menu icon).
4. Choose CSV format.
5. Download and save the file somewhere safe — your Google Drive, Dropbox, or a local backup.

The export typically includes: client name, email address, phone number, and number of visits. Some Booksy plans may include additional fields. Check your export for completeness before proceeding.

What to do with the file: Keep it. You'll import it into your new booking system in Step 4. Even if you don't import it immediately, having a clean client list in a spreadsheet is valuable for email campaigns and client communication.

Step 2: Download your appointment history

You'll want a record of past appointments for several reasons: tax records, treatment history notes, and understanding which clients are most loyal (and most likely to follow you).

1. In Booksy for Business, navigate to Reports or Analytics.
2. Look for an appointments or bookings report with a date range selector.
3. Set the range to cover your full time on Booksy.
4. Export as CSV or PDF.

If Booksy's reporting doesn't give you everything you need, take screenshots of key summaries — total bookings, top services, busiest months — before you cancel. Once your subscription ends, that data is gone.

Also download any financial summaries you may need for bookkeeping. Your accountant will thank you.

Step 3: Cancel your Booksy subscription

Only cancel after you've completed Steps 1 and 2 and have your replacement system ready (or nearly ready).

To cancel your Booksy subscription:

1. Log in to Booksy for Business at business.booksy.com.
2. Go to Settings (usually a gear icon in the left menu or top-right corner).
3. Select Subscription or Billing.
4. Look for Cancel Subscription or Manage Plan.
5. Follow the prompts. Booksy may ask for a reason and may offer a discount to stay — you're free to decline.
6. Confirm cancellation. You should receive a confirmation email.

Important: Booksy typically operates on monthly billing cycles. Cancelling mid-cycle usually means you retain access until the end of your current paid period — not an immediate termination. Check your confirmation email for the exact end date.

If you have Booksy Boost active, cancel that separately (it may have its own billing settings). Don't let Boost continue charging you after you've decided to leave.

If you can't find the cancel option, or it routes you to customer support, contact Booksy directly via their help centre. Some plans require cancellation by email or chat.

Step 4: Set up your new booking system

Ideally, your new booking system is live and tested before you cancel Booksy — so there's no gap in client bookings.

When evaluating alternatives, look for:

• No commission model. You shouldn't pay per booking. A flat monthly fee is predictable; commissions punish you for doing well.
• Your own website and booking page. Clients should book on your brand, not through a marketplace you don't own.
• Client data that belongs to you. You should be able to export your full client list at any time, without restriction.
• Transparent pricing. No hidden fees, no surprise bills at renewal.

See our guide to the best salon booking systems for UK salons for a full comparison.

Once you've chosen your new platform, import the client CSV you exported in Step 1. Most modern booking systems have a CSV import tool in their contacts or clients section. Match the column headers (name, email, phone) and run the import. Review the result — check that contact details landed correctly for a sample of clients before sending any communication.

DoTheBeauty includes online booking, a professional salon website, client management, and appointment history — all on a flat monthly fee with 0% commission. You can try it free for 7 days at dothebeauty.com/signup. See full pricing details here.

Step 5: Tell your clients where to find you

This is where most salon owners lose clients unnecessarily — they switch platforms without telling anyone. Your regulars will try to rebook through their Booksy app, find nothing, and assume you've closed.

Send a message to every client in your list. Here are templates you can adapt:

Email template

Subject: We've moved our booking system — here's how to book

Hi [Name],

We've moved from Booksy to our own booking system, so you can now book directly through our website.

Book here: [your new booking link]

All our services and availability are up to date. If you have any questions, just reply to this email or give us a call.

Thank you for being a loyal client — we can't wait to see you again.

[Your name] at [Salon Name]

WhatsApp / SMS template

Hi [Name] We've switched from Booksy to our own booking system.
You can now book directly at: [your booking link]
See you soon! — [Salon Name]

Instagram caption

We've updated how you book with us!

We've moved away from Booksy and you can now book directly through our own website — link in bio.

Same team, same services, easier booking. See you soon!

Send the email at least two weeks before your Booksy profile goes offline. Follow up with a second email or WhatsApp message a few days before the end date. Give your highest-value clients a personal heads-up by phone if needed.

Step 6: Update your online listings

Clients find salons through Google, Instagram, Facebook, and review sites. After switching, update every place that shows your booking link.

Google Business Profile

1. Log in to your Google Business Profile account.
2. Go to your listing and select Edit profile.
3. Update the Booking or Appointment links section with your new booking URL.
4. Update your website URL if it has changed.
5. Save changes.

Instagram

• Update the link in your bio to your new booking page.
• If you use a link-in-bio tool (Linktree, etc.), update the booking link there.
• Update any highlights or pinned posts that mention Booksy.

Facebook

• Go to your Facebook Page and update the Book Now button to point to your new booking URL.
• Update your Page info if it mentions Booksy.

Other places to check

• Treatwell (if you have a listing there)
• Yelp
• FreeIndex
• Any local directories where you're listed
• Your email signature
• Business cards (update for next print run)

Common mistakes when switching from Booksy

Most transitions go smoothly if you follow the steps above — but here's what tends to go wrong:

• Cancelling before exporting. Once your subscription ends, you lose access. Export first, cancel second.
• Not telling clients in advance. If your Booksy page goes dark without warning, clients assume you've shut down. Give at least two weeks' notice.
• Leaving Booksy Boost running. Some salon owners cancel the main subscription but forget about Boost billing. Check both.
• Importing clients but not cleaning the data. Your Booksy export may have duplicate entries, old phone numbers, or missing emails. Spend 30 minutes cleaning the spreadsheet before importing — it saves headaches later.
• Going live with the new system too late. Set up your new booking system before you cancel Booksy. Even a one-day gap where clients can't book anywhere costs you appointments.
• Forgetting Google Business Profile. This is where a large percentage of new clients find you. An outdated booking link there will cost you new business for months.
• Assuming reviews transfer. They don't. Start actively asking for Google reviews during and after the transition. A surge of fresh Google reviews more than compensates for leaving Booksy reviews behind.

For more on what to look for in your next platform, see our Booksy alternative comparison.

Frequently asked questions

Can I cancel Booksy at any time?

Yes. Booksy is a month-to-month subscription — there's no long-term contract for most plans. You can cancel at any time and retain access until the end of your current billing period.

Will I lose my Booksy reviews?

Reviews are owned by the Booksy platform and cannot be transferred. They'll disappear from public view when your profile goes offline. Focus on building Google reviews before and after you switch — they carry more weight for local SEO anyway.

What happens to clients who try to book through Booksy after I cancel?

Once your subscription ends, your Booksy profile will go offline. Clients who visit your old Booksy link will see an error or a "not found" page. This is why updating your Google listing and notifying clients before you cancel is essential.

Do I have to give notice to cancel Booksy?

Typically no — you cancel through your account settings and the subscription ends at the close of your current billing cycle. No notice period is required. That said, check your original sign-up terms to confirm.

Can I export all my clients from Booksy?

Yes, Booksy allows you to export your client list as a CSV. The export includes names, contact details, and visit counts. Do this before you cancel — you lose access to the export tool once your subscription ends.

How long does it take to switch to a new booking system?

Most salon owners have a new system live within a day or two of signing up. Importing your client list, setting up services, and configuring your availability can be done in an afternoon. Give yourself two weeks for the full transition so you have time to notify clients and update your listings.

Is DoTheBeauty available in the UK?

Yes. DoTheBeauty supports salons across Europe. Plans start from €19.95/month with 0% commission on bookings — ever. See full pricing or start a free 7-day trial.

Ready to make the switch?

Leaving Booksy is straightforward if you follow the steps in order: export first, set up your new platform, notify clients, cancel Booksy, then update your listings. Most salons complete the full migration in under two weeks with zero disruption to their booking flow.

The result: your own booking page, client data you fully control, and a flat monthly fee that doesn't go up every time a new client walks through the door.

Start your free DoTheBeauty trial and see how simple running your salon can be.