How to Leave Treatwell Without Losing Your Clients — A Step-by-Step Migration Guide

What you keep vs. what you lose when you leave Treatwell

Before you make the move, be honest about what you're giving up and what you're keeping. Most salon owners overestimate the loss and underestimate the gain.

What you keep

• Your client relationships — names, phone numbers, email addresses of everyone who has sat in your chair. This data is yours, and Treatwell is legally obligated to let you export it.
• Your skills and reputation — your regulars come back for you, not for a listing page
• Your ability to take online bookings — you just do it on your own platform instead of Treatwell's
• Your Google Business Profile — your reviews, your photos, your ranking in local search
• Every euro of commission you were paying — that money stays in your pocket from day one

What you lose

• Your Treatwell reviews — these disappear when your listing goes down (more on rebuilding this below)
• Discoverability on the Treatwell marketplace — new clients who browse Treatwell won't find you there anymore
• Your ranking on Treatwell's platform — though if you're paying 35% commission, this is exactly the visibility you've been paying for

Here's the important framing: the clients you lose access to through Treatwell are clients you were paying 35% to acquire. On a €60 service, that's €21 per booking going to Treatwell. Switch to a direct booking system at €19.95/month and you break even in less than one new booking a month.

For a full breakdown of the true cost, read our post on how much Treatwell really costs.

How long does the full switch take?

A Treatwell migration is not a weekend project — but it's also not a six-month ordeal. Here's a realistic timeline for a solo stylist or small salon:

Most salon owners complete the active setup in a single afternoon. Bonnie Reid had her website and booking page live in 10 minutes using DoTheBeauty's AI builder — read the full story of how Bonnie set up her salon website if you want a sense of how fast this can move.

The reason you run both systems in parallel for 2–3 weeks isn't technical — it's about giving your clients time to discover and use your new booking page before you switch off the Treatwell route. Don't rush the cancellation.

Step 1: Export your client list from Treatwell

The first thing to do — before you change anything else — is secure your client data. Here's exactly how to do it:

1. Log into Treatwell Pro at pro.treatwell.co.uk (or your regional equivalent)
2. Click Clients in the left sidebar
3. Click the Export button in the top-right corner of the client list
4. Select your date range — choose "All time" to capture your full client history
5. Click Download CSV

The CSV will include:

• Client first name and last name
• Email address
• Phone number
• Number of visits
• Last visit date
• Total spend (depending on your Treatwell plan)

Save this file in at least two places — cloud storage and a local backup. This is one of the most valuable assets your salon has.

What about GDPR?

You are legally permitted to contact existing clients to notify them of a change to how they book. This falls under "legitimate interest" — you have an established relationship with these people, and informing them about your new booking channel is a reasonable business communication. You are not cold-marketing to strangers. That said, include an unsubscribe option in any email you send, and don't use the list for promotional marketing without explicit opt-in.

Before you start anything else, also read our Treatwell Connect review to make sure you have a clear picture of what you're leaving behind.

Step 2: Set up your own booking system (takes about 10 minutes)

While you're still live on Treatwell, get your new system ready. There's no reason to rush the cancellation — run both in parallel for a week or two while you migrate.

With DoTheBeauty, you answer 9 questions and get a professional salon website with built-in online booking. The AI generates your copy, applies your branding, and sets up your services. From signup to live booking link: about 10 minutes.

What you get on every plan:

• Your own booking page (your own domain on Growth plan and above)
• Online booking 24/7 — no WhatsApp, no calling, no client accounts required
• Automatic confirmation emails to clients
• Full client database you control
• 0% commission on all plans — you keep every euro
• Appointment reminders to reduce no-shows (Growth plan and above)

Plans start at €19.95/month with a 7-day free trial. See a full comparison on the DoTheBeauty vs Treatwell page, or review the full pricing page to pick the right plan. A credit card is required to start the trial.

If you are evaluating what Treatwell Connect actually delivers, our Treatwell Connect review covers the key features and limitations.

While you're setting up, add all your services with accurate durations. This is what the booking system uses to block time in your calendar. If you've been doing this on Treatwell for years, you already know exactly what to enter — it's the same information, just on your platform now.

Step 3: Notify clients — with templates you can use today

Once your new booking page is live and you've tested it end-to-end, it's time to tell your clients. You don't need to explain why you're leaving Treatwell — just make it easy for them to find you and book.

Email template

Subject: We've made booking easier for you

Hi [Name],

We're moving to our own booking system! From now on, you can book directly at [your-website.com] — same team, same services, just a much smoother experience.

Booking takes under a minute, no account needed, and you'll get an automatic confirmation straight to your inbox.

If you have any upcoming appointments, they're all confirmed — nothing changes on your end.

See you soon,
[Your name]
[Salon name]

P.S. If you'd prefer not to receive updates like this, just reply "unsubscribe" and I'll remove you from the list.

WhatsApp / SMS template

Hi [Name], [Salon Name] here! We've moved to our own booking page: [your-website.com]. Same team, same services — book anytime, 24/7. See you soon! 😊

In-salon signage (for clients who come in before you send the digital notice)

Book directly with us!
We've moved to our own booking system.
Visit: [your-website.com]
Or scan the QR code below.

For your highest-value clients — regulars who come in monthly or more — a personal message goes a long way. A quick WhatsApp from you personally ("Hey [Name], just letting you know we've moved our booking...") can make the difference between a smooth handoff and a lost appointment.

Timing tip: Send the notification 5–7 days before you officially wind down Treatwell. That gives clients time to see it and book through your new system before they might instinctively go back to Treatwell.

Follow-up: One week after your first notification, send a short follow-up to anyone who hasn't yet booked through the new system. Keep it light: "Just a reminder that you can now book directly with us at [website]."

Step 4: Update and redirect your booking links everywhere

This is the step most salon owners underestimate. Your Treatwell profile isn't just on Treatwell — it's linked from every place you've ever promoted your bookings. Go through this list methodically:

• Google Business Profile (most important) — log into Google Business Profile Manager, go to "Edit profile", find the "Booking" or "Links" section, and replace the Treatwell URL with your new booking page URL
• Instagram bio — update the link in bio; if you use a link aggregator like Linktree, update the booking link there
• Facebook page — edit the "Book Now" action button URL in your page settings
• Your email signature — add a line: "Book online: [your-website.com]"
• Any website you own — update all "Book Now" buttons to point to your new URL
• Printed materials — business cards, flyers, loyalty cards that mention Treatwell or a Treatwell URL should be updated at the next reprint
• Other directories — check if you're listed on local directories (Yelp, local city guides) with a Treatwell booking link and update those too

Google Business Profile is by far the most important. Clients who search for your salon by name on Google will see your Business Profile in the results — and if the booking link goes to Treatwell (a platform you've left), you'll have confused clients and a broken booking flow. Fix this first.

Step 5: Cancel your Treatwell subscription

Once your new system is running, your clients have been notified, and your booking links are updated, you're ready to cancel. Do this in Treatwell Pro:

1. Go to Settings in the left sidebar
2. Click Subscription (or "Plan & Billing")
3. Click Cancel subscription
4. Follow the cancellation flow — Treatwell will typically ask why you're leaving and may offer retention discounts or a temporary fee waiver
5. Confirm the cancellation and note the end date of your current billing period

Your listing will stay active until the end of your paid period. Use those remaining days as a transition window — you can still receive Treatwell bookings and honour them, but stop promoting the Treatwell link and redirect all new booking traffic to your own page.

Treatwell's notice period: Treatwell typically requires 30 days' notice to cancel, though this varies by contract type. Check your original agreement if you're unsure. This is another reason to start the migration process early — don't wait until you're desperate to leave.

For a comparison of what you're moving to, see our full Treatwell alternative comparison which covers features, pricing, and commitment terms side by side.

Step 6: Rebuild your reputation without Treatwell

Losing your Treatwell reviews hurts. But it's a one-time loss, and you can build something better — a Google review profile that follows you forever, across platforms, without being tied to a marketplace you pay commission to.

Start collecting Google reviews immediately

Google reviews are the most visible and transferable social proof you can have. Here's how to get them:

• Ask satisfied clients at the point of checkout: "Would you mind leaving us a quick Google review? It really helps the salon."
• Add a QR code at your reception desk that links directly to your Google review page
• Send a review request in your post-appointment follow-up (DoTheBeauty's email system can help with this)
• Include a review request in your migration email — clients who've been loyal for years are exactly the ones who will leave a glowing review

Set up your own testimonials page

Your DoTheBeauty website includes a testimonials section. Reach out to 5–10 regular clients and ask if they'd be willing to provide a short quote. Even four or five genuine testimonials on your own site carry significant weight for new clients who find you through Google.

Post-switch marketing: how to grow without Treatwell

Once you've left Treatwell, the clients who discover you will do so through your own channels — your website, Google, Instagram, word of mouth. That's actually a better position than Treatwell, because every new client belongs to you from day one.

For a full strategy on growing your salon's client base through owned channels, read our guide to salon marketing ideas that actually work. It covers Google optimisation, social media, referral programmes, and how to maximise re-booking rates — all without paying commission to a marketplace.

Update your Google Business Profile with fresh photos

While you're in your Business Profile updating the booking link, also add 3–5 recent photos of your work and your salon interior. Profiles with recent photos get significantly more engagement than stale ones. This is free visibility, and it helps replace the discoverability you're giving up on Treatwell.

Common mistakes salons make when switching from Treatwell

These are the patterns that slow down migrations or cause bookings to slip through the cracks. Avoid them.

1. Cancelling Treatwell before the new system is live

Don't cancel first. Set up your new booking system, test it, and run it in parallel for at least 2 weeks before you cancel Treatwell. You want zero gap in your ability to take bookings.

2. Only notifying clients once

One email is not enough. Send the initial notification, then a follow-up a week later for anyone who hasn't yet booked through the new system. Some clients check email infrequently. A WhatsApp message in addition to email dramatically improves reach.

3. Forgetting to update Google Business Profile

This is the most common oversight. Clients who search for you on Google will see your Business Profile before anything else. If the booking link still points to Treatwell after you've cancelled, you'll have a broken experience for new clients at exactly the moment they're ready to book.

4. Rushing the cancellation to save one month's fee

The Treatwell subscription costs €35/month. Losing a single client booking because you rushed the transition costs more than that. Take the extra month. Do it right.

5. Not asking for Google reviews during the transition

The transition window — when clients are engaging with your "we've moved" message — is the perfect moment to ask for a Google review. These clients are already paying attention to you. Strike while the iron is hot.

6. Using the Treatwell URL in old marketing materials indefinitely

Business cards, printed menus, in-salon posters — if they mention a Treatwell booking URL, they're actively pointing clients away from you. Make a list of all physical materials and plan to update them at the next print run.

Common fears — answered honestly

Will I lose all my reviews?

Yes, your Treatwell reviews disappear when you leave the platform. But you can ask happy clients to leave reviews on Google instead — and Google reviews have far more visibility and trust than any marketplace profile. Start collecting them now, before you cancel. Within 3 months of active review collection, most salons have a stronger Google profile than their Treatwell profile ever was.

Will clients be able to find me?

Clients who know you will follow you. Clients who discover you through Google will find your website — especially once you have a proper online presence with DoTheBeauty's built-in SEO. The clients you lose are the ones who were purely Treatwell marketplace browsers, and those are exactly the ones you were paying 35% commission to acquire. Once they're your direct clients, they cost you nothing.

Is the technical setup complicated?

The AI website setup takes about 10 minutes. If you can fill out a form, you can set up DoTheBeauty. There's no code, no hosting to manage, no complicated integrations. Your booking link is live the same day. See how it worked for one salon owner in our guide to choosing the best salon booking system.

What if my clients don't switch over?

Most will. Run the two systems in parallel for 2–3 weeks, send a follow-up notification to anyone who hasn't booked through your new system yet, and you'll capture the vast majority. The handful who don't were probably going to lapse anyway — Treatwell or no Treatwell.

What if Treatwell won't let me export my client data?

Under GDPR, you have the legal right to your client data. If Treatwell obstructs this, contact your national data protection authority. In practice, the export function works as described above — the data is accessible in your Pro dashboard.

What about clients who discover me on Treatwell after I've left?

Once your listing is down, clients won't find you on Treatwell at all — so this is a non-issue. The risk is in the first few weeks, while your listing is still visible but winding down. During this period, the listing itself will still show your contact details, so clients can still reach you directly even if they stumble on your old Treatwell page.

Can I come back to Treatwell if the switch doesn't work?

Yes — Treatwell is not a prison. If you cancel and find you miss the new client flow, you can re-list. But in practice, most salon owners who make the switch don't go back. The savings are too significant and the control too valuable.

The full migration checklist

Before you cancel

• Export client list from Treatwell Pro (CSV — names, emails, phone numbers)
• Back up the CSV in two locations
• Sign up for DoTheBeauty (free 7-day trial, no credit card required)
• Complete the AI website setup (9 questions, ~10 minutes)
• Add all services with accurate durations and pricing
• Add team members and set availability/opening hours
• Test the booking flow end-to-end (book a test appointment for yourself)
• Set up your custom domain (Growth plan — takes 24 hours to propagate)

When your new system is live

• Update Google Business Profile booking link (most important)
• Update Instagram bio link
• Update Facebook "Book Now" button
• Update email signature
• Update any website you own
• Note any printed materials that mention Treatwell (to update at next reprint)

Client notification

• Send client notification email (use template above)
• Send WhatsApp messages to your most active clients
• Put in-salon signage at reception
• Send follow-up email 7–10 days later to non-bookers

During the parallel running period (weeks 2–3)

• Monitor new bookings on both platforms
• Ask happy clients for Google reviews
• Update testimonials section on your DoTheBeauty website
• Start posting fresh photos to Google Business Profile

When you're ready to cancel

• Cancel Treatwell subscription (Settings → Subscription)
• Note the end date of your billing period
• Continue honouring any Treatwell bookings that come in until the listing expires
• Start your post-switch marketing strategy — see our guide to salon marketing ideas for what to do next

The bottom line

Leaving Treatwell is less scary than it feels. The clients you've built relationships with will follow you. The commissions you stop paying will cover your new system within days. And you'll finally own your client data, your booking page, and your brand — without sharing 35% of it with a marketplace.

If you have not run the numbers yet, our breakdown of what Treatwell actually costs shows the real monthly total at your booking volume. The math is usually enough to make the decision clear.

Ready to make the switch? See how DoTheBeauty compares to Treatwell, or start your 7-day free trial and have your booking page live before the end of the day. Dutch salon owners can follow the same steps in our Treatwell opzeggen guide.