How Much Does Treatwell Really Cost in 2026? The Hidden Fees Salon Owners Miss

The Treatwell Pricing Problem

Treatwell markets itself as a growth tool for salons. And it does bring in new clients — that part is real. But the price of those clients is where most salon owners get a nasty surprise.

Here is what Treatwell actually charges in 2026:

• €35/month subscription fee (Netherlands; UK plan is free but commission still applies)
• 35% commission on every new client booking through the marketplace
• 2.5% processing fee on all online prepayments (2% in the Netherlands)
• All fees subject to VAT at the local rate (21% in the Netherlands, 20% in the UK)

Treatwell now advertises 0% commission on repeat bookings — so the commission only applies the first time a client books with your salon via their marketplace. That is genuinely worth knowing. But the first-visit rate of 35% is still steep, and the costs add up fast. Let us do the actual math.

The Real Math: What You Are Actually Paying

Let us take a common scenario. You are a mid-sized salon and Treatwell is sending you 50 new clients per month. Average booking value is £60.

Here is what that looks like on your monthly invoice:

Cost item	Calculation	Monthly cost
Subscription (NL)	€35/month	€35
Commission (35% × 50 new clients × £60)	0.35 × £3,000	£1,050
Processing fee (2.5% on prepaid bookings)	0.025 × £3,000	£75
VAT on all fees (21% NL / 20% UK)	~21% added	~£246
Total monthly cost to Treatwell		~£1,406

That is over £16,800 per year going to Treatwell — just for 50 new clients per month. Once those clients are yours and rebooking directly, the commission stops. But you keep paying 35% for every new one Treatwell sends you.

Put it another way: on a £60 appointment, Treatwell takes £21 before you factor in VAT. On a £120 colour or balayage service, they take £42. That is money that does not go to your stylists, your rent, or your materials.

£16,800 a year to Treatwell — or €239 to DoTheBeauty. Most salon owners who switch wonder why they waited this long.

Try DoTheBeauty free for 7 days →

Scaling Makes It Worse, Not Better

The commission model has a painful characteristic: the more new clients Treatwell sends you, the more you pay them. There is no cap. There is no loyalty discount. The rate stays at 35% regardless of how long you have been on the platform.

New clients/month via Treatwell	Avg booking	Treatwell commission/month	Treatwell total/year (excl. VAT)
10	£60	£210	£2,520
25	£60	£525	£6,300
50	£60	£1,050	£12,600
50	£100	£1,750	£21,000
100	£60	£2,100	£25,200

Salons that offer higher-value services — colour, extensions, lash sets — feel this especially hard. Every new client is a significant finder's fee to Treatwell. For a direct look at what a commission-free alternative costs side by side, see our Treatwell vs DoTheBeauty comparison.

Considering Treatwell Connect instead? Read our full Treatwell Connect review to understand what's included before deciding.

The Hidden Fees That Compound

Beyond the commission, there are structural costs that are easy to miss:

Processing fees on prepayments: Treatwell charges 2.5% on all online card payments taken through the platform (2% in the Netherlands). On a £60 booking, that is £1.50 before your own card provider sees a penny — on top of the 35% commission.

VAT on top: All Treatwell fees are subject to VAT at the local rate. In the Netherlands that is 21%. In the UK it is 20%. You pay tax on commission — meaning a 35% commission effectively costs you 42.35% in the Netherlands, and 42% in the UK, before adding the processing fee.

The repeat booking nuance: Treatwell now advertises 0% commission on repeat bookings, which is a genuine improvement. But this relies on Treatwell correctly recognising the client as returning. The definition of a repeat client is controlled by Treatwell — if a client books through Treatwell after a long gap, or via a different device or email, the classification may reset. You have no direct visibility into how Treatwell makes this determination.

No standalone booking page: Treatwell does not give you a salon website. You list on their marketplace, not your own. Clients who find you through Treatwell know Treatwell — not your brand. Building your own direct booking channel alongside Treatwell costs time and typically an additional tool subscription.

Calculate Your Own Treatwell Costs

Use the calculator below to see what Treatwell actually costs at your booking volume, compared to a flat monthly fee with zero commission. For a full comparison, see our salon booking system guide.

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The Alternative: A Flat Fee You Can Budget For

DoTheBeauty charges €19.95/month on the Starter plan. That is the entire cost. There is no commission on bookings — not on new clients, not on returning clients, not on anyone. Ever.

Clients book directly through your own salon website (built by DoTheBeauty in minutes), not through a marketplace. You own the client relationship from day one.

Scenario: 50 new clients/month at £60 avg	Treatwell	DoTheBeauty Starter
Monthly platform cost	~£1,406	€19.95
Annual platform cost	~£16,872	~€239
Commission on new clients	35%	0%
Annual savings vs Treatwell	—	~£16,600+

The tradeoff is honest: Treatwell brings a marketplace with existing traffic. DoTheBeauty does not — your bookings come from your own site and your own marketing. But once those clients exist, you pay nothing to the platform for keeping them, rebooking them, or growing with them.

Ready to see every plan and feature side by side? Our full Treatwell alternative comparison covers pricing, commitment terms, and platform capabilities in detail.

What To Do Next

If you are on Treatwell and questioning the cost, the right answer depends on how much of your new-client pipeline depends on their marketplace. For salons that rely on it for discovery, switching overnight is a real risk. Our step-by-step Treatwell migration guide walks you through exporting your clients and going live on your own booking page without losing a single appointment.

But if you already have a client base, a Google presence, or a social following — paying thousands per year in first-visit commissions is money that could stay in your business.

Read our full side-by-side breakdown at Treatwell vs DoTheBeauty, or start a free 7-day trial and build your booking site to see what the alternative looks like in practice.