What booking software really costs: per person, per booking or per location

The monthly price on a booking system's website is rarely what you end up paying. What you pay depends on how the system charges, and there are three common ways to do it. Each one sends a very different bill as your business grows.

1. Per person (per staff member or "per calendar")

You pay a set amount for every person who takes bookings.

It looks cheap when you are on your own. The bill then grows every time you hire, and it grows again if you add a part-timer who only works Saturdays, because they still need a calendar.

Example sum: a system charging £20 per person a month costs £20 for one person, £100 for a team of five and £240 for a team of twelve.

Ask before you sign up: does a part-time or occasional member of staff count as a full seat? Do receptionists who don't take bookings need a paid login?

2. Per booking (commission or a fee per appointment)

You pay a fee or a percentage each time a client books, sometimes only for "new" clients who found you through the provider's marketplace.

This can feel free at the start, but the cost rises with your success. A busy month is an expensive month, and it is hard to predict.

Example sum: a 20% fee on new clients' first visits, at £45 a visit, costs £9 a booking. Thirty new clients in a month means £270.

Ask before you sign up: what counts as a "new" client? Is there a card processing fee on top? Does your booking page list other businesses next to yours?

3. Per location (a flat price for each place you work from)

You pay one price for each location (an address with its own opening hours and team), however many people work there and however many bookings you take.

The cost only changes when you open another site, which is a decision you plan for, not a surprise at the end of the month.

What to add up, whichever you choose

• The price for your team in a year's time, not today. Plan for the people you expect to hire.
• Payment fees. Card fees from the payment provider apply on every system. Check whether the booking system adds its own fee on top.
• Extras sold separately: text reminders, intake forms, deposits, extra locations or a second diary.
• What leaving costs. Can you export your client list and booking history whenever you like?

How Appoint Me charges

Appoint Me uses the third model: £50 a month for your business, plus £40 a month for each extra location. Every plan has unlimited staff, unlimited bookings and every feature included. Appoint Me takes 0% commission: deposits, no-show fees, saved cards and tips go straight into your own Stripe account.

Email confirmations and reminders are included in the monthly price. Text and WhatsApp messages are not part of it: they are paid per message from a credit balance you top up.

Founding offer: our first 100 businesses get their first 6 months for a one-off £5 (open until 1 November 2027). Without a founding place, the first month is £5, then £50 a month. You can cancel any month.

See the full pricing