Business Growth ❓ Question

Is Phorest GDPR compliant for storing UK client data?

Abigail Hughes 🏪 VIP Seller
🥇 Gold Seller Freelancer · Doncaster · 5mo ago
Right, I need some honest opinions. I've been using a paper diary for 2 years and my husband thinks I'm mad for not going digital. I've looked at Phorest and Treatwell but I honestly can't figure out which one is better for a small brow studio. I don't need anything fancy — just something that sends reminder texts, takes deposits and lets clients book online without ringing me at 11pm. What would you go for?
#small-business #no-shows
💬 8 Replies 👁 1.7K Views

💬 8 Replies

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Reuben Bailey 👑 VIP
👑 VIP 5mo ago · 16 posts
I was asking myself this a year ago. Best decision I ever made was just picking one and starting. Treatwell has a free plan that's genuinely functional. Start there, learn the system, then upgrade when you actually need the paid features. Don't let the choice paralysis stop you from just getting on with it.
#1
Benjamin Carter 🏪 VIP Seller
🥇 Gold Seller 5mo ago · 14 posts
My clients were pretty resistant at first — a few of them are older and not very tech-savvy. What helped was walking them through the booking link in person the first time. Once they'd done it once they were completely fine. Now I get booking confirmations at 11pm from people I would have thought would never manage it.
#2
Francesca Parker 👑 VIP
👑 VIP 5mo ago · 16 posts
My clients were pretty resistant at first — a few of them are older and not very tech-savvy. What helped was walking them through the booking link in person the first time. Once they'd done it once they were completely fine. Now I get booking confirmations at 11pm from people I would have thought would never manage it.
#3
Poppy Lewis 👑 VIP
👑 VIP 5mo ago · 20 posts
I've been using Vagaro for 18 months and honestly I'd recommend it for a small barbershop. The setup took me about half a day but once it's done it just runs. Clients get automatic reminders, you can take deposits, and the calendar view is really clear. Give the free trial a go — you'll know within a week if it works for you.
#4
Matthew Henderson 🏪 VIP Seller
🥇 Gold Seller 5mo ago · 13 posts
I tested Phorest and Trafft side by side for a month. Phorest won on price, Trafft won on features. For a solo mobile therapist just starting out, Phorest's free plan is hard to argue with. You can always switch later once you know exactly what you need.
#5
Declan Smith 👑 VIP
👑 VIP 4mo ago · 17 posts
For a mobile hair salon I'd go with Fresha every time. You can set a service area rather than a fixed address, clients can see your availability, and the automated confirmations include all the details they need. Works perfectly without needing a physical premises.
#6
Ruby Mitchell 🏪 VIP Seller
🥇 Gold Seller 4mo ago · 16 posts
I switched from Trafft to Jane App about 6 months ago and the main thing I noticed was the client-facing booking page. Jane App's is just cleaner and clients seem to complete the booking without getting confused halfway through. If you're worried about looking professional, that matters more than you'd think.
#7
Harvey Khan 🏪 VIP Seller
🥇 Gold Seller 4mo ago · 16 posts
I've used Setmore for 18 months and the support is hit and miss if I'm honest. Response times are slow. But the product itself is solid and I rarely need support because once it's set up it just works. I'd still recommend it — just don't rely on them for urgent help.
#8