Business Growth
❓ Question
Which booking platform has the lowest transaction fees in the UK?
Stuart Sheikh
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Freelancer · Bournemouth · 3mo ago
I've been running my nail studio in Newcastle for 3 years and still taking bookings over WhatsApp. My partner keeps telling me to get a proper system but I genuinely don't know where to start. Someone in my local business group mentioned Fresha — has anyone here actually used it day to day? Is the setup complicated? Does it look professional enough to send clients to? Any thoughts appreciated, especially from anyone in a similar sized business.
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✅ Best Answer
I tested Square Appointments and Square Appointments side by side for a month. Square Appointments won on price, Square Appointments won on features. For a solo lash studio just starting out, Square Appointments's free plan is hard to argue with. You can always switch later once you know exactly what you need.
#1
I've used Phorest 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.
#2
For a mobile barbershop I'd go with Vagaro 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.
#3
I asked myself this exact question a year ago. Ended up going with Fresha because it had the best free trial and I could test it properly without committing. a year later I'm still on it. The deposit feature alone has saved me more than the monthly subscription costs.
#4
I was asking myself this a year ago. Best decision I ever made was just picking one and starting. Jane App 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.
#5