If you run a barbershop, at some point you have had to choose between a marketplace platform or a fixed-price solution. This comparison gives you the real numbers, analysing both models without sponsorship from either side.
What are we comparing?
We evaluate three things barbershops actually care about: how much the platform takes from your bookings, what fixed price you pay, and whether your clients truly belong to you or to the platform.
Commissions: the small print nobody explains
Some platforms charge a fixed monthly fee but also apply a commission on new clients acquired through their marketplace. If your barbershop grows thanks to that platform, you pay more.
Other platforms advertise as "free forever" but take a commission on revenue from new clients acquired through their marketplace. For every new client that comes from the platform, they take a percentage of that booking.
Slottify charges 0% commission. Full stop. Fixed monthly price from £9.90 and everything you earn is yours, regardless of where the client came from.
Do your clients really belong to you?
With marketplace platforms, clients who find your barbershop through them stay within that platform's ecosystem. If you decide to leave one day, you lose that visibility immediately.
With Slottify, all data — contacts, booking history, preferences — is 100% yours. If you ever switch software, you take everything with you.
Do your clients need to download an app?
Most marketplace platforms require clients to download their app or create an account to book. That adds friction, and some clients simply will not bother.
With Slottify, clients book directly from any browser in 3 steps — no download, no account. Just a name and phone number.
Model comparison: commission marketplace vs fixed price
| Slottify (fixed price) | Commission marketplace | "Free" marketplace | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base price/month | From £9.90 | Variable | £0 |
| Booking commission | 0% | Yes (new clients) | Yes (new clients) |
| Your clients are yours | Yes | Partial | Partial |
| No app to book | Yes | No | No |
| Client blacklist | Yes | Varies | Varies |
| Loyalty programme | Yes | Varies | Varies |
| Setup in 5 min | Yes | No | No |
| English support | Yes | Partial | Partial |
Which model is right for you?
- Commission marketplace: barbershops that want exposure on a global marketplace and accept paying for each new client acquired.
- "Free" marketplace with commission: barbershops that prefer £0 fixed monthly cost and do not mind giving up a percentage of new client revenue.
- Slottify (fixed price): barbershops that want zero commissions, a fast setup, and friction-free booking for their clients.
Conclusion
If your goal is to maximise what you keep from every booking, the answer is clear: fixed price with no commissions. Slottify offers 0% commissions from £9.90/month. If you need exposure on a large marketplace and are happy to share revenue, that model also makes sense. But if you already have your own clients and just need to manage them well, there is no reason to give away a percentage.
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