5 Reasons to Ditch Treatwell and Build Your Own Website

Treatwell helped a lot of UK salons get online bookings. But in 2026, more salons are leaving. Here are five honest reasons why — and what they're switching to.

1. The commission is brutal

Treatwell takes 20-35% commission. On a £50 treatment, that's £10-£17.50 gone every time. (Full maths in our Treatwell fees breakdown.) For a busy salon, it's thousands a year off your bottom line.

2. They're your customers, not yours

When someone books through Treatwell, they're a Treatwell customer. The platform owns the relationship and the rebooking. If you leave, those customers stay with the platform.

3. You're one of many

On Treatwell, you're listed alongside every competing salon, often compared on price — a race to the bottom. Your own website showcases only you.

4. Limited brand control

Treatwell controls how you appear, squeezing your brand into their template. For a beauty salon where image matters, that's frustrating.

5. You can't market to your own customers

Because Treatwell owns the data, you can't easily email or text your clients with offers or rebooking reminders. Your own website and booking system build a list you own.

What salons are switching to

A modern booking website with 24/7 booking, zero commission (flat monthly fee), full brand control, automated reminders, and a customer list you own.

Should you quit entirely?

Not overnight. Build your own site, move your regulars to direct booking, keep Treatwell or Fresha only for discovering new customers, then convert those too.

The bottom line

Treatwell is useful for discovery but expensive and limiting for everything else. More UK salons are taking control with their own websites — keeping their money, customers, and brand.

See how Bizzcraft replaces Treatwell.