Fresha has introduced subscription pricing in the UK. It used to be completely free — but that changed in 2025.
Here's what you're looking at:
Monthly subscription — £14.95/month (solo) or £9.95/month per team member
New client marketplace fee — 20% of the first appointment (minimum £4)
Card processing — 1.19% + 20p per in-person transaction
Optional extras — loyalty programmes, Google review boosts, reporting tools
Let's break each one down properly.
How Fresha Makes Money (Quick Visual)
In plain English: Fresha makes money from monthly subscriptions, 20% on new marketplace clients, and card processing fees.
If clients book through your direct link and are already in your system, you avoid the marketplace fee.
The way to think about it: Fresha works best as a client acquisition tool — you pay to get new clients in the door, then keep them coming back through your direct booking link where there's no marketplace fee.
Monthly Subscription Fees
Fresha now charges a monthly fee depending on your setup.
So a 3-chair shop pays roughly £29.85 + VAT = £35.82/month just for the subscription.
Not massive. But it's not free either.
Quick history: Fresha used to be called Shedul and was completely free. They introduced subscriptions in 2025. A lot of barbers felt blindsided by the change — especially those who'd built their whole booking system around it.
The 20% Marketplace Fee (New Clients)
This is the one that catches people out.
When a brand-new client finds your shop through the Fresha marketplace and books online, Fresha takes 20% of that first appointment.
The minimum charge is £4.
So on a £25 haircut, that's £5 gone to Fresha.
How it works
The fee only applies to genuinely new clients — people not already in your client list
It's a one-time charge per new client (not every visit)
It's non-refundable — even if you cancel the appointment
If the client cancels online before the appointment, the fee gets deferred to their next booking
The trap most barbers fall into
Here's the bit that stings.
If you don't import your existing client list before going live on the marketplace, Fresha treats your regulars as new clients.
That means your regular who's been coming for 3 years could book through Fresha with a new account — and you get charged 20%.
Real talk: this has caught out loads of barbers. Import your client list before you turn on marketplace visibility. Don't skip this step.
Can you avoid the marketplace fee?
Yes. You have options:
Turn off marketplace visibility — You won't appear in Fresha's public directory. No marketplace fee. But no new clients from Fresha either.
Use your own booking link — Share your direct Fresha booking link on Google, Instagram, and your website. Clients who book through your link (not the marketplace) don't trigger the fee.
Import all existing clients — So they're never flagged as "new."
Most barbers who understand the fee structure use a mix of all three.
Card Payment Processing Fees
If you take card payments through Fresha, here's what they charge:
You'll also need a Fresha card terminal — that's a one-off £99 per device.
Important: you can't use your own card reader
This is a sticking point for a lot of barbers.
If you use Fresha, you have to use Fresha Payments for card transactions. You can't plug in your SumUp, Square, or iZettle.
Some barbers keep a separate card reader for walk-ins who don't book through Fresha. But for Fresha bookings, you're locked in.
What does that actually cost?
Let's say you do 40 card transactions a week at an average of £25 each.
That's just card processing. Before subscription fees. Before marketplace fees.
It adds up.
Real-World Cost Example
Here's what a typical 3-chair barbershop might pay per month on Fresha:
Add optional extras like Insights reporting (£7.95 per team member/month) or Google Rating Boost (£12.95/month), and you could easily hit £200–£250/month.
For a solo barber doing fewer card transactions, it'll be less. Maybe £60–£90/month all in.
Want to work out your exact costs? Use our Fresha fee calculator to plug in your own numbers.
Optional Extras (Paid Add-Ons)
Fresha offers a load of bolt-ons. Here are the main ones:
Most barbers won't need half of these. But the text message costs can creep up if you're sending a lot of reminders and confirmations.
No-Show Protection
Fresha lets you take deposits or require a card on file when clients book.
There's no extra charge for the no-show protection feature itself. But you'll pay the standard card processing fee on any deposits taken.
If no-shows are a problem in your shop, this feature is worth setting up. We wrote a full guide on whether barbers should charge for no-shows — it covers when it makes sense and how to handle the awkward conversations.
At a Glance: Typical Fresha Costs for Barbers
Where does the money actually go?
Notice the pattern? Card processing is the biggest chunk at every level. The subscription fee is actually the smallest part.
Is Fresha Worth It for Barbers?
Depends on your setup.
Fresha works well if you:
Want a professional online booking system
Get decent new client flow from the marketplace
Already take card payments
Want everything in one place (booking, payments, reminders)
It might not suit you if you:
Mostly take walk-ins and cash
Don't want to be locked into one payment system
Already have a booking system that works
Don't need marketplace exposure
The costs are manageable for most shops. But they're not zero — and they're definitely not what they were when Fresha was free.
No — as long as they're in your client list. The 20% marketplace fee only applies to brand-new clients who find you through the Fresha marketplace. That's why importing your existing clients before going live is so important.
Why is Fresha charging me 20%?
That's the marketplace new client fee. It kicks in when someone who isn't in your client list books through the Fresha marketplace (not your direct link). It's 20% of the first appointment value, minimum £4.
Can I use Fresha without paying any fees?
Not really. The subscription fee is mandatory. You can avoid the marketplace fee by turning off marketplace visibility. But if you take card payments through Fresha, you'll still pay processing fees.
Is Fresha cheaper than other booking systems?
It depends what you compare it to. Some systems charge higher monthly fees but no marketplace commission. Others are cheaper monthly but don't include a payment system. The total cost depends on how many clients you see, how many are new, and how many pay by card. Use our fee calculator to compare.
What happens if I want to leave Fresha?
You can export your client data and appointment history. But you'll lose access to the booking system, payment processing, and any marketplace visibility. If your clients are used to booking through Fresha, you'll need to redirect them to your new system. Plan the switch carefully — don't just pull the plug.
How Fresha Compares
Fresha isn't your only option. There are loads of booking systems out there for barbers.
The right one depends on your shop size, how many new clients you need, and whether you want an all-in-one system or something simpler.
We'll be covering Fresha alternatives in a separate guide soon. For now, the key thing is understanding what you're actually paying — and whether it's working for you.
If you're losing bookings because your booking system is clunky or confusing, that costs you more than any monthly fee. And if your online presence isn't sorted, no booking system will save you.
The best shops stay fully booked because the whole system works together — booking, visibility, pricing, and client experience.
Get that right, and the fees pay for themselves.
Wrapping Up
Fresha is a solid booking platform. But it's not free, and the fees can surprise you if you're not paying attention.
Know what you're paying. Import your clients. Use your direct booking link where you can. And check the numbers regularly.
All pricing sourced from Fresha's official pricing page and Fresha Help Centre, verified March 2026. Prices exclude VAT unless stated. Fees may change — always check Fresha's website for the latest.
