What is the booking fee?
The booking fee is a small fee added to every online booking on Lite and Booking Fee plans. It is what makes the lower monthly prices possible — your customers help cover the cost of your booking system, so you pay less each month.
How the booking fee works
A simple idea: instead of your business paying the full cost of the platform through a bigger fixed subscription, a small fee is added to each online booking. The fee is received by Orbis Salon — and in return, your monthly plan price stays low.
A customer books online
When a customer books through your Orbis Salon booking system on a Lite or Booking Fee plan, a small booking fee (50p to £1.00 depending on your plan) is added to the booking.
Shown clearly, no surprises
Where the customer is paying the fee, it is shown clearly before they confirm their booking. The fee is received by Orbis Salon — it is separate from any deposit or payment made to your business.
Your monthly cost stays low
Because customers contribute a little with each online booking, your subscription can be much lower — Lite from £4.99/month and Booking Fee plans around half the price of the equivalent Standard plan.
Who pays the booking fee? You decide.
The booking fee applies to every online booking on Lite and Booking Fee plans — but you choose who pays it.
Customer pays the fee
The fee is added at the point of booking and shown clearly before the customer confirms. Your customers effectively help cover the cost of your booking system — keeping your plan price down.
Best for: businesses that want the lowest possible monthly software cost.
You absorb the fee
Prefer your customers to see no extra charge? You can choose to absorb the booking fee yourself. If you only take a small number of online bookings, this often still works out cheaper overall than a higher fixed subscription.
Best for: businesses with a low volume of online bookings.
Want no Orbis booking fee at all? Standard plans have a fixed monthly subscription with no Orbis booking fee on online bookings.
Booking fee by plan
The fee is a small fixed amount per online booking — never a percentage of your service prices.
| Plan | Monthly price | Booking fee |
|---|---|---|
| Lite | £4.99 | 50p per online booking |
| Starter Booking Fee | £9.99 | 50p per online booking |
| Growth Booking Fee | £14.99 | 75p per online booking |
| Signature Booking Fee | £24.99 | £1.00 per online booking |
| Standard plans (Starter, Growth, Signature) | From £19.99 | No Orbis booking fee |
Lite and Booking Fee (Flex) plans include a booking fee. Standard plans do not include an Orbis booking fee. All prices and plan features are subject to change.
Booking fee questions & answers
Everything salons, barbers, beauty businesses and clinics ask about the booking fee.
What is the Orbis Salon booking fee?
Why does the booking fee exist?
How much is the booking fee?
Who pays the booking fee?
Who receives the booking fee?
Is the booking fee added to every booking?
Can customers see the booking fee before paying?
How do I avoid a booking fee completely?
Which is cheaper — a Booking Fee plan or a Standard plan?
Is the booking fee the same as a marketplace commission?
Pick the way you'd rather pay
Lower monthly price with a small booking fee, or a fixed monthly subscription with no Orbis booking fee — every plan includes a free trial.