of UK barbershops still take bookings on paper
Source · Setora panel · n=412File 01 · Barbershop booking softwareProduct · UK Edition · 2026setora.co.uk/barbershop-booking-software
★ Built in the UK · For UK barbers ★
Booking software, priced like a tool - not a tax.
Setora is online booking for independent UK barbershops. Flat £39/month per location. No commission, no per-staff fees, no marketplace cut. Your clients stay your clients.
- ★ Flat rate£39/month per location
- ★ No commissionKeep 100% of takings
- ★ NHBF approvedUK-built, UK-supported
★ The numbers · at a glanceFile 01 · p.02
Platform subscription per month, per location. No per-staff fees, ever.
SMS credits and Stripe processing billed separatelyFree trial. No card required. Cancel anytime.
Live in your shop the same daySection 02 · The IndexSix entries · sorted by use
Everything your shop needs, indexed.
Online booking
Customers book any time, day or night, from any device. Self-service bookings let them reschedule or cancel from your public booking page, with availability checked automatically.
No-show protection
Automated SMS reminders 24 hours before each cut. Optional deposit at booking. Average reduction in no-shows: 71%.
Multi-barber scheduling
Every chair, every barber, one view. Drag to reschedule, block out lunch, see the day ahead at a glance.
Card payments & deposits
Stripe-powered. Card on file. Tips and deposits handled. Reconciled to your accounts automatically.
Kiosk mode for walk-ins
Any tablet becomes the front desk. Customers check in, pick a barber, join the queue. No receptionist needed.
Shop Websites
Give your shop a public brand homepage and location pages, then route customers to the focused Booking Page when they are ready to book. Shop Websites are included with Setora.
Full data export
Your client list, history, and bookings - yours to download any time. No lock-in. No exit fees. GDPR-ready.
Section 03 · How it works
Live in your shop, before lunch.
Setting up a barbershop diary should not require an IT department. Three steps, in plain English.
- 01Step 01
Set up your shop
Add services, prices, and barber availability. Each barber gets their own schedule and link. If you can fill in a form, you can set up Setora - most shops are done in under an hour.
≈ 45 minutes · one-off - 02Step 02
Share your booking link
Drop your branded booking page into Instagram bio, WhatsApp status, Google Business profile, or your own site. Customers pick their barber, choose a time, and book - no calls, no DMs.
Live the same day · zero friction - 03Step 03
Run the shop
Bookings land in your diary. Reminders go out automatically. Customers can manage routine changes themselves, and customer records build over time - contact, history, spend, notes.
Automated · runs in the background
★ Section 04 · Field comparisonp.13
Why barbers leave Fresha and Booksy for Setora.
Most barbershop booking software was built for salons, or for the US. Setora is different - and the difference shows up on your invoice.
Other platformsSetora
×Commission fees on every booking
✓£39/month per location · keep every penny
×Per-staff pricing that punishes growth
✓One price per location · unlimited barbers
×US-built · UK as an afterthought
✓Built in the UK · for UK shops · UK support
×Locked into their ecosystem
✓Full data export · cancel anytime
×Hidden SMS and processing surcharges
✓Stripe at cost · SMS credits at cost
×Generic salon tools repurposed for barbers
✓Walk-ins, kiosk mode, multi-barber, native
Verified review · Barbershop owner“Switched to Setora recently. Setup was really quick with their import tool. Only thing I’d say is the reporting could go deeper but they’re adding stuff regularly. Would recommend.”
★ Section 05 · The pricep.18
One platform subscription. No per-staff surprises.
Most platforms quote one price and bill three. Setora's platform subscription is £39 per location, per month. Add chairs or barbers at the same location and the platform price doesn't move. SMS credits and Stripe processing are billed only when used.
- ★ No setup fee
- ★ No card to start
- ★ No commission
- ★ No per-staff fee
- ★ No exit fee
- ★ No annual contract
★ Section 06 · Editor's notep.22
We looked at what barbershop booking software actually costs in the UK and found the same pattern everywhere. Platforms that advertise as free but skim a cut of every booking. Per-staff pricing that punishes the moment you take on a third chair. US-built tools that treat UK shops as an afterthought.
Two-thirds of UK barbershops still take bookings on paper. For most of them, the price of existing software is the reason they stay there. Setora exists to change that: one flat platform price, no paid feature tiers, your data always yours.
Questions
Barbershop booking software, explained.
Practical answers before you choose a platform for your shop.
What is barbershop booking software?
Barbershop booking software is a platform that lets customers book online 24/7 without calling the shop. It handles the full booking lifecycle - scheduling, automated reminders, payments, and customer records - so barbers spend less time on admin and more time cutting hair. Setora is built specifically for UK barbershops, with features like kiosk mode, multi-barber scheduling, and Stripe payments.
How much does barbershop booking software cost in the UK?
Costs vary widely. Fresha charges £9.95 per staff member per month plus 20% commission on marketplace bookings. Booksy charges a monthly base fee plus per-staff fees. Setora is £39/month per location. Unlimited barbers, no commission, no per-staff fees. SMS credits and card processing are billed separately where used. Pull your current bills and compare subscription, commission, payment, messaging, and add-on costs together.
Can my customers book online without calling?
Yes. Setora gives your barbershop a branded online booking page where customers can book any time - day or night - without calling or messaging you. You can share the link on Instagram, WhatsApp, Google, or embed it on your website. Bookings land straight in your schedule.
Can customers reschedule or cancel their own bookings?
Yes. Customers can manage their own bookings from your public Setora booking page. They sign in with a secure code sent to the email address or phone number they booked with, with that contact detail partially hidden on screen. They can then view upcoming and past bookings, reschedule, or cancel without contacting the shop.
Does Setora charge commission on bookings?
No. Setora charges £39/month per location. We do not take a percentage of your bookings, card payments, or any other revenue. SMS credits and Stripe processing are billed separately where used.
How does Setora compare to Fresha for barbers?
The main difference is pricing structure. Fresha charges per staff plus commission on new clients - costs that grow with your team and booking volume. Setora is one flat monthly rate regardless of how many barbers you have or how busy you get. Setora is also built specifically for barbershops rather than salons generally, and is UK-first with support for VAT and UK bank transfers.
Can I manage multiple barbers with one subscription?
Yes. One Setora subscription covers your entire location - all barbers, all chairs. Each barber gets their own schedule and booking link. Customers can choose their preferred barber when booking. No per-staff fees, ever.
Is there a free trial?
Yes. Setora offers a 14-day free trial with no card required. You get full access to every feature - online booking, kiosk mode, reminders, payments, analytics. If it's not right for you, cancel before the trial ends and you won't be charged.
How do I switch from my current booking system?
Most shops are live on Setora within a day. Set up your services, staff, and availability, then import your client list. We provide a step-by-step migration guide and our team is on hand to help. Under GDPR, you have the right to export your data from any platform, so bring your client records with you.
What's the best barbershop booking software in the UK?
It depends on what matters most to your shop. The main UK options are Fresha, Booksy, Square Appointments, Treatwell, and Setora. The key differences come down to pricing structure (commission vs flat rate), data ownership, and whether the tool was built for barbershops specifically or salons generally. Setora is £39/month per location with no commission, no per-staff fees, and full data export - which suits shops that want predictable costs and control over their client relationships. Fresha and Booksy offer broader marketplace exposure but charge commission or per-staff fees that grow with your team.
Do barbershops need booking software?
Not every shop does. If you run a small walk-in-only operation and your diary works fine, there is no reason to fix what is not broken. But for most barbershops, booking software solves real problems: customers can book 24/7 without calling, automated reminders cut no-shows, and you spend less time on the phone. An estimated 60-70% of UK barbershops still lack proper digital booking - often because the available software was too expensive or too complicated. If you are losing bookings outside opening hours or chasing no-shows, it is worth trying.
What features should I look for in barbershop booking software?
Start with the basics: online booking that works on mobile, automated SMS or email reminders, and multi-barber scheduling so each barber has their own calendar. Beyond that, look for card payment and deposit support (to reduce no-shows), client records that build automatically, and full data export so you are never locked in. Barbershop-specific features matter too - walk-in queue management and kiosk mode are things most generic salon tools do not offer. Check whether pricing is per-staff or flat rate, and whether the platform takes commission on bookings. Finally, make sure the tool actually supports UK payments and compliance rather than treating the UK as a secondary market.