TL;DR
The best booking software for makeup artists charges a flat monthly rate with zero commission on any booking. Treatwell takes up to ~42% (after 20% UK VAT on commission) on first-time bookings from its marketplace. On a £120 bridal appointment, that's £50 per booking handed to a platform. Nextro charges £29/month flat — and you keep the full £120.
Why the commission model punishes high-ticket makeup artists hardest
Commission is percentage-based. The higher your prices, the more you pay. A low-priced service at £20 might pay £4–£8 in commission — painful but manageable. A bridal makeup at £120 pays £24–£50 in commission. A full bridal party at £600 pays £120–£252.
As you grow your rates and skills, your commission bill grows with them. You earn more per appointment — but you pay more per appointment to the platform for the privilege of being found. The platform captures a growing share of your income growth.
The actual cost: Treatwell vs. Fresha vs. Nextro for makeup artists
Scenario: average bridal/event makeup booking at £120, 8 new marketplace clients per month.
| Platform | Commission | Cost per booking | Monthly (8 new clients) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fresha | 20% | £24.00 | £192/mo |
| Treatwell | ~42% eff. | £50.40 | £403/mo |
| Nextro | 0% | £0 | £29/mo flat |
If you're paying Treatwell £403/month in commissions, you're working approximately 3–4 full bridal appointments per month just to cover the platform fee. That's 9–12 hours of work given to Treatwell — before you earn a penny for yourself.
The bridal market and owning the client relationship
Bridal makeup is referral-driven. A bride who loves her makeup tells her bridesmaids, who tell their friends, who contact you directly for their weddings. This referral chain is the engine of a successful wedding makeup business — and it only works when clients have your contact details, not the marketplace's.
When you have your own booking page, every referral goes directly to your link. No commission. No middleman. The bride sends your booking link to her bridesmaids, who book and pay directly. You own that referral chain. On a marketplace, the platform intercepts every referral and charges commission on each one.
Why direct bookings protect high-value slots
A bridal makeup slot blocked in your diary 6 months in advance needs financial protection now — not a promise of payment on the day. Nextro takes full upfront payment when the booking is made, regardless of how far in the future the appointment sits.
Six months from booking to appointment is a long time for circumstances to change. When the full £120 (or £250, or £400) is already paid and in your account, you're genuinely protected. A marketplace that promises to pay you on the day provides no protection at all against a late cancellation.
Get started with Nextro
Booking and payments for service businesses. £29/month flat fee — keep your booking revenue.