TL;DR
The best booking software for physiotherapists charges a flat monthly rate — not a cut of every assessment. At £75/session and 10 new clients per month, Treatwell's ~42% effective commission costs £315/month vs. £29/month on Nextro. That's £3,432 per year paid to a platform instead of reinvested in your practice. Flat-rate is the only model that works as your diary fills.
Why commission platforms don't suit physiotherapy practices
Physiotherapy clients often attend multiple sessions over weeks or months following an injury, surgery, or chronic condition. The value of a single new client — once they're in your diary and committed to a rehabilitation programme — is far higher than one booking. Commission platforms capture a fee every time a new client finds you, but they don't participate in the long-term relationship you've built.
Worse, 65% of first-time marketplace clients don't return to the same practitioner. They use the marketplace to book again — the platform earns another commission, and you lose the repeat patient to a cheaper listing. The economics punish physios who rely on repeat bookings to build sustainable income.
Commission cost breakdown for physiotherapists
Scenario: initial assessment at £75, 10 new clients per month through a booking marketplace.
| Platform | Commission | Per session | Monthly (10 new) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fresha | 20% | £15.00 | £150/mo |
| Treatwell | ~42% eff. | £31.50 | £315/mo |
| Nextro | 0% | £0 | £29/mo flat |
Annual saving over Treatwell: £3,432 kept in your practice. That's approximately 46 follow-up sessions — per year — that you'd have been working purely to cover platform fees.
Treatwell's 42% effective rate explained
Treatwell charges a 35% commission on new marketplace bookings. Because Treatwell is VAT-registered, they add 20% UK VAT on top of that commission. The effective rate on a £75 session: 35% × 1.20 = 42% effective commission. That's £31.50 on every new client assessment — taken even if the client cancels at the last minute.
Fresha takes 20% as a one-time commission on the first booking from each new marketplace client (minimum £6). At £75, that's £15 per new client — lower than Treatwell, but still a meaningful cost at volume.
Owning your patient relationships from first contact
Physiotherapy is built on continuity of care. A patient who finds you through a marketplace and books an initial assessment needs to become your patient — not the marketplace's recurring booking source. When you have your own booking page, the patient's contact details, booking history, and appointment preferences sit in your system, not the platform's.
GP referrals and word-of-mouth from recovered patients drive the most sustainable physio growth. Both referral types send patients directly to your booking link — paying zero commission, booked instantly, with upfront payment securing the slot.
Multiple assessment types, one flat monthly fee
Physiotherapists typically offer initial assessments, follow-up sessions, sports massage, dry needling, and rehabilitation programmes — each at different durations and prices. On Nextro, you list every service type with its own booking slot, duration, and price. Patients self-select the appointment they need. You pay one flat monthly fee regardless of how many service types you offer or how many appointments you take.
Get started with Nextro
Booking and payments for service businesses. £29/month flat fee — keep your booking revenue.