Fresha is the only* subscription-free salon and spa management software available for wellness businesses. Fresha plans are free, although users pay a 20% one-time commission for every new booking made via the Fresha marketplace. (Payment processing and marketing messages are also optional paid extras.) Available on desktop and iOS (Apple) and Android, Fresha aims to help you manage and grow your beauty and wellness business.
*At time of writing.
Fresha markets itself as a salon and spa management software, offering flexible digital booking options to wellness businesses of all sizes. It operates similarly to Mindbody, running a customer-facing app that clients can use to discover and book your services.
For businesses, Fresha's features include:
While the website isn’t the best at demonstrating the software's features and tools, it is free to sign up and try out for yourself if you’re interested. A quick browse through their Partner Help Section suggests that the development team at Fresha is also responsive to new feature requests and feedback from users. There’s a feature ideas tab where users can suggest new features, vote on proposed ideas, and see what is currently in the works, which is helpful if it doesn’t yet offer everything you need for your business.
Although Fresha's booking system is explicitly built for beauty and wellness businesses, it focuses on those operating from a fixed location. Businesses with mobile or virtual services may find the software lacks the on-the-go friendly features needed to optimize their workflow.
MarketBox is a flexible appointment scheduling software specifically designed for businesses offering in-home and mobile services. The software covers all the standard features like appointment scheduling, employee management, payroll, and payment processing, in addition to innovative features designed to help mobile workforces work more efficiently. Additional features include travel zones and travel time optimization that enable your workforce to maximize earning potential by cutting down travel time between jobs. There’s also support for multiple currencies, location-specific pricing, and filtering options that let clients search for the nearest provider to them. Combined, MarketBox helps reduce admin headaches, streamline mobile/virtual business management, and scale and grow your beauty business profitably.
As we covered in the intro, Fresha is a subscription-free salon and spa management software. Plans are free; however, there are additional costs to be aware of. For every new client booking made through the platform, you will pay a one-time commission fee of 20%. To process payments either online or at PoS, Fresha also charges 2.29% of the transaction + $0.20 each time. If you wish to send marketing messages via text or email, that’s another additional cost too.
Unlike Fresha, MarketBox doesn’t charge for extras, so you know exactly what it’s going to cost each month. Plans are split across three tiers, allowing you to pay for the features that are important to your business, and as it’s commitment-free, you’re not tied into a contract if you change your mind.
Fresha doesn’t list any integrations on its website.
Shortlisted as one of Capterra’s “Emerging Favorites” in 2022, Fresha reviews are generally favourable on the platform (G2 only lists one review, although it is 5*). Reviewers like the overall ease of use and rate the level of customer service as a 4.9*, although it does appear to be email only. That being said, some Fresha reviews report issues with payment processing and accessing funds, while others find it frustrating the software doesn’t sync with their calendars.
Looking for flexible sales and scheduling software for your beauty and wellness business? Book a personalized 1-on-1 demo of the MarketBox platform to learn how our software can help you scale your business and grow your profits today.
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