When comparing salon software, the feature lists look identical. Most systems offer a calendar, reminder messages, and a digital till. The real differences appear when you look at how the software is billed, what happens to your bill as you hire, and how difficult it is to retrieve your client history when you want to leave.
A system that works well for a single chair becomes expensive when you expand. If you don't look past the setup screen, you'll find yourself tied to an annual contract with costs that rise every time you hire. Understanding these billing models before you sign an agreement prevents unexpected bills.
The four pricing models
To choose the right software, you must understand how systems charge you. Most providers use one of four models:
Per-user pricing. This charges a set rate for every stylist in the diary. If software charges £30 per user, six stylists cost £180 a month. If you expand to eight, that bill rises to £240 a month, which is £2,880 a year. You're paying a penalty for growing.
Per-location pricing. You pay a flat rate per physical salon, regardless of staff numbers. This keeps costs predictable within a single site, but opening a second location doubles your bill.
Marketplace commission. Marketplace systems charge a lower subscription but take a cut of new bookings. If you rely on them to fill your diary, these commissions can outgrow a standard subscription. Because terms can change, check their website to see what a booking costs your salon.
Flat-rate pricing. You pay a single monthly price with no extra fees for staff, tills, or locations. Whether you have one stylist or twelve, your bill stays the same. Your costs are predictable, and you aren't penalised for hiring an assistant.
Where Luminate sits
Luminate charges a flat £69 per month. This covers every feature, with no tiers, no contracts, and no minimum terms. You pay month-to-month and can cancel any time with no exit fee.
Your subscription includes:
If you collect card deposits, Luminate charges no monthly gateway fee or setup cost. Each online payment costs 2% + 20p to cover card processing. For example, a £20 online payment costs 60p, and a £50 online payment costs £1.20. You only pay when an online payment is taken. Deposits are set per service as a fixed sum or a percentage, and if unpaid after 30 minutes, the software cancels the booking.
Start with a 30-day free trial that includes every feature, with no credit card required. A free onboarding call is included, along with video tutorials and the 137 pages of documentation.
- Unlimited staff accounts. You pay nothing extra when you add stylists or assistants to your diary.
- Unlimited tills and terminals. Run the software on as many reception screens, tablets, or phones as you need.
- Messaging. Get 300 SMS credits each month, with all email and WhatsApp messaging included.
- Every feature included. You get a drag-and-drop calendar, multi-service bookings, waitlist management, smart reminders, quick POS checkout, digital receipts, cash drawer management, gift vouchers, and deposits and pre-payments. Client tools cover customer profiles, customer badges, visit analytics, two-way messaging, marketing campaigns, and birthday messages. Team features include colour formulas with overage billing, rostering, leave management, hours tracking, staff levels, role permissions, commission automation, and staff performance reporting. Admin tools track and flag skin test records, and include GDPR tools, product inventory, multi-salon support, revenue reports, and Lumen, the in-app AI assistant.
Where a marketplace makes more sense
A flat-rate subscription is not the right choice for every business. If you're opening a brand-new salon with zero clients, a marketplace model makes sense.
Marketplaces help you reach people who don't know you exist by displaying empty slots to local consumers. If you need bookings quickly and don't have regular clients, paying a commission is a practical way to fill your calendar.
You're paying a portion of your early revenue for exposure. For a new business, that's a cost worth paying to get clients through the door. Once you've built a database that books directly, you can switch to a flat-rate subscription to keep your monthly bills predictable.
Questions that decide it
Before committing to a provider, check how their terms affect your bank balance. Ask these questions before signing:
- What happens when I hire? Confirm if your price is fixed or if adding a staff account increases your monthly fee.
- Do you charge commission? Find out if you pay fees when regulars book, or if commissions only apply to marketplace bookings.
- Is there a contract? Confirm if you're signing up for a rolling monthly service or committing to an annual contract.
- What is the notice period? Notice terms can require several months of payment before you can close your account, even on monthly billing.
- Who owns my client history? Ensure you can export your database, including colour formulas and patch test records, in a standard format without paying extra.
- Are there setup fees? Check if you must pay upfront to get running or if onboarding help is included in the price.
- Are all features included? If tools like rostering or deposits cost extra, verify if your quote covers every feature.
Compare Luminate with
Compare how other options on the market structure their bills:
- Phorest. Prices are quoted per salon and are not published online, so you'll need to contact Phorest for details. Check the Phorest pricing page to see their current terms.
- Fresha. Priced per bookable team member on Independent or Team plans, with no charge for marketplace bookings. Check the Fresha pricing page to see what your team size costs.
- Booksy. Charges a flat monthly fee plus an extra cost per user, with all features included and free marketplace bookings. Check the Booksy pricing page to see what your team size costs.
- Timely. Priced per bookable staff member across plan tiers. Check the Timely pricing page to see what your team size costs.
- SalonIQ. Base rate covers one staff member, with extra charges per additional user and a published notice period. Check the SalonIQ pricing page for rates.
- Treatwell. Charges a commission on new clients who discover your salon through their marketplace. Check the Treatwell pricing page for current terms.
- Square Appointments. Offers a free tier, with paid tiers priced per location, not per user. Check the Square Appointments pricing page for location-based rates.
Choosing your path
Choosing software is not permanent, but switching is enough of a chore that you'll want to get it right the first time. Look at your team size, your growth plans, and your marketing strategy.
If you want a marketplace to find clients and you're happy to pay a percentage of that revenue, a marketplace is the better choice. If you want to keep costs predictable as you hire, a flat-rate subscription fits your business.
The right software should make your life easier from your first day. If it doesn't, keep looking.
Compare Luminate with
- Luminate and Booksy comparedBooksy and Luminate approach salon bookings and team management differently. Compare their features and costs to find the right system for your hair salon.
- Luminate and Fresha comparedChoosing salon software comes down to fees and features. Compare Fresha and Luminate to see how booking, client messaging, and commission payouts differ.
- Luminate and Phorest comparedPhorest and Luminate offer different tools for salon owners. Check this breakdown of their calendars, client marketing, SMS fees, and monthly pricing.
- Luminate and SalonIQ comparedCompare SalonIQ and Luminate to find the best booking system. This review highlights their differences in diary management, reporting, and pricing plans.
- Luminate and Square Appointments comparedChoosing between Square Appointments and Luminate depends on your team size and hardware. See how their booking apps, payment fees, and diaries compare.
- Luminate and Timely comparedTimely and Luminate both provide digital calendars and tills. Compare their subscription structures, deposit handling, and SMS pricing for hair salons.
- Luminate and Treatwell comparedChoosing salon software is simple when you understand the difference between public booking marketplaces and dedicated management software for your own list.