If you work in the hair and beauty industry, you’ve likely come across Fresha, one of the most widely used online booking marketplaces for salons, spas, and therapists. It’s simple to use and became popular because it promised an easy, affordable way to take bookings and manage clients online.

But as the industry changes, more professionals are starting to ask whether relying on a marketplace is the best long-term strategy, or if it’s time to invest in visibility they can control.

That’s where The Hair & Beauty Directory comes in  a platform designed to help professionals be found on Google, without paying commission on every appointment.

This isn’t about choosing one over the other. It’s about understanding how each works, what their roles are, and how they can fit together to support your business.

The more we can do to cover all the basis the better, especially as Ai evolves

Fresha started out offering free salon booking software and built a global reputation as a convenient way to handle online appointments. It combines two main features: management tools and a public marketplace.

Through the management side, you can set up appointments, take payments, send reminders, and store client details. The marketplace side allows potential clients to find you directly through the Fresha website or app and book instantly.

In all honesty it’s the perfect situation haven’t everything combined… if it unique to you

This exposure can be useful, especially for newer salons or those without a strong Google ranking. Fresha acts like a digital shop window, clients can browse by service, price, or location, making it easy to discover new businesses.

However, this visibility comes with costs. Fresha now charges commission on marketplace bookings, payment processing fees for card transactions, and fees for late cancellations or no-shows. It’s important to check the current pricing, as small percentages can add up quickly when you’re busy.

Why Marketplaces Became Popular

Marketplaces like Fresha, Treatwell, and Booksy have grown so quickly because they make discovery effortless, this plays in to the quick pace online users need.

 For busy professionals, they remove the need to build a website or manage search engine optimisation. Everything happens within one platform  from booking to reminders to payments.

For clients, they create a familiar experience. Many people now prefer to browse online marketplaces rather than search individual salon websites. It’s the same reason Amazon dominates shopping: convenience, comparison, and instant access.

But the trade-off is independence. When you rely solely on a marketplace, the platform controls your visibility. It decides where you appear in listings, what information is shown, and how your brand is presented. You benefit from shared traffic, but you don’t own it. It also takes away your uniqueness which can often attract the wrong clients, the kind who favour fast bookings, offers and convenience over skill and quality.

For many professionals, the best option isn’t choosing between one or the other,  it’s using them together.

Fresha provides booking convenience and built-in exposure within its own marketplace. It helps clients find and book quickly, which is useful for discovery. The Hair & Beauty Directory focuses on long-term visibility,  helping you rank in search results for phrases like “best facialist in Durham” or “neurodiverse aware salon near me”.

By using both, you can link your Fresha booking system directly to your HABD profile. Clients who find you through Google can still book via Fresha, but the visibility  and the client data remain under your control.

That combination means you get the benefit of marketplace discovery while building your independent online presence at the same time.

If you are working to a budget then my recommendation would be to drop Fresha and use a free or cheaper booking software and link it on your profile with the Directory

Pros and Cons of Each Approach

Using a booking marketplace like Fresha offers simplicity. It takes care of the technical side of running a salon: managing appointments, processing payments, and storing client records. It also gives exposure to a large network of potential clients already searching within the app.

The downsides are the ongoing fees and lack of control. You’re effectively renting space within another brand’s ecosystem. If the platform changes its rules, prices, or ranking system, your visibility can change overnight.

The Hair & Beauty Directory, on the other hand, is built for independence. You decide how your business appears, where clients book, and what booking software you use. Your profile contributes directly to your Google ranking and can be found in AI-driven search results  a growing trend in how clients discover services. The limitation is that it’s not a booking system itself, so you’ll need to connect your existing software.

Why This Matters Now

Online visibility is no longer just about social media. Clients are searching differently,  asking Google and AI tools to recommend local businesses based on trust, specialisation, and experience.

Queries like “best massage near me”, “inclusive beauty salon”, or “qualified skin therapist in Newcastle” are becoming more common. Being visible in those searches requires structured SEO data and verified information, not just a listing inside an app.

That’s why platforms like The Hair & Beauty Directory exist: to give professionals their own digital footprint that search engines can index directly, without commissions or hidden costs.

If you value convenience, integrated payments, and shared marketplace exposure, Fresha remains a strong option. If you want independence, better Google visibility, and full ownership of your bookings and data, The Hair & Beauty Directory provides that.

For many businesses, combining both creates the best balance  one for automation, the other for visibility. That way, you benefit from marketplace reach without losing control of your brand, your clients, or your earnings.