Gids
Booking system fees explained
Booking systems charge in a few different ways, and the headline price is not always the whole bill. Here is what each type of fee means and how to work out the real cost.
The four kinds of cost
- Monthly fee. A flat amount, often tiered by how many bookings or covers you take. This is the easiest to budget for.
- Per cover or per booking fee. A small charge each time a diner books. It grows as you get busier, so a full Saturday costs more than a quiet Tuesday.
- Commission or marketplace fee. If the provider has its own app and sends you diners, it may charge for those bookings. Some also expect discounts. Ask which bookings it applies to.
- Card processing. If you take deposits or card holds, the card company charges a fee on each payment. That fee is separate from the booking system.
Many providers use a mix of these, so a low monthly price can still come with other charges. Check the provider's own current price page rather than relying on a review.
How to work out the real cost
- Estimate a busy month. Count bookings and covers in your best month of the year, not an average one.
- Ask which fees apply. Ask about per cover fees, commission, setup fees and card fees, for bookings from your own website as well as from the provider.
- Add them up for a year. Multiply a busy month and a quiet month, then add any one off costs. Compare the yearly total.
- Check the extras. Texts, extra staff logins and extra venues are sometimes charged on top. Ask about each.
- Compare like with like. Put the totals side by side for the same number of bookings, so you can see which really costs less.
How Nabsie charges
- Free for up to 50 bookings a month, then Standard at £14.99 a month (£149 a year) and Pro at £29.99 a month (£299 a year). Group is by arrangement.
- No fee per cover, per booking or per order, and no commission. Your busiest night costs the same as your quietest.
- Deposits and card holds go through your own Stripe account, straight to your bank. Stripe charges its normal card fee. Nabsie takes nothing on top.
- Texts run on credits you buy as you go. Emails are free and unlimited.
See taking deposits for setup and text bundles for text credits.
Veelgestelde vragen
Veelgestelde vragen
Why do some providers charge per cover?
They link the price to how much they help you earn. It can suit some venues and not others. Work out the numbers for your own bookings.
Neemt Nabsie een deel van de aanbetalingen?
No. Payments go through your own Stripe account and Stripe charges its standard card fee.
Is VAT included in the prices?
Check the pricing page and your own situation. If you are unsure how VAT applies to you, ask your accountant.
Where can I see how Nabsie compares on cost?
Our compare booking systems page links to each comparison, using the prices those providers publish.