COMPARISON · OWNED BRAND VS MARKETPLACE
FavCRM vs. Marketplace Booking Platforms
Consumer booking marketplaces can introduce walk-in browsers, but list your studio beside competitors down the street and charge new-marketplace-client fees plus per-staff monthly rates. FavCRM gives you your own Branded Client Portal and full CRM at one flat rate.
CHOOSE FAVCRM WHEN
- You bring in clients through Instagram, Google Maps, referrals, or WhatsApp and want 100% brand ownership.
- You want predictable flat workspace pricing without new-marketplace-client acquisition fees or per-staff monthly add-ons.
- You need a real CRM—deals, follow-up tasks, RFM retention signals, and MCP—not just a salon calendar.
CHOOSE MARKETPLACE BOOKING APPS WHEN
- You are a new high-street salon relying on consumer marketplace directory traffic to fill empty daytime chairs and are comfortable paying acquisition fees for those marketplace referrals.
- You want bundled in-person card terminal hardware supplied directly by a salon marketplace.
Side-by-side breakdown
| Capability | FavCRM | Marketplace Booking Apps |
|---|---|---|
| Brand & client ownership | 100% your own Branded Client Portal—no competitor listings or cross-promotions. | Marketplace consumer app lists rival venues nearby alongside yours. |
| Client acquisition & booking fees | Zero marketplace commission or new-client referral cut—your FavCRM subscription is completely separate from what clients pay you. | Typically charges a one-time commission on new clients discovered via the marketplace plus payment processing fees. |
| Team member pricing | Flat workspace pricing: US$20/mo (up to 3 staff) or US$29/mo Pro (up to 5 staff); save 2 months on annual billing. | Often priced per bookable team member per month plus paid add-on packs. |
| Client CRM & follow-up pipeline | Full contacts, deal stages, follow-up work queue, and official WhatsApp inbox. | Calendar-first; limited pipeline or conversational follow-up context. |
| AI & MCP access | Connect Claude, ChatGPT, or Cursor via OAuth 2.1 scopes + Approval Guard. | Closed consumer platform without open MCP endpoints. |
Frequently asked questions
Does FavCRM take a cut of my bookings or deposits?
Never. FavCRM charges a flat software subscription (or $0 on Starter). Payments from your clients go directly to you; if you connect Stripe for online payments, only standard Stripe processing fees apply.
Do Marketplace Booking Apps charge commission on repeat direct clients?
Most marketplace platforms charge their acquisition commission specifically on new clients discovered through their marketplace directory, alongside per-team-member software fees and payment processing. FavCRM avoids the marketplace conflict altogether by never listing competitors or taxing client discovery.
Can clients book without downloading a marketplace app?
Yes. Your FavCRM Branded Client Portal opens directly in any mobile browser—clients pick a slot first and confirm in seconds without installing anything.