How much does a booking system cost in the UK? (2026)
What venues, clubs, salons and clinics actually pay for online booking: monthly software, card fees and custom builds, with a worked example.
The short answer
Off-the-shelf booking software for a single UK venue typically costs £12 to £50+ a month, and some tools have a free plan for low volumes. On top of that, card payments cost about 1.5% + 20p per standard UK card through Stripe. A custom-built booking system is a one-off cost instead: UK agencies usually quote in the thousands, while a small, focused one from Renewminder starts at £840. For a simple venue, off-the-shelf is usually cheapest. Custom pays off when your rules, spaces or systems don't fit a template.
Off-the-shelf booking software
Published prices for tools UK venues commonly use.
| Tool | Published price | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Hallmaster | From £185 a year | Village and community halls (booking system only) |
| Village Hall Hub | £12.99 to £39.99 a month | Village halls |
| Bookwhen | Free, then from 16 a month | Classes, events and appointments. Free plan up to 50 bookings a month; paid prices shown in local currency |
| Skedda | About $99 a month (Starter) | Larger spaces and multiple rooms |
A 2026 guide for charities puts dedicated room booking tools at £12 to £50+ a month depending on venues and features.
Card payment fees
Charged by the payment provider on every online payment, whichever booking tool you use.
- Standard UK cards
- 1.5% + 20pStripe's published UK rate. A £60 booking costs £1.10 in fees.
- Premium UK cards
- 2.8% + 20pSome business and premium cards.
- International cards
- 3.15% + 20pPlus 2% if currency conversion is needed.
A worked example
A hall taking 30 bookings a month at £60 each.
| Off-the-shelf | Custom (Renewminder) | |
|---|---|---|
| Setup | £0 | From £840, once |
| Software | £15 a month (£180 a year) | Care plan £19 a month (£228 a year): hosting, updates and fixes |
| Card fees | About £33 a month (£396 a year) | The same, about £396 a year |
| First year | About £576 | About £1,464, hosting included |
Card fees: 30 × (1.5% of £60 + 20p) = £33 a month. Software price is a typical single-venue figure from the table above.
So for a simple hall, off-the-shelf software is usually the cheaper choice, and we'll tell you that if it's true for you. A custom system makes sense when a template gets in the way, for example:
- Several spaces with different rules, rates or approval steps
- Community and commercial rates, deposits and regular hirers that templates handle badly
- Connecting to your accounts software, membership list or website
- Many venues or staff accounts, where per-venue or per-user fees add up
- Owning the system and the data, with no licence to renew
What changes the price of a custom system
- Number of spaces and rules. Each rate type, minimum hire or approval step is extra logic.
- Payments. Deposits, refunds and invoices for regular hirers take more work than simple card payments.
- Accounts. Separate logins for hirers, staff and trustees.
- Integrations. Accounts software, calendars or an existing website.
- Reports. Income and usage reports for trustees or funders.
How Renewminder prices
We're a UK company with a team working from Morocco, so our costs are far lower than a UK agency's. Booking systems start from £840 at a fixed price agreed before we start, and you see a working version in about two weeks. Registered charities get 50% off.
Sources and related
Sources, checked 26 September 2026: Hallmaster on Capterra; Village Hall Hub, 2026; Bookwhen pricing; Plinth, room booking software for charities, 2026; Stripe UK pricing. Prices change, so check the provider before you decide.
Quick answers
How much does a booking system cost per month?
Off-the-shelf booking software for one UK venue typically costs £12 to £50 or more a month, and some tools are free for low volumes. Card payment fees are extra, about 1.5% + 20p per standard UK card with Stripe.
How much does a custom booking system cost?
UK agencies usually quote several thousand pounds or more. Renewminder builds focused booking systems from £840 at a fixed price, with no monthly licence.
What are the card fees for online bookings?
Stripe's published UK rate is 1.5% + 20p for standard UK cards and 2.8% + 20p for premium UK cards. On a £60 booking that's £1.10.
Is off-the-shelf or custom cheaper?
For a simple venue with standard rules, off-the-shelf is usually cheaper. Custom becomes worthwhile when your rules, spaces or integrations don't fit a template, or when per-venue or per-user fees add up.
Can a charity get a discount?
Renewminder takes 50% off for registered charities, so booking systems start from £420.