5 ways to move repeat customers to your own booking page and cut booking fees
New customers come through booking sites; from the second visit on, they book on your own page. Here are five ways to make that switch that are easier for your customers too.
In short
- Booking sites charge their online booking fees not only for first-time customers but for second and third bookings too.
- When regulars book their next visit at the front desk or on your own booking page, those fees don't apply.
- The key is to offer it in a way that is easier for customers too. Don't force the switch — give them the choice.
Repeat bookings are charged too
A booking site's per-booking cost applies every time someone books through that site. Based on published prices, it looks like this (for an average ticket of ¥8,800 including tax; details in "How much does Hot Pepper Beauty charge per booking?"). Hot Pepper Beauty, Rakuten Beauty and minimo are salon booking sites in Japan.
| Booking channel | Per booking | 6 visits a year, all booked on the site |
|---|---|---|
| Hot Pepper Beauty | about ¥168 | about ¥1,008 |
| Rakuten Beauty | ¥880–1,320 | ¥5,280–7,920 |
| minimo | ¥880 | ¥5,280 |
| Next-visit booking at the desk / your own booking page | ¥0 | ¥0 |
The more regulars a salon has, the bigger this difference gets. A sensible approach is to treat the first visit as advertising spent on the booking site and move bookings from the second visit on to channels with no fees.
Way 1: Book the next visit at checkout
The surest way is to set the next appointment together at checkout. Bookings taken in the salon are not online bookings on the booking site, so no per-booking fee applies. Suggesting a timeframe based on the condition of their hair or nails — "about X weeks from now is a good time" — makes it easier for customers to decide.
Way 2: A QR code for your booking page on shop cards and receipts
For customers who don't decide on the spot, put a QR code for your own booking page on your shop cards, receipts and the card by the mirror. A quick "you can book your next visit here" is enough. Each salon's Salon Zukan booking page has a fixed URL, so it works on printed materials.
Way 3: Point the "Book" button on Google Maps to your own booking page
Regulars especially tend to search for your salon's name from the second visit on and call or book from Google Maps. In your Google Business Profile you can add the link for buttons such as "Book" yourself (see Google's official help). Put your own booking page there, and people who search for your salon's name can book straight away.
Way 4: Your Instagram profile and LINE menu
Put your booking page link in your Instagram profile and in the rich menu of your LINE Official Account. When regulars see a new post and want to come in, they have a direct way to book.
Way 5: Send next-visit reminders from your salon
A message such as "It's been a while — would you like to come in?" sent some time after the last visit is a good prompt to book. If it includes a link to your own booking page, the booking comes in there. On Salon Zukan you can send news to member customers (app notifications and email) for free.
Things to watch when you switch
- Check the booking site's rules: make sure in advance that the site's terms or your contract don't have rules about how you approach customers who came through the site.
- Let customers choose: some people want to collect points or prefer booking on the site they always use. Offering it as "you can also book here" feels better for customers too.
- Keep availability in sync: more ways to book can raise worries about double bookings. Decide how you'll handle it — for example, see all bookings in one calendar, or close slots by hand on one side.
Set up your booking page on Salon Zukan
- Find your salon on Salon Zukan (salons in areas whose registration lists are public are already listed).
- Sign up from For salon owners and verify that you run the salon by sending a photo of your health center registration (Japan) or state license (U.S.).
- Your salon's website and booking page go live, with no fee per booking. Put the booking page URL and QR code on your shop cards, Google Maps and Instagram and you're all set.
- Prices are calculated from each company's public information (Hot Pepper Beauty: terms of use and point conditions; Rakuten Beauty: listing information; minimo: fee help page). Detailed sources are in "How much does Hot Pepper Beauty charge per booking?".
- Google Business Profile Help (adding links for bookings, orders and more).
- Prices and terms were checked in October 2026. Service names are trademarks of their respective companies. This article was compiled by Salon Zukan (CLT NY INC.) from public information and is not affiliated with any of these companies.