Should Barbershops and Hair Salon Owners Have a Website if They Already Use Booksy?
The Hair-Raising Question for Barbers: Is Booksy Enough, or Should You Have Your Own Website Too?
Many barbershop and hair salon owners rely on booking platforms like Booksy to manage appointments and connect with customers. These platforms are extremely useful, especially when you're just getting started.
But many grooming professionals eventually ask an important question:
“If I already use Booksy, do I really need a website?”
The short answer is: yes — a website can significantly strengthen your business even if you already use a booking platform.
This article explains why, while also addressing real concerns business owners often have about cost, simplicity, and managing multiple tools.
• Online appointment scheduling
• Customer reminders and notifications
• Reviews and ratings
• Built-in discovery inside the Booksy app
• Payment processing
For many barbers and stylists, this makes daily operations much easier.
However, Booksy was built primarily as a booking marketplace — not as a full marketing platform for your business.
That’s where having your own website becomes valuable.
That means:
• You depend on their search algorithm
• You compete directly with nearby shops on the same page
• Platform pricing and policies can change
• Your brand is limited to their layout and design
A website gives you something very important:
Your own digital storefront that you fully control.
Someone in your area might search:
A website helps you:
• Show up in Google searches
• Display photos of your work
• Highlight your services and prices
• Tell your story and build trust
• Connect your booking system directly
Many barbershops simply embed their Booksy booking link inside their website, giving customers the best of both worlds.
A grooming professional recently told me during a demo that they loved the idea of having a website but were worried about paying both a booking subscription and a website management fee.
This is a valid concern — every small business has to manage expenses carefully.
Here are a few ways business owners solve this issue.
It should be viewed as an advertising tool that brings in new clients.
If a website helps you attract even:
• 3–5 new customers per month
• repeat clients
• higher-value services
It can easily pay for itself.
For example:
If the average haircut is $40 and your website brings 4 new customers per month, that’s $160 monthly in additional revenue.
Over time, the return grows as those customers come back.
From there you can connect:
• Google search traffic
• Instagram and social media
• Local Google Business profile
• Online booking
This creates a complete online presence, which makes your shop look more established and trustworthy.
It doesn’t have to be.
A simple professional website can include:
• Home page
• Services and pricing
• Photo gallery of haircuts
• Customer reviews
• Online booking button
• Contact information
This type of site is simple, affordable, and effective.
• more control over their brand
• more visibility in Google search
• a place to showcase their work
• a way to stand out from competitors
A website helps accomplish all of these goals while still allowing you to keep using your preferred booking system.
But relying on a single platform can limit your marketing reach.
A website helps your barbershop or salon:
• get discovered online
• build credibility with new customers
• promote your services 24/7
• support the booking tools you already use
Think of it as your digital storefront working for you around the clock.
At EBX Web Design Services, we specialize in helping small local businesses build simple, professional websites that attract customers.
If you're a barber, stylist, or grooming professional and want to explore what a website could look like for your business, feel free to reach out.
We're happy to show you a free demo and answer your questions.
But many grooming professionals eventually ask an important question:
“If I already use Booksy, do I really need a website?”
The short answer is: yes — a website can significantly strengthen your business even if you already use a booking platform.
This article explains why, while also addressing real concerns business owners often have about cost, simplicity, and managing multiple tools.
What Booksy Does Well
Platforms like Booksy provide several great features:• Online appointment scheduling
• Customer reminders and notifications
• Reviews and ratings
• Built-in discovery inside the Booksy app
• Payment processing
For many barbers and stylists, this makes daily operations much easier.
However, Booksy was built primarily as a booking marketplace — not as a full marketing platform for your business.
That’s where having your own website becomes valuable.
The Biggest Limitation: You Don’t Own the Platform
When your business exists only on a booking platform, you are essentially renting space on someone else’s platform.That means:
• You depend on their search algorithm
• You compete directly with nearby shops on the same page
• Platform pricing and policies can change
• Your brand is limited to their layout and design
A website gives you something very important:
Your own digital storefront that you fully control.
A Website Builds Your Brand — Not Just Your Booking Link
Think about how customers actually search today.Someone in your area might search:
- “best barber near me”
- “fade haircut Bronx”
- “kids haircut near me”
- “hair salon open Sunday”
A website helps you:
• Show up in Google searches
• Display photos of your work
• Highlight your services and prices
• Tell your story and build trust
• Connect your booking system directly
Many barbershops simply embed their Booksy booking link inside their website, giving customers the best of both worlds.
Common Concern: “I’m Already Paying for Booksy”
This is one of the most common concerns business owners have.A grooming professional recently told me during a demo that they loved the idea of having a website but were worried about paying both a booking subscription and a website management fee.
This is a valid concern — every small business has to manage expenses carefully.
Here are a few ways business owners solve this issue.
Strategy 1: Let the Website Bring New Customers
A website shouldn’t be viewed as just another expense.It should be viewed as an advertising tool that brings in new clients.
If a website helps you attract even:
• 3–5 new customers per month
• repeat clients
• higher-value services
It can easily pay for itself.
For example:
If the average haircut is $40 and your website brings 4 new customers per month, that’s $160 monthly in additional revenue.
Over time, the return grows as those customers come back.
Strategy 2: Use the Website as Your Main Marketing Hub
Instead of relying only on a booking app, your website can become your main marketing hub.From there you can connect:
• Google search traffic
• Instagram and social media
• Local Google Business profile
• Online booking
This creates a complete online presence, which makes your shop look more established and trustworthy.
Strategy 3: Start Simple
Many business owners assume building a website means a complicated project.It doesn’t have to be.
A simple professional website can include:
• Home page
• Services and pricing
• Photo gallery of haircuts
• Customer reviews
• Online booking button
• Contact information
This type of site is simple, affordable, and effective.
Why Many Barbershops Eventually Add a Website
As grooming businesses grow, they often realize they want:• more control over their brand
• more visibility in Google search
• a place to showcase their work
• a way to stand out from competitors
A website helps accomplish all of these goals while still allowing you to keep using your preferred booking system.
Final Thoughts
Booking platforms like Booksy are powerful tools for managing appointments.But relying on a single platform can limit your marketing reach.
A website helps your barbershop or salon:
• get discovered online
• build credibility with new customers
• promote your services 24/7
• support the booking tools you already use
Think of it as your digital storefront working for you around the clock.
Need Help Creating a Website for Your Barbershop or Salon?
At EBX Web Design Services, we specialize in helping small local businesses build simple, professional websites that attract customers.
If you're a barber, stylist, or grooming professional and want to explore what a website could look like for your business, feel free to reach out.
We're happy to show you a free demo and answer your questions.