Escaping the Commission Trap: The True Cost of "Free" Booking Systems

It starts small. A £2.00 fee here, a £1.50 fee there. But by the end of the month, you look at your invoice and realize you've paid a second rent just to accept bookings.

For years, the restaurant industry has been held hostage by a "pay-to-play" model. Major booking platforms promise exposure, but they charge a premium for every single head that walks through your door. In 2026, with margins tighter than ever, this model is no longer sustainable.

Do the Maths: The "Success Tax"

The problem with per-cover commissions is that they punish your success. The busier you get, the more you pay. Let's look at a typical scenario for a 50-seat restaurant doing reasonably well:

Metric	Competitor (Per Cover)	popsyseat (Flat Fee)
Monthly Covers	1,500	1,500
Cost Per Cover	£2.00	£0.00
Monthly Cost	£3,000	£60
Annual Cost	£36,000	£720

Where Does the Money Go?

When you pay a commission fee, you are paying for the privilege of seating a customer who likely visited your website directly. Studies show that over 60% of diners visit a restaurant's website before booking. If your "Book Now" button redirects them to a third-party site that charges you, you are paying for a customer you already had.

The Flat-Fee Revolution

At popsyseat, we believe software should be a utility, like electricity or internet. You don't pay your internet provider more just because you sent more emails today.

By switching to a fixed monthly cost, you can forecast your expenses accurately. Whether you book 100 people in January or 2,000 in December, your bill remains exactly £60.