Is There Booking Software That Doesn't Charge Commission?

Yes. There is booking software that does not charge commission on your bookings.

For Irish leisure businesses, the important distinction is between booking commission and normal payment-processing charges. A commission-free booking system does not take a percentage of the booking value. You may still pay a fixed software or support cost, along with standard charges from your chosen payment provider.

For PALI members, Myk Baxter Marketing provides custom booking software with 0% commission charged by MBM. It is built around your venue, your activities and the way your team manages bookings.

Explore commission-free booking software for Irish leisure businesses.

What does commission-free booking software mean?

Commission-free booking software allows customers to book directly through your website without the software provider taking a percentage of each booking.

Instead of paying, for example, 1%, 3% or 5% of your online booking value, you use a system based on an agreed software, build or support investment.

That changes the commercial calculation.

With a commission-based platform:

• Your cost rises as your bookings increase.
• A successful month creates a larger platform bill.
• You continue paying for every booking generated through the system.
• Customer data may sit within a third-party platform.
• Your booking journey may be limited by someone else’s software.

With a commission-free system:

• More of your booking revenue stays with your business.
• Costs are easier to forecast.
• You have greater control over your booking journey.
• Your website and booking system can be designed together.
• The system can reflect your activities, capacities and operating rules.

Commission-free does not necessarily mean free. It means the provider does not charge a percentage commission on the booking value.

How much could your business save?

The saving depends on three figures:

1. 1Your annual online booking value.
2. 2The commission percentage charged by your current platform.
3. 3Any fixed monthly or transaction charges.

For example, if your business processes €120,000 in online bookings each year:

• At 5% commission, the annual commission is €6,000.
• At 3% commission, the annual commission is €3,600.
• At 1% commission, the annual commission is €1,200.
• At 0% booking commission, the commission charged by MBM is €0.

The actual comparison should also include software, support and payment-processing costs. This is why we recommend reviewing the full cost of your current setup rather than looking only at the headline percentage.

A commission that appears small on each transaction can become a significant operating cost when applied to every party booking, play session, activity, membership or private-hire booking.

What is included in a commission-free booking system?

A suitable system should do more than remove the percentage fee. It should also make booking administration simpler and the customer journey easier to complete.

A custom MBM booking system can include:

• Online deposits and payments
• Party and activity availability
• Session capacity controls
• Custom booking rules
• Multi-location management
• Customer confirmations
• Gift vouchers
• Memberships
• Private-hire bookings
• Secure administrative dashboard
• Booking and customer-data reporting
• Website integration
• Mobile-first booking journeys

The exact configuration depends on how your business operates. A soft play centre, adventure park, visitor attraction and indoor activity centre may all need different rules around capacity, arrival times, party packages, deposits and availability.

That is why a tailored system is often more practical than a generic platform with features you do not need and limitations you cannot change.

Why direct bookings matter to Irish leisure businesses

A direct booking gives you more than the booking value.

It also gives you a clearer relationship with the customer. Your website becomes the place where customers discover your venue, compare options, select a time and complete their purchase.

That helps you build a more connected commercial system:

• Attract new customers through SEO, Google Ads and social media.
• Convert visitors through a clear website and straightforward booking journey.
• Retain customers through email marketing, reminders and relevant follow-ups.

When bookings pass through a third-party marketplace, you may have less control over the customer experience and less ability to use customer information for future marketing. With a booking system connected to your own website, your data and customer journey remain central to your business.

Our website design and development service is built around this principle. The website is not treated as a brochure separate from your booking system. It is designed to help customers find the right activity and complete a booking with fewer unnecessary steps.

Jungle Den saved €1,038.80 in one month

Jungle Den operates family activity venues in Naas and Newbridge. MBM delivered a custom website and multi-location booking platform built around the way both venues trade.

Their previous platform charged a 1% booking fee. After moving to the custom system, MBM charged 0% commission on bookings.

During August 2026:

• Jungle Den recorded 371 confirmed bookings.
• The comparable figure for August 2025 was 221 bookings.
• This represented 150 additional bookings.
• The year-on-year difference was 68%.
• The saving against the previous 1% booking-platform fee was €1,038.80.

The €1,038.80 saving is measured against Jungle Den’s previous platform commission. If the August 2026 booking volume were maintained for 12 months, the equivalent annualised saving would be €12,465.60. That annualised figure is an illustration, not a guarantee of future bookings or savings.

The booking growth followed the launch of the new website and booking journey, alongside SEO, Google Ads, Meta advertising and email marketing activity. The figures should therefore be viewed as part of a connected website, booking and marketing improvement rather than attributed to one change in isolation.

Read the full Jungle Den success story.

Is commission-free the same as payment-free?

No.

A commission-free booking system removes the software provider’s percentage commission. It does not remove charges from the payment processor used to process card or online payments.

Depending on the payment provider and payment method, you may still have:

• Card-processing charges
• Payment-gateway charges
• Currency or international transaction charges
• Agreed software costs
• Website hosting and support costs
• Optional marketing or maintenance costs

These charges are separate from booking commission. They should be shown clearly when comparing platforms.

At MBM, our position is straightforward: we charge 0% commission on your bookings. Standard payment-processing charges from your selected payment provider may still apply, and final project costs vary according to scope, functionality and support requirements.

How do you choose the right system?

Start with the commercial and operational requirements of your venue.

Review your current costs

Calculate your booking value over the previous 12 months. Then record:

• Percentage commission
• Monthly platform fees
• Per-transaction charges
• Payment-processing costs
• Staff time spent managing bookings
• Costs of separate voucher or membership systems

This gives you a realistic baseline.

Review the customer journey

Try making a booking on your own website using a mobile phone. Check how many steps are required and whether customers can easily find:

• Prices
• Session times
• Availability
• Party information
• Location details
• Cancellation terms
• Payment and deposit options

If the process is slow or confusing, commission is not the only cost. Abandoned bookings and additional administration may also affect revenue.

Review data ownership

Ask where your customer and booking data is stored, what you can access and how easily you can use it for future campaigns.

The ability to run birthday reminders, seasonal offers and post-visit follow-ups can help turn one booking into repeat revenue. Our email marketing service supports this type of customer retention activity.

Review reporting

You should be able to see what is happening across your website and booking system. Useful reporting can include:

• Booking volume
• Booking value
• Popular sessions
• Location performance
• Party and activity demand
• Customer source
• Repeat bookings
• Cancellations
• Quieter periods

Our analytics and reporting service helps connect marketing activity to practical commercial decisions.

A simpler way to assess the numbers

You do not need to change systems simply because a provider says “0% commission”.

The right question is:

Will the total cost, control and day-to-day efficiency make sense for your business?

For some operators, a generic subscription platform may be sufficient. Others need custom booking rules, several locations, memberships, gift vouchers, private hire or more control over customer data.

A free review can identify which situation applies to you.

As a PALI member, you can request a review of your current website, booking system and marketing setup. We will look at the costs you currently pay, how customers book and where administration or lost opportunities may be affecting performance.

More control, lower variable costs

Commission-free booking software can help your leisure business retain more revenue, simplify administration and build stronger direct customer relationships.

The main benefits are practical:

• Savings when booking volume is high.
• Control over your website, data and customer journey.
• Efficiency through clearer administration and reporting.
• Flexibility through custom rules and venue-specific functionality.
• Retention through better access to customer information.
• Growth through a connected website, booking and marketing system.

The best solution is not necessarily the platform with the lowest advertised price. It is the system that fits your operation and makes commercial sense over time.

Claim your free, no-obligation review

If you are asking, “Is there booking software that does not charge commission?”, the answer is yes.

Myk Baxter Marketing provides commission-free booking software for PALI members across Ireland. We work with play centres, indoor activity centres, visitor attractions, adventure parks, family entertainment venues and other leisure businesses.

We can review:

• Your current booking fees
• Your website booking journey
• Your payment and deposit process
• Your customer-data access
• Your administration requirements
• Your opportunities to increase direct bookings

You will receive clear, prioritised recommendations and an outline of the likely investment. There is no obligation to proceed, only if the numbers and the practical benefits make sense for your business.

Book a free consultation or explore the commission-free booking software.

Frequently asked questions

Is there booking software that does not charge commission?

Yes. Commission-free booking software does not take a percentage of the value of each booking. Myk Baxter Marketing provides custom booking software with 0% commission charged by MBM for PALI members.

Is commission-free booking software free?

Not necessarily. A provider may charge for the initial build, software, hosting, support or other services. Standard payment-processing charges may also apply. Review the total cost rather than the commission percentage alone.

Does MBM charge commission on bookings?

No. MBM charges 0% commission on bookings. Standard charges from your selected payment provider may still apply.

Can commission-free booking software handle multiple locations?

Yes, where the system is configured for it. MBM booking software can support multi-location availability and central administration for businesses operating more than one venue.

Can I use customer data for repeat marketing?

A properly configured system can provide access to booking and customer data, subject to applicable data-protection requirements. This can support birthday reminders, seasonal campaigns and post-visit follow-ups.

Who is commission-free booking software suitable for?

It can suit play centres, soft play venues, activity centres, adventure parks, visitor attractions, family entertainment venues, kids’ camps and other leisure businesses that take direct online bookings.