Get the complete price, not just a monthly headline
The official Dojo Bookings page is a product overview, not a complete venue-specific cost schedule. Our checklist is a way to request a quote, not a claim that every listed fee exists.
- Base subscription: price per site, users included, billing frequency, VAT treatment and what happens after any trial or promotion.
- Booking channels: any charges for your own website, Google, the provider’s app, affiliates, telephone bookings or walk-ins. Ask what makes a booking chargeable.
- Payment handling: processing, refunds and disputes for deposits or cancellation charges; when funds reach your account.
- Setup and extras: training, data import, messaging, additional locations and any optional features you need.
- Exit: minimum term, renewal, notice, cancellation cost and exporting your reservation and guest records.
Compare like-for-like booking channels
OpenTable’s UK plans page distinguishes seated diners sourced through its website, app and affiliate network from direct website and phone bookings. The former can attract cover fees; direct website and phone covers and walk-ins are described as free. Cancelled bookings and no-shows are not chargeable seated covers. Subscription and other applicable charges still matter.
That means multiplying all your diners by a marketplace cover fee is not a fair comparison. Use the channel definitions in the actual contract and invoice. See our Dojo Bookings versus OpenTable guide for the decision framework.
A simple quote worksheet
- Collect a representative month.
Record seated diners by source, cancellations, walk-ins, deposit transactions and existing subscription costs. Include a quieter month if trade is seasonal.
- Use the same inputs for each offer.
Calculate subscription plus chargeable covers by channel, payment costs and selected extras. Separate one-off setup from recurring spend and compare VAT consistently.
- Keep acquisition value separate.
A booking marketplace may bring guests you would not otherwise reach. Lower software spend is not automatically a better result if you lose worthwhile bookings.
Before agreeing to a package
Request a dated quote showing each assumption and ask the provider to explain any difference from its published page. Do not cancel your existing service until the new setup, future reservations and responsibility for existing deposits are agreed.
For practical next steps, use the setup checklist and deposit-policy guide. Time Consulting can help you prepare a Dojo enquiry; we do not source quotes across the whole booking-software market.
Sources and method
Author: Time Consulting editorial team. Checked: .
We checked the public primary sources below and separated published product information from our practical planning suggestions. This is desk research, not a hands-on product test or a whole-market recommendation. Features, eligibility and terms can change; confirm your own written offer before committing.
- Dojo Bookings — Published booking, queue and guest-management features.
- OpenTable UK plans — Cover charges by booking channel and current plan features.
We may receive an introducer fee. Provider approval, pricing and contractual decisions remain with the relevant provider. Ask about a source, correction or our commercial relationship.