Booking Widget Pricing
Status: Planned Goal: Define the pricing model for the Busflow Booking Widget — subscription tiers, per-booking fees, and feature gating — so operators understand exactly what they pay and what they get.
Context
The Booking Widget is one of Busflow's core revenue surfaces. Pricing must balance accessibility for small operators with sustainable unit economics at scale. This project scopes the pricing strategy, competitive positioning, and tier structure before implementation.
Inspirations
Bókun (Viator subsidiary)
Bókun uses a tiered subscription + per-booking fee model:
| Plan | Monthly Fee | Booking Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | €0 | — | Viator-only bookings; no website widget |
| Start | $49 | 1.5 % | Core widget, channel management, marketplace |
| Plus | $149 | 1.25 % | Multi-channel growth features |
| Premium | $499 | 1.0 % | High-volume operations, consultancy |
Key takeaways from Bókun's model:
- 0 % fee on offline bookings — the platform fee only applies to direct online bookings via the widget.
- Fee pass-through option — operators can absorb the booking fee or pass it to the traveller at checkout.
- Gateway fees are separate — Stripe / PayPal transaction costs sit outside Bókun's pricing.
- No long-term contracts — monthly billing, cancel any time, 14-day free trial on all paid tiers.
Open Questions
- [ ] Which features gate each tier for Busflow? (e.g., seat selection, multi-language, custom branding)
- [ ] Flat fee vs. percentage-based booking fee vs. hybrid?
- [ ] Free tier scope — widget-only with watermark, or limited bookings/month?
- [ ] Partner / reseller pricing (e.g., xtoura commission overlay)?
Success Criteria
- [ ] Pricing tiers defined with clear feature matrix
- [ ] Unit-economics model validated (CAC, LTV, break-even per tier)
- [ ] Pricing page copy drafted for the marketing site
- [ ] Stripe billing integration scoped (subscription + metered usage)