SBM Portal vs Vagaro
Which platform fits your service business best?
Overview
Vagaro is built for the beauty and wellness industry — salons, spas, and fitness studios. SBM Portal is designed for all service businesses, including auto repair, pet services, home services, and professional consulting.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | SBM Portal | Vagaro |
|---|---|---|
| Online booking | Yes | Yes |
| Invoicing | Built-in | Basic |
| Payment processing | Stripe + Interac | Proprietary (Vagaro Pay) |
| SMS reminders | Included (Growing plan) | Included |
| Multi-industry | All service businesses | Beauty & wellness only |
| Multi-branch | Yes | Yes |
| Loyalty discounts | Auto-applied | Manual setup |
| Staff scheduling | Yes | Yes |
| Customer database | Full profiles with history | Full profiles with history |
| Pricing (CAD) | $29–$99/mo | $30–$85 USD/mo (~$41–$116 CAD) |
| Free trial | 14 days, no credit card | 30 days |
Key Differences
Industry focus
Vagaro is designed exclusively for beauty and wellness businesses. If you run an auto repair shop, pet grooming service, or home services business, Vagaro's features won't fit your workflow. SBM Portal works for any service business.
Pricing
Vagaro charges in USD, which means Canadian businesses pay more due to currency conversion. SBM Portal charges in CAD with transparent pricing.
Payment processing
Vagaro uses its own payment processing system. SBM Portal integrates with Stripe and supports Interac, giving you more flexibility — especially for Canadian businesses.
The Bottom Line
Vagaro is great if you're a beauty or wellness business. But if you're an auto repair shop, pet groomer, home service provider, or any non-beauty service business, SBM Portal is built for you — with better pricing in CAD and more payment flexibility.