Square Appointments Review
Read Review Visit SiteWith a full POS system and free booking site, Square Appointments offers a lot of value for salons and independent stylists. But as with other Square products, it only makes sense if you commit to using Square Payments as well, which can be a great convenience or a severe limitation.
Appointy Review
Read Review Visit SitePros Reasonable price Customizable feature set Low learning curve Cons Inconsistent customer support Limited integrations Overview Appointy began as a software solutions outsourcing company that (current CEO) Nemesh Singh ran from his laptop after college. In response to his clients’ constant requests for an SaaS-based booking solution, Nemesh and his team began developing the first […]
Full Slate Review
Read Review Free TrialPros Good customer service Easy to use Suitable for medium and large businesses Cons Buggy Not suitable for small businesses Overview Full Slate was created in 2008 by an experienced team of entrepreneurs from the Seattle tech scene. The team describes a vision of helping local businesses turn online advertising into new bookings, new clients, and […]
Bookeo Review
Read Review Visit SitePros Customizable feature set Easy to use Good customer support Cons Limited support materials Outdated user interface Overview: Though it has remained a relatively small company, Bookeo maintains a vigorous pace. Within a few months of its release, Bookeo began expanding rapidly, adding languages and features to its basic appointment scheduling platform. In 2011, Bookeo […]
Rezdy Review
Read Review ComparePros Numerous payment gateway integrations Easy to use Good customer support Well-designed UI Cons Expensive monthly cost Over-complicated pricing plan Overview Rezdy is an Australian-based, international online reservation system and B2B platform for businesses in the tours and activities industry. A relatively young company, Rezdy received its first client in 2012 and currently employs about five […]
10to8 Review
Read Review ComparePros Modern user interface Good customer support Varied support materials Cons Limited features Limited integrations Overview: Booking software has a tendency to succumb to feature-creep, meaning these programs tend to do a lot of things beyond scheduling your appointments. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but sometimes it can be challenging to zone in on […]
Appointment Plus Review
Read Review ComparePros Suitable for large businesses Customizable feature set Advanced features Cons Inconsistent customer service Steep learning curve Overview Unlike most of its competition, Appointment Plus targets large businesses and institutions as much as it does SMBs. The company prides itself on being used by “some of the biggest companies in the world” within over 100 […]
BookedIN Review
Read Review Compare Not Yet RatedPros Easy to use Well-designed user interface Numerous payment gateway integrations Cons Expensive Monthly cost Rudimentary feature set Overview: Mike Iwasiow founded BookedIN in 2009, after 12 years of independent information technology consulting as a “one-stop business solution” to help businesses “get noticed, get booked, and get paid.” Since launching in 2009, the company has […]
Booker Review
Read Review ComparePros Easy to Use Well-designed user interface Cons Buggy Poor public reputation Overview: Supercenters tend to get a bad name. We hear stories about big box stores moving into towns, driving competitors out of business with one-stop-shopping and cutthroat prices. Most of us, however, have been drawn to the convenience of those stores at one […]
Breezeworks Review
Read Review ComparePros Modern user interface Easy to use Good customer support Cons Expensive monthly cost Limited features Poor public reputation Overview: It’s fairly rare when a product challenges an industry’s conventional wisdom; most companies are happy to iterate on existing ideas. Breezeworks, on the other hand, aims at an under-served niche and bends its features towards […]
What Is Booking Software?
So you are setting up your day spa (or salon, or yoga studio). The brick and mortar store is coming together, you have your products prepared, but because of the particular business you are in, you can’t depend on customers just walking up and buying stuff from you. You deal in appointments, tours, and classes.
You could choose to depend on people calling in and setting up appointments, but for crying out loud, this is the 21st century. What you really need is booking software. Something you can attach to your website and link to social media so your customers can sign up for your services on their own. Something automated to take the burden of scheduling off your shoulders.
The thing is, there are a lot of options when it comes to picking what booking software will be best for your particular needs. Enter Merchant Maverick with the solution! Read on for some tips on selecting the best possible booking software for your specific business.
How Can Booking Software Help Your Business?
I should think the answer to this question is somewhat self-explanatory: automated booking software will save you time and headache when setting schedules. However, within that benefit are several facets:
Packages and Gift Certificates: Most booking services give you the ability to issue and accept gift certificates. Further, most also allow you to group services and products together into packages that will (hopefully) tempt customers into spending more of their hard-earned cash with you.
Social Media Tie-Ins: Many booking sites now feature integrations with Facebook, allowing customers to book, check-in, and review your business through the social media site, in addition to your own website.
Make Booking Efficient: One of the biggest drawbacks to keeping your appointments on a paper calendar is the possibility of double bookings. Making the process electronic eliminates this chance since the software will automatically block out appointments that are already claimed. The only slots prospective customers will see are ones that are available.
Analyses: Want to know the exact numbers of classes you have taught? Or the haircuts or facials you have given? Which of your services are most popular or profitable? These questions can be answered, surely, without booking software. However, answers are more easily found and digested when you subscribe to a booking software with a reporting feature. Make good decisions for the direction of your business and continue being profitable!
Common Features to Look For:
Booking software boils down to a couple of important components, no matter what provider you go with. Here are the core features you need to look for:
Web Interface: Whether through your website, Facebook, Google, or some other web location, make sure you are comfortable with the manner in which your customers sign up for your services. Most providers offer plugins for your own website, while some redirect to their own sites. You will also need to decide whether or not you want the aforementioned social media integration so that customers can check in on Facebook.
Live Calendar: One of the most essential parts of booking software is the calendar. In fact, it encapsulates the entire point of paying for one of these products. You want a calendar that automatically updates as customers sign up for services. With the ability to customize and modify your hours, services, and staff members, you will be able to “set-and-forget” your calendar and let it automatically fill itself for you. Once you have clients booked, you can integrate your favorite calendar, whether that is Google Calendar, iCalendar, or Outlook.
Manage Clients: Most booking software now keeps tabs on your clients for you, keeping their contact information up to date. This can be especially useful if you plan to also use email marketing in the future. Pairing your client database with Campaign Monitor, Benchmark, or MailChimp could go a long way towards boosting your sales.
Accept Payment: While not all booking software providers have this handy feature, it is certainly becoming more common. And for good reason! Customers today demand convenience, and what could be more convenient than signing yourself up for an appointment online and paying right then and there? This feature means you will have customers who walk in, take your class or have a haircut, and walk out; they already paid online.
How Much Will it Cost?
A number of factors may affect the price of booking software. The final cost will vary not just between providers, but also between the level of features and access that you require. Here is a breakdown of some things that will impact your bottom line:
Number of Locations: If you have a single location, you will be able to get a lower rate from your booking software. Sometimes adding additional locations results in a small increase in price (around $10). Other times, the difference is more drastic ($30+). It will be up to you to do a bit or research, aided by our handy reviews above, and pick the provider that is the best value for you.
Number of Staff: As with multiple locations, adding extra staff will likely increase your overall price tag. However, it is usually less expensive to add staff than locations. On the other hand, some providers offer a single sign-on option, where all employees use the same username and password. Others (usually for a higher price) give each staff member their own profile.
Payment Processing: I mentioned above that some programs allow you to accept payment when customers sign up for your services. This feature is usually part of the higher-level subscriptions, so if you are interested in this ability, be prepared to pay more for it.
Number of Bookings: Some, but not all, booking services charge for different levels of bookings. You pay a certain price for “X” number of bookings, and if you need more, you pay extra. This is a kind of an annoying practice, but if the other features of the program make up for it, you may find it worth your time anyway. On the other hand, you could look for a scheduling solution that does not do this.
Choosing Specific Booking Software
Now that you have some idea of what booking software brings to the table, which features to look for, and how much a system might cost, it’s time to get specific. At Merchant Maverick, we’ve spent countless hours researching and testing the best scheduling programs on the market. Read our comprehensive reviews for more information, or check out this handy comparison table if you want a quick overview of the industry in general.
