Set up online booking availability

Publishing your profile online helps get you discovered by new clients near you. Before setting up your online booking availability, we recommend following these steps: 

• Make sure you have an active online profile for online booking that features high-quality photos.
• Create your full services list.
• Schedule shifts for your team members.

Set up your online availability to give clients complete flexibility to make bookings whenever they like.

Enable group appointments

Allow customers to book and manage appointments online for multiple people.

To enable group appointments:

1. Open Workspace settings, select Scheduling then Appointments.
2. Click Edit under Online availability.
3. Check the box under Group appointments to let clients book and manage appointments online for multiple people.
4. Click Save.

Once group appointments have been enabled, you can start allowing clients to book online.

Set up online availability

Set a buffer time before appointments and specify how far in advance clients can schedule online.

To set up online availability:

1. Open Workspace settings, select Scheduling then Appointments.
2. Click Edit under Online availability.
3. Under Availability use the dropdowns to select:
   1. The lead time clients can book online before the appointment.
   2. The start time and how far in advance clients can book before the appointment date
4. Check the box to allow clients to select their preferred team member when booking online.
5. Click Save.

Create cancellation and rescheduling deadlines

Set up a deadline for clients to cancel or reschedule online. Once this timeframe passes, clients will need to contact your business to change their appointment.

To create deadlines for cancellations and rescheduling: 

1. Open Workspace settings, select Scheduling then Appointments.
2. Click Edit under Online availability.
3. Under Cancellation and rescheduling, use the dropdown to select how far in advance a client can cancel or reschedule an appointment.
4. Click Save.

Reduce gaps in your calendar and improve occupancy by selecting which time slots clients can book online.

To optimize online bookings:

1. Open Workspace settings, select Scheduling then Appointments.
2. Click Edit under Optimize online bookings.
3. Choose how you want to manage the time slots clients can book online from:
   1. Regular time slots: Show all available time slots based on your time slot interval. This may create gaps in your calendar.
   2. Reduce calendar gaps: Show clients plenty of slots while preventing them from creating awkward gaps.
   3. Eliminate calendar gaps: Only show slots before and after existing appointments and blocked time. This may limit your online availability.
4. Under Time slot interval, use the dropdown to set the default time slots available for clients booking online. 
5. Click Save.

Explore more information on how to optimize online bookings.

Important information will be visible for clients to review at checkout.

To add important info:

1. Open Workspace settings, select Scheduling then Appointments.
2. Under Important info, click Add.
3. Add key information clients should see at checkout when booking appointments or buying gift cards or memberships.
4. Click Save.

Attract more clients by displaying average star ratings for your team members next to their names during the booking process. 

To show team member ratings online: 

1. Open Workspace settings, select Scheduling then Appointments.
2. Under Team member rating, use the toggle to display star ratings for team members.

Display your top six most popular discounted services to clients during the booking process.

To display featured services:

1. Open Workspace settings, select Scheduling then Appointments.
2. Under Featured services, use the toggle to show your featured services when clients book using the marketplace or an online booking link.
3. Click Save.

Email team members whenever clients book, reschedule, or cancel appointments online.

To set  notification preferences:

1. Open Workspace settings, select Scheduling then Appointments.
2. Click Edit under Notifications.
3. Choose which team member will receive emails when clients book, reschedule or cancel an appointment online. These emails are sent in addition to regular team notifications:
4. Click Save.