How to set up online booking for your service business
Online booking works best when the rules are decided before the link goes out. This checklist walks through the decisions in order.
1. List your services with honest durations
Write down each thing clients book and how long it really takes, including setup and cleanup. A service that runs long every time will push your whole day late.
- Name services the way clients search for them.
- Set a price or a starting price.
- Add optional extras as add ons instead of separate services.
2. Set business hours, buffers and notice
Business hours define when you can be booked. A buffer adds time between appointments. Minimum notice stops last minute bookings you cannot prepare for, and an advance window stops bookings too far out.
3. Decide on payment rules
Public online booking needs a connected Stripe account that Stripe has fully enabled; until then your booking page cannot take bookings. Then choose how clients pay when they book: a deposit or the full price upfront. Money goes directly to your Stripe account. See the deposits guide for wording tips.
4. Write a short cancellation policy
Put your policy in plain words on your booking page: how much notice you need and what happens to a deposit when a client cancels. Check local consumer rules that apply to you.
5. Test it yourself, then share the link
Book a test appointment on your own page to see exactly what clients see, then add the link to your social bios, website and email signature.
Doing this in Ssesia
- Services: Dashboard, Services.
- Hours, buffers and notice: Settings, Booking.
- Payments and deposits: Settings, Payments, then connect Stripe.
- Your page and link: Dashboard, Site.