If you’re a small business owner, chances are you need to book clients, customers, or patients. Maybe you’re looking for an easy way to schedule appointments and reduce no-shows. Or maybe you want to create a way for your customers to book themselves. Either way, we’ve got you covered with this list of booking systems that are built specifically for small businesses like yours.
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Booking Systems For Small Businesses
There are numerous apps that claim to keep your calendar tidy, but here are the top business booking software picks for any industry.
1. Calendar
If you want to combine all of the calendars on your desktop and phone – Google Calendar, Apple’s iCal, and Outlook, for starters – Calendar is a solid pick. It simplifies scheduling, easily syncs across all devices, and includes meeting transcriptions in the paid version.The best part is its AI function, which monitors your schedule and can automate certain tasks without your input. Plus, you’ll receive valuable analytics that tell you how you spend your time. The paid version starts at $6 per month, and there’s also a free limited version.
2. Calendly
For those who want to collaborate with multiple team members, check out the Calendly online booking system. It has many of the same features as other tools on our list, but it also comes with unique features, like round-robin, collective, and one-on-one meetings. Plus, the custom meeting link makes it easy to invite others to pick a date and time.The free version offers basic booking and a single calendar view. Paid plans, which feature team solutions, cost $8 to $12 per month.
3. HubSpot Meetings
HubSpot is a powerful CRM platform that comes with an enterprise price tag, and their online scheduling for small business is one small part of their overall offerings. If you’re looking to buy only a calendar solution, this may be too robust.However, if you want all of your contact tools, lists, sales funnels, and email trackers in one place, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better option. There is a free “lite” plan for you to check out, and the full-featured scheduler is free for paid HubSpot users. The templates alone make it an incredible solution.
4. Acuity
Acuity is an appointment app that lets you block out the times that work for you, allowing your meeting attendees to pick from available slots. It’s sparsely designed but is loaded with options. For example, you can accept payments via Stripe, Square, or PayPal, vault credit cards for charging later, accept tips, offer coupons, schedule group workshops, and upsell with add-ons at checkout.If you’re looking for a way to grow your business with more sales through appointment setting, Acuity scheduling may be your best bet. Plans start at $14 per month for one calendar.
5. Appointlet
Designed for salespeople but easy enough for anyone to use, Appointlet offers customized booking pages you can send to clients and prospects. It integrates easily into your existing online real estate, too, including websites and email subscriber lists. The free forever option may be enough for casual users, but the paid version offers unlimited bookings, coordination with Zoom, and field customization.Plans for this online scheduling software start at $8 per month. You can integrate it with Google Calendar, Office 365, Unbounce, Leadpages, Wishpond, Zapier, and more.
6. Doodle
Doodle makes it easy to get a group of three or more people on the same page, even across time zones. Simply send out a poll for meeting attendees to answer with their availability. Then, pick the time that works best, and communications will synchronize for all attendees.Anyone who struggles to find a time that works for everyone will love the reduction in back-and-forths along with the user-friendly interface. Doodle offers a free trial for its plans, which start at $6.95 per month.
7. ScheduleOnce
If you need your teams on one page, ScheduleOnce is worth considering. Features include group meetings, one-on-one calls, and video conferences. It syncs across your website, email, and payment processor, so you’ll always have the most up-to-date schedule view.ScheduleOnce’s branding preferences are impressive, letting you put your own special touch on any of your customer-facing tools. Plans start at $10 per month, with a free plan that lets 25 users collaborate at no cost.
8. Bookafy
Bookafy offers similar perks to other entries on our list, including synchronized calendars, time zone recognition, and rules for how you want to set up your meetings.However, business owners love the unique feature that lets you assign meeting requests to the most appropriate team member. This streamlined approach ensures that anyone scheduling a meeting gets facetime with the appropriate department or expert, such as a customer needing IT help versus a prospect looking for a marketing demonstration.You also get custom forms and templates featuring your company colors and forms, so you can make Bookafy your own. The plans start at $7 per month for the Pro plan and $11 for the Pro+ plan.
9. SimplyBook.me
SimplyBook.me is a favorite among those with a global client base because it lets your clients book online meeting times in 32 languages. It also seamlessly integrates with more than 20 payment processing apps, so you can make sure you get paid for your time.You can pick your industry to see pre-loaded default fields, such as those for gym owners or consultants, among other roles. Then, be sure to check out all the reporting features, including a rundown of your appointment statistics and a log of SMS reminders. Prices range from free to $59 per month.
10. YouCanBook.me
With YouCanBook.me, you create a booking grid that you can share anywhere, including on social media or your website. Pick your display preferences, including custom fields, and view your meetings as they’re requested by your staff or clients.This tool works well with Google and Apple calendars, and it integrates with Zapier, Zoom, and other related platforms. Plus, you can reduce your monthly no-shows by sending out customized notifications and reminders. As for the cost, you’ll pay $10 per calendar per month.
11. Dubsado
As part of a larger small business platform that also handles invoicing, project management, and reporting, Dubsado’s scheduling tools are as beautiful as they are functional. With this platform, you can collect booking fees at the time of appointment setting, attach forms to meeting confirmations, and pad your meeting slots.It also integrates with most major tools, and there are minimum notice settings to prevent overscheduling. Dubsado offers a free trial of their entire suite, and it costs $35 per month or $350 annually.
12. Square appointments
For businesses that already use the Square payment services suite of tools or their POS system, Square’s appointment booking tool is an easy choice. The service lets you charge no-show fees for cancellations and accept payments at the time of booking, among other features.The automated text and email reminders are helpful as well, especially for those with the busiest calendars. Paid plans start at $50 per month. There is a free plan with a single calendar, but it comes with payment processing fees of 2.6% + 10¢, which applies to all paid plans, too.
free booking systems for small businesses
TRY FOR FREEBest for Solopreneurs
1. Square Appointments
BOTTOM LINE
Square Appointments is a great example of appointment scheduling software that’s free for single users. It offers access to all of Square’s business management software, including invoicing, CRM, and payment processing, without any charge. The catch is that it’s only free for one user. Multi-user options cost money. This makes the software best suited for solopreneurs.
- ⦿Free package for solopreneurs
- ⦿Access to Square’s business management suite
- ⦿Excellent mobile app
STAFF LOGINS & CALENDARS:1APPOINTMENTS PER MONTH:UnlimitedREMINDERS:SMS & EmailSUPPORTED PLATFORMS:Windows, MacOS, iOS, AndroidCUSTOMER SUPPORT OPTIONS:Phone, email, live chat, self-help guidesGET STARTED
2. Calendly
BOTTOM LINE
Calendly is certainly one of the most recognizable names in the appointment scheduling software niche. This app rose to fame thanks to its ability to replace dozens of “what time works for you?” emails with a single click. This solution offers excellent user experience and an incredible amount of features, for free! However, splurging for its upgrade will be more than worth it, as it opens more than a hundred integrations and many additional options.Read Review
- ⦿Very affordable prices for paid plans
- ⦿Automated reminders and follow-up emails and texts
- ⦿Top-notch mobile app
STAFF LOGINS & CALENDARS:1APPOINTMENTS PER MONTH:UnlimitedREMINDERS:Email and SMSSUPPORTED PLATFORMS:Windows, macOS, iOS, AndroidCUSTOMER SUPPORT OPTIONS:Live chat, self-help guidesTRY FOR FREE
3. Squarespace Scheduling
BOTTOM LINE
Squarespace Scheduling is a cloud-based appointment scheduling application for managing business appointments online. All three of its online appointment-scheduling packages are free of charge during the seven-day trial period. Despite the time limit, those in the service industry will have a hard time finding a better solution.Read Review
- ⦿Unlimited appointments
- ⦿Excellent user interface
- ⦿Easy to change appointments on the fly
STAFF LOGINS & CALENDARS:1-36APPOINTMENTS PER MONTH:UnlimitedREMINDERS:Email and SMSSUPPORTED PLATFORMS:Browsers, iOS, AndroidCUSTOMER SUPPORT OPTIONS:Email, live chat, Twitter, self-help guidesTRY FOR FREE
Best for Small Business
4. Appointy
BOTTOM LINE
Appointy is a scheduler app that’s been around since 2009. It offers a lot of useful features in the basic free plan, such as Zapier support for third-party software integration, booking directly from Google Calendar, automatic reminders, and accepting payments through Square.Read Review
- ⦿Square Payments integration in the free plan
- ⦿Zapier provides thousands of app integration options
- ⦿Google bookings and automatic reminders
STAFF LOGINS & CALENDARS:1APPOINTMENTS PER MONTH:100REMINDERS:Email and SMSSUPPORTED PLATFORMS:Windows, MacOS, iOS, AndroidCUSTOMER SUPPORT OPTIONS:Live chat, email, phone, help centerTRY FOR FREE
5. 10to8
BOTTOM LINE
10to8 is an online booking application with a unique instant chat feature. It can be integrated with more than 500 of the most popular apps and programs out there, including Microsoft Office, Google Calendar, Zoom, Slack, Stripe, Paypal, and Xero. Not all of these integrations are available with the 10to8 free plan, but it still earns a place at the top of our free appointment scheduling software list because of its third-party software integration.Read Review
- ⦿Excellent for small business
- ⦿Live-chat feature
- ⦿Software integrations
STAFF LOGINS & CALENDARS:2APPOINTMENTS PER MONTH:100REMINDERS:Email and SMSSUPPORTED PLATFORMS:Windows, MacOS, iOS, AndroidCUSTOMER SUPPORT OPTIONS:Live chat, email
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