Online booking — what to look for
Seven questions before you choose a system.
2 min read ·
There are plenty of booking systems, and they look alike on the front page. The difference sits in what you only find out after three months. Ask these questions before you choose:
1. What does it cost when you get busy? Some take a percentage of every booking, some a flat price, some both. Do the sums on a month with 200 bookings, not on the free version.
2. Are the clients yours? Can you export the client list as a file whenever you want? If not, the system owns your clients.
3. What does the booking page look like on a phone? That is where 8 out of 10 clients book. Book a time on your own phone before you sign anything.
4. Does it speak the client's language? Tourists, people who have just moved, international clients. The booking page and the messages have to follow the client's language without you doing anything.
5. What happens when a client does not turn up? Can you ask for a deposit or a fee, and is it charged for you? See the guide on no-shows.
6. How many taps does it take to move an appointment? One drag in the calendar — or five screens? You do this twenty times a week.
7. Can you get out again? No binding period, no notice period, an export of everything. A system that is sure of itself does not lock you in.
Piklo Booking: free or €10.00 a month, no binding period, export of clients and bookings, seven languages, drag and drop in the calendar.