Take control of your business schedule by learning how to manage booking rules and scheduling preferences.
A reliable scheduler is essential for keeping your business organized. You can control how your schedule looks and choose the booking options that work best for you.
Enable Online Booking
To get started with online booking, the first step is to enable online scheduling. Here is how to do it:
- Open the platform.
- Click Settings.
- Select Booking Options.
- Under "Online Scheduling", check the box that says, "I offer online scheduling through my client portal".
Set Booking Options & Limits
The "Booking options & limits" section lets you set the rules and policies for online scheduling. If you are unsure about what an option does, hover over the help icon next to it for a helpful explanation.
To set booking options and limits:
- Open the platform.
- Click Settings.
- Select Booking Options.
- Click the Online Booking tab.
Apply Booking Policies
The booking policies options let you set rules for rescheduling and canceling appointments. If you are unsure about what an option does, hover over the help icon next to it for a helpful explanation.
To apply booking policies:
- Open the platform.
- Click Settings.
- Select Booking Options.
- At the top of the page, click the Booking policies tab.
Understanding staff-initiated bookings and scheduling rules
The platform applies notice period and blocked time rules to client-facing bookings only. These rules prevent clients from scheduling appointments during restricted times on the client portal.
When staff members manually schedule appointments from the back end of the platform, the system does not enforce these rules. This design allows staff to bypass restrictions when necessary.
Communicate internal booking policies clearly to all staff members to prevent scheduling confusion. If staff members perform manual entries, they must manually verify the schedule for conflicts or notice period violations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why can staff book appointments during blocked times?
The platform allows staff to bypass scheduling rules during manual entry to provide flexibility for internal business decisions. These rules only restrict clients using the online portal.
Q: How can I ensure staff follow the same notice period as clients?
Staff should open the client portal and book the appointment as if they were the client. This method ensures the platform enforces all active booking policies and limits.
Q: Do booking policies apply to rescheduling?
Yes, you can set specific rules for rescheduling and cancellations within the Booking policies tab. These rules dictate how much notice a client must provide before changing an existing appointment.
Q: Can I set different booking rules for different services?
The platform allows you to customize certain settings at the service level. While general booking policies apply globally, you can adjust specific durations and buffer times for individual services within the service menu.
Q: How do I prevent back to back bookings?
You can use the "Preparation time" feature in your service settings. This adds a mandatory break between appointments, ensuring you have time to prepare or travel between sessions.
Q: What happens if a client tries to book outside of my business hours?
The client portal will only display available time slots that fall within your defined business hours. If a time is not marked as working hours or is already blocked, it will not be selectable for the client.
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