Getting started with Bookings in Website Builder

Are you a business owner selling services? Are you promoting your business via your website? Why not combine the two and allow customers to book your services online?

We now offer a booking solution ideal for smaller, one-person businesses. Whether you have a hair salon, a plumbing business, or offer online coaching classes, the Bookings add-on lets customers book your services directly via your Website Builder site. Just activate the add-on, set up your services and availability, and publish the Bookings page on your website.

Once that's done, your customers can choose a service on your website and book appointments, which you can easily manage in the Bookings dashboard. It's as simple as that. Continue reading this article to learn more about how to set up the add-on and how it works.

Note: The Bookings add-on is only available on Website Builder sites with a Premium or Business + E-commerce plan. If you want to know more about our different Website Builder plans, you can read our guide on what's included in each Website Builder plan.

• Step 1 - Activate the Bookings add-on
• Step 2 - Find the Bookings dashboard
• Step 3 - Add your availability
• Step 4 - Add your services
• Step 5 - Set up the Bookings page on your website
• Step 6 - Publish Bookings on your website
• Step 7 - Manage bookings in your Bookings dashboard
• Additional settings for your bookings (Bookings dashboard)
• Automated emails to you and your customer
• How can a customer reschedule an appointment?

Step 1 - Activate the Bookings add-on

The Bookings tool is an add-on that needs to be activated before it can be used. You can easily do this via the Website Builder dashboard, where you can start using it with a 30-day free trial.

1. Go to the Bookings tab in the left-side menu in the Website Builder dashboard. You can also click the Try it out button in the blue pop-up next to the tab.
2. You will now see a page with a description of the Bookings tool. In the box at the top-right corner, click Try for free.
3. Click Confirm to start the 30-day trial.

Note: The set-up process might vary a bit depending on your current Website Builder plan and whether or not you have previously run a trial version of Premium or Business + E-commerce. If you want to try Bookings on a trial basis but are unsure which options are available to you, don't hesitate to contact our support. We're always happy to help.

Step 2 - Find the Bookings dashboard

Once the add-on is active, you should automatically be directed to the Bookings dashboard. This is where you set up the services your customers can book via your website and manage incoming bookings. 

You can always access the Bookings dashboard by clicking the Bookings tab in the left-side menu of your Website Builder dashboard.

Step 3 - Add your availability

The Overview page in the Bookings dashboard lists three easy set-up steps. After you complete these, you'll be ready to accept bookings on your website. 

General availability

Start by adding the timeframe in which you'll be working and offering your services.

1. Click Add your availability.
2. Under General availability, add your usual work hours. You can slide the toggle next to the weekday to add a standard workday as defined in your website settings. If you want to add a custom workday, click the pencil icon next to the day and add your start and end timestamps from the drop-down menus. Click the + icon to add an additional timeslot for the same day.
3. Click Apply to other days and select the specific days if you work similar hours on different days.
4. Go through all days until you've mapped out the entire week. Any days you leave marked Unavailable will be considered your regular days off; your customers cannot book your service(s) on these days.
5. Click Save.

Note: If you change your work hours later, it will not affect already booked appointments.

If you have time off outside of your usual days off

If you want to add time off outside of your usual time off (for instance, if you're sick or going on vacation), you can also do this. Note that this will override the standard work hours (general availability) that you have added.

1. Go to the bottom of the page and click Add time off.
2. Add the date and, optionally, a reason for the time off. If you're only off part of the day, you can slide the All Day toggle to the left to OFF. This will allow you to choose a time interval for the day. You can also add time off over multiple days; add your first day off in the first field and your last day off in the second field.
3. Click the blue + Add time off button if you want to add another day and/or time.
4. Click Save.

Step 4 - Add your services

Now, you need to add the service(s) that customers can book through your website.

1. Go back to the Overview page and click Add your services.
2. You will now be on the Services page. You'll see the form for adding your first service. You can choose between three different service types:
   
   - Private session: Appointment for 1 person.
   - Group session: Group appointments that anyone can book (with the option of allowing one person to book on behalf of more). Examples of this could be fitness classes, ceramics courses or a pub quiz. You will need to select a date for this type, as it can also be a one-time event.
   - Private group session: Private appointment for a group, such as a team building event, escape rooms or bowling lanes. When booking a private group session, one person must book on behalf of the entire group.
   
   If you choose one of the Group options, you'll be asked to add the minimum and maximum number of participants allowed for the booking.
    
3. Add the service's name, description, and image. All three will appear on your website.
4. Add a duration. This defines how long the appointment lasts – whether it’s a quick 30‑minute session or a multi-day event. From the drop-down menu, you can select a time in 15‑minute intervals; choose Multiple days, or enter a custom duration that fits your service. If you select "Multiple days", you’ll be able to set the specific dates and times for the event.
5. Add a price. If you're creating a private group session, you must choose if a price per person or a full group price should be displayed.
6. Add a date (Group sessions only).
7. Select a location. You can choose between physical (your address from the settings), online (add a meeting link) or customer location (customers can add their address when booking the appointment).
8. Click Save.
9. You will now see your service on the list on the Services page. You can add another service by clicking the blue Add service button in the top-right corner.

You can manage your services anytime. On the Services page, click the three dots icon next to a service to edit, delete, or duplicate it. You can also open an existing service and use the Duplicate button directly.

Step 5 - Set up the Bookings page on your website

You now need to add the Bookings page on your website.

1. Go back to the Overview page in your Bookings dashboard.
2. Click Publish to site. This will lead you to the Website Builder editor.
3. Your services will be added and presented on a separate page on your site. This page will, by default, be called Book Now, but you can always rename it.
4. If you want to, you can adjust the style of your Bookings page. By default, it will use your template's global settings, but you can, for instance, edit the header or the section font and background. You can also adjust the text and button colour of your Bookings widget: Select the widget and click the Edit Bookings tab above it to do this. This will open a properties panel where you can edit the style.

Step 6 - Publish Bookings on your website

1. Check the Preview to ensure you are happy with how your Bookings page will appear on your site.
2. Click Publish in the editor.
3. That's it! You are now ready to receive bookings via your website.

Step 7 - Manage bookings in your Bookings dashboard

Once your customers make bookings, the appointments will be displayed on a list on the Overview page in your Bookings dashboard.

1. Filter options: Use the filters above your list to customise your overview. You can sort according to date or status (upcoming, cancelled, completed).
2. Viewing, editing or cancelling: Click the three dots icon next to any appointment to view its details, edit, reschedule, or cancel it. As an admin, you can make changes at any time, since the appointment deadlines and restrictions that apply to customers do not apply to you.
3. Creating appointments: To create an appointment on behalf of a customer, click the Create appointment button in the top-right corner of the Overview page. Fill in all the required details, then confirm by clicking Create appointment at the bottom of the form.

Additional settings for your bookings (Bookings dashboard)

In the Settings section of the Bookings dashboard, you'll find additional settings to customise your bookings management.

Calendar sync

Sync your Google Calendar with Bookings to view appointments in your Google Calendar, and automatically block time slots in Bookings when you are unavailable. You can read more about this feature in this guide: How do I sync Bookings with my Google Calendar?

Booking and cancellation settings

• Set cancellation or rescheduling deadline: Set a deadline for when customers can cancel or reschedule an appointment (via their confirmation email).
• Set booking deadline: Denote how close to an appointment the customer can book it.
• Limit bookings for future dates: Add a limit to how far into the future bookings can be made.

Business settings

You can add your business details here. Remember to keep these up to date, as they will be used in the booking emails sent to customers who book appointments.

Regional settings

You can change the language used throughout your booking process, the timezone and the currency in which your services will be displayed on your website.

Automated emails to you and your customer

The Bookings add-on includes an automated email flow. This means that you will not, for instance, have to manually confirm an appointment once your customer has booked it or remind them of an upcoming appointment. All that will be handled automatically. 

The email flow includes the following emails:

Emails to your customer

• Booking confirmation: This email will be triggered and sent immediately to your customers after they book an appointment. In it, they'll find the booking details: date, time, location/meeting link, and your phone number. The email contains Cancellation and Reschedule buttons, which the customer can use to cancel or reschedule the appointment. It also includes an ICS file, which the customer can use to add the booking to their calendar.
  You can resend the confirmation email anytime, for example, after updating the appointment details. Simply open the appointment’s edit form, enable the Send confirmation email toggle, and click Save to send it again to your customer.
• Reminder email: This email will be sent 24 hours before the cancellation and rescheduling deadline. It contains the same appointment details as the booking confirmation email. If this email is opened within the cancellation/rescheduling period, it will also include the Cancellation and Reschedule buttons.
• Cancellation email (customer has cancelled): If a customer cancels an appointment, they will receive an email which confirms that the appointment has been cancelled. It will also contain a link the customer can use to book a new appointment.
• Cancellation email (you have cancelled): If you cancel an appointment in your Bookings dashboard, your customer automatically receives an email which politely informs them that the appointment has been cancelled. The email will also contain a link that they can use to book a new appointment.
• Reschedule email: If a customer reschedules their appointment, they will receive an email with the new appointment details afterwards.

Emails to you

• Booking notification: When someone books an appointment, you will receive an email with all the booking details and a link to view the appointment in your Bookings dashboard. The email also includes an ICS file, which you can use to add the booking to your calendar.
• Cancellation email (customer has cancelled): If a customer cancels an appointment, you will receive an email informing you that the appointment has been cancelled.
• Reschedule email: If a customer reschedules their appointment, you will be notified via email.

How can a customer reschedule an appointment?

Your customer can reschedule their appointment in two ways: 

• From the confirmation screen (if they want to reschedule immediately after booking an appointment)
• From the confirmation email or the reminder email.

In both cases, the customer will be able to click a Reschedule button at the bottom of the page/email that will take them through this flow:

1. The customer will be sent to the Bookings calendar. On the right-hand side, they can see their current time. If they click on the date to which they want to move the appointment, they can see the available time slots.
2. They must click on a new time slot and click Confirm time to reschedule the appointment.

Note: The above is only possible if the customer is still within the cancellation/rescheduling period that you've set. If they are too close to the appointment time when they click the button, they will be sent to a page that displays their booking info and a message saying that changes are no longer possible.

Related articles:

• Which features are included in each Website Builder plan?
• How to manage Bookings in the one.com Companion app