Scheduling appointments can be one of the most time-consuming aspects of managing a small business. Often, arranging appointments with clients involves multiple exchanges via phone or email to align schedules and secure available meeting times.
The complexity level rises when considering multiple time zones or scheduling several appointments for the same session. Occasionally, the schedule might take longer to arrange than the actual appointment.
If you want to reduce the time spent on booking appointments and focus more on interacting with your customers, consider using a scheduling app for your small business to simplify the appointment scheduling process.
What is an appointment scheduler?
Businesses can utilize appointment schedulers as a means for clients to reserve, reschedule, and cancel appointments with ease via a website interface. The booking process is simple; clients can access the business’s website, Facebook Page, or any other platform where the scheduling software is available and select from a list of available dates and times.
You can input data on the backend regarding the times when individuals can schedule certain services, using the business hours you established and the available times and dates of your personnel or other resources. Likewise, the application avoids situations of double-booking or overbooking, and offers you the freedom to restrict access to specific services during certain time frames.
Assuming you operate a pet grooming enterprise and your expert in cutting poodles intends to take a break of two weeks, you can pre-emptively key in her absence in the appointment scheduling software to ensure that your clientele cannot reserve any poodle grooming services during her absence.
Best scheduling apps for small businesses
1. Acuity Scheduling
Acuity Scheduling is a top performer among scheduling applications, featuring numerous options for calendar customization and a user-friendly interface that’s accessible on iOS and Android devices. It boasts various pricing options, allowing businesses to select a plan that fits their unique requirements.
Acuity enables users to integrate with their CRM system, personalize intake forms, and automatically coordinate schedules based on the client’s time zone. Moreover, enterprises can securely process online payments through PayPal, Stripe, and Square, using Acuity. In case you are uncertain if Acuity is a suitable option for you, you can test it for a week with a complimentary trial.
2. Calendly
Calendly is an app created to simplify scheduling, allowing businesses to bypass the typical email exchanges needed to schedule a meeting.
According to Daniela Sawyer, the creator of FindPeopleFast, the Calendly internet scheduling platform is appropriate for those who wish to work alongside multiple colleagues. Along with common options found in comparable tools, it also offers uncommon features such as round-robin, communal, and one-on-one meetings.
Calendly provides a way for businesses to establish scheduling and availability protocols and share their Calendly link with clients to facilitate bookings according to their preferences. Additionally, Calendly supports several app integrations and can synchronize with numerous calendars.
The buffer feature of Calendly is a significant advantage as it ensures that there is a gap in between meetings, preventing consecutive sessions.
3. 10to8
For small businesses on a tight budget, consider 10to8 that offers a plan that is free forever. It can be integrated with Google Calendar, Outlook and other calendars to avoid any scheduling conflicts. Moreover, 10to8 also offers great integrations with various platforms including Zoom, Weebly, Salesforce and many others.
By utilizing the app, clients receive automated booking reminders that can decrease the amount of no-shows by up to 90 percent. 10to8 offers not only a free option, but also paid plans for expanding companies, as well as a customizable Bespoke plan for larger organizations with specific feature requirements.
4. Setmore
Setmore’s user-friendly interface makes it a great option for those who may not be tech-savvy. Additionally, scheduling appointments is made even more convenient for customers as they can book directly from Facebook or Instagram without having to access a separate scheduling webpage.
Setmore is accessible on both desktop and mobile devices, with various pricing options to choose from. A free plan that accommodates up to four users is available. Notable features include personalized branded messages, synchronisation of calendars, and analysis tools that enable users to track booking performance.
5. Square Appointments
Square Appointments is a suitable choice for small businesses that require an integrated point-of-sale solution. This tool allows businesses to easily schedule appointments and monitor payments in real-time.
Square Appointments is a beneficial tool for businesses that experience no-shows and late arrivals, allowing them to impose a reliable fee for cancellations and tardiness. Additionally, this service offers various features, such as synchronization with Google Calendar, automatic reminders via email or text, and a no-cost online booking webpage.
What makes a great appointment or booking app?
Top-notch appointment scheduling apps don’t just provide customers with a list of available time slots for meetings, treatments, or services. They also offer the convenience of allowing clients to cancel or reschedule appointments without the need to reach out to you directly. In addition, these apps facilitate business operations for owners and managers by simplifying communication, consolidating payments, and managing staff. The following features are what you should look for in the finest appointment scheduling apps:
The top apps for scheduling appointments recognize that various organizations possess distinct requirements and provide extensive options for customizing your bookings. For example, a small gym that offers personal training sessions should devise an appointment experience that differs from that of a community workshop that rents gardening equipment. It is essential to configure aspects like whether clients can select from a range of services, set the location of their appointment, or receive services in their homes. While niche alternatives such as Vagaro cater to the needs of salon, spa, and fitness industries, the most exceptional appointment scheduling apps enable you to personalize these aspects.
The majority of appointment scheduling apps enable calendar syncing and some even compel it. This allows you to view your business’s scheduled appointments in conjunction with crucial details like closure dates for holidays or renovations. Additionally, the app can cross-check your availability with the events listed in your main calendar. To be eligible for our evaluations, apps had to offer syncing with both Google Calendar and another widely-used calendar, and those offering two-way syncing were given preference.
Processing payments is made possible by the top appointment scheduling applications which enable you to obtain payment during the booking process. This allows you to secure an appointment with a deposit or to have clients pay for their services in full in advance. Your enterprise does not suffer a significant loss if a client fails to attend.
Your scheduling tool must have the capability to integrate with other tools in your tech stack. If the app cannot connect with tools such as Slack, Mailchimp, and Zoom, or allow setup of personal connections through Zapier, it is not suited for this list.
Having a professional presentation is crucial when it comes to appointment scheduling, as it serves as an extension of your brand. The scheduling process should be smooth, visually appealing, and without any technical issues, whether customers are making bookings or industry peers are arranging a Zoom call with you. Additionally, it should offer flexibility, enabling access from various sources such as a widget on your website, a Facebook Business Page, or a custom URL. Consequently, I have evaluated each app from both the business and client perspectives.
