Your complete guide to online booking
Practical answers to 35 questions on handling online bookings, for both clients and businesses.
Booking for clients
How to book in at a salon online
Pick your treatment and a free time on the salon’s booking page, any hour of the day; the salon then confirms your request.
How to book in to see a doctor online
Request your consultation from the practice’s booking page whenever suits you; the practice confirms it afterwards.
How to book your car in for a service online
Pick the job and a free time on the workshop’s booking page; the workshop confirms the request afterwards.
How to cancel a booking online
Cancel in a few clicks with the management link from your confirmation screen, with no call needed.
How to move a booking to a new time online
Choose a new free time with your management link in just a few clicks, no phone call needed.
Management for business
How to run client appointments from an online app
One panel for your bookings, providers and services, with a calendar you can read by day, week or month.
How to stop appointments from being double-booked
Only free times are offered, and a request holds its time from the moment it’s sent.
How booking confirmation works
Each request stays pending until your team confirms it in the panel; telling the client is up to you.
How to keep clients informed about appointments
4appointments sends no messages to clients, so here’s a simple manual routine that works.
How to manage appointments across several staff
Every provider has their own schedule and link, while the team calendar shows everyone together.
Calendar & availability
How to set up time slots for appointments
Enter your weekly schedule, service lengths and notice rules, and clients see only real free times.
How to add days off and breaks to your calendar
Mark days off and breaks in “Availability” and they drop out of the times clients can book.
How to manage staff availability in a booking system
Every provider has their own weekly schedule, and the booking page offers only the times when that person is free.
How to set up an online calendar for your clients
A public booking page showing free times, with a link you can share wherever your clients are.
Payments & firm bookings
How payment works for appointments
Online payment isn’t part of the current plans; payment is arranged between you and your client.
How to handle a deposit for online bookings
The tool doesn’t collect deposits, but a pending booking holds the time until your payment arrives.
How to cut down on appointment no-shows
Confirm each booking yourself, contact clients before the visit and make cancelling easy.
How to invoice for an online appointment
4appointments issues no invoices; you export the booking data and invoice with your own tool.
Real-world problems
Why aren’t my appointment notifications arriving
4appointments doesn’t email or message clients, so the final screen and the business itself are what count.
Why are appointments missing from the calendar
Check the view and date range, the booking status, calendar visibility and your external ICS calendars.
How to sort out overlapping appointments
Find where the overlap came from, move one booking and keep every booking in a single place.
How to deal with clients who don’t show up
Confirm by hand before the day, review your cancellations and agree clear terms with clients.
How to remind clients ahead of an appointment
4appointments sends nothing to clients, so a short daily routine with your own channels does the job.
Specific businesses
How to start taking online bookings for your beauty salon
A calendar for each stylist or beauty therapist, services with set durations and one link for your social media bio.
How to handle patient bookings online
A calendar for every doctor, consultation types as services and confirmation done by your reception.
How to build a booking system for your car workshop
Job types with set durations, one calendar per mechanic or hoist and confirmation by your own team.
How to set up an online calendar for consulting
A personal booking link, different session types and your other calendar as busy time.
Special questions
How to set up a complete online booking system for your business
Account, services, providers, public page and a simple daily routine, set up one step at a time.
How to keep clients informed about appointments
The tool sends no emails or texts to clients, so a short routine of your own covers each step.
How to handle appointments across multiple locations
One provider per place gives each location its own calendar and link, as a practical workaround.
How to link your calendar to 4appointments
There’s no direct Google Calendar or Outlook sync, but three ICS options connect your calendars today.
Setup & integrations
What is the public booking page and how does it work?
A link where clients see free times and ask for a booking by themselves, at any hour.
How do I add the booking system to my website?
Add a Book now link or button that opens your booking page; there’s no embed code or plugin.
Can I share my booking link over WhatsApp?
Yes. Copy the booking link and paste it into any chat app. You send it, and 4appointments sends nothing itself.
How do I put my own branding on the booking page?
Set your business name, logo and primary colour; other elements of the page are fixed for now.
Keen to get going?
Set up your booking page in 15 minutes.
Give 4appointments a go →