Business Growth
❓ Question
Do you let clients rebook themselves or do you do it manually?
Laura Ward
👑 VIP
👑 VIP
Aesthetic Clinic · Gloucester · 27d ago
I had eight no-shows last Monday alone and I am absolutely done with it. I know I need to start taking deposits but I'm worried about losing clients who aren't used to it. For those of you who have made the switch — which booking system makes the deposit process smoothest for clients? I want it to feel normal and professional, not like I don't trust them.
💬 9 Replies
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💬 9 Replies
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✅ Best Answer
My clients were pretty resistant at first — a few of them are older and not very tech-savvy. What helped was walking them through the booking link in person the first time. Once they'd done it once they were completely fine. Now I get booking confirmations at 11pm from people I would have thought would never manage it.
#1
I tested Trafft and Square Appointments side by side for a month. Trafft won on price, Square Appointments won on features. For a solo barbershop just starting out, Trafft's free plan is hard to argue with. You can always switch later once you know exactly what you need.
#2
Honestly? Just go with Timely. I know there are loads of options but for a solo lash studio in the UK it covers everything you actually need — online booking, SMS reminders, deposits, basic reporting. Don't overthink it. Half the features on the premium plans you'll never use.
#3
I've been using Vagaro for a year and honestly I'd recommend it for a small brow studio. The setup took me about half a day but once it's done it just runs. Clients get automatic reminders, you can take deposits, and the calendar view is really clear. Give the free trial a go — you'll know within a week if it works for you.
#4
For multi-staff SimplyBook.me is excellent. Each person has their own colour-coded calendar, you can set individual hours and services, and clients book with a specific person or with 'any available' if you prefer. I've got four staff on it and it's really simple to manage from the dashboard.
#5
For deposits specifically, Acuity Scheduling is really smooth. The client gets a card payment screen as part of the booking flow — it doesn't feel like a separate step or like you're being suspicious of them. I take £10 on everything and no one has complained since I set it up properly.
#6
I was asking myself this a year ago. Best decision I ever made was just picking one and starting. Timely has a free plan that's genuinely functional. Start there, learn the system, then upgrade when you actually need the paid features. Don't let the choice paralysis stop you from just getting on with it.
#7
The Instagram booking integration on Acuity Scheduling was a bit fiddly to set up but it does work. The issue is usually the Facebook Business account connection — make sure your Instagram is properly linked to a Facebook page first, then the Acuity Scheduling integration finds it straight away.
#8
The Instagram booking integration on Phorest was a bit fiddly to set up but it does work. The issue is usually the Facebook Business account connection — make sure your Instagram is properly linked to a Facebook page first, then the Phorest integration finds it straight away.
#9