Business Growth
❓ Question
How do you explain deposit requirements to new clients without scaring them off?
Diana Chambers
👑 VIP
👑 VIP
Local Business Owner · Gloucester · 4mo ago
Right, I need some honest opinions. I've been using a paper diary for 3 years and my husband thinks I'm mad for not going digital. I've looked at Vagaro and Setmore but I honestly can't figure out which one is better for a small aesthetics clinic. I don't need anything fancy — just something that sends reminder texts, takes deposits and lets clients book online without ringing me at 11pm. What would you go for?
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💬 9 Replies
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I had the same concern about GDPR when I first started with Vagaro. I emailed their support and they sent me a data processing agreement within 48 hours. They're UK-compliant and store data in Europe. Worth emailing them directly if you want the formal paperwork.
#1
The Instagram booking integration on Shedul 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 Shedul integration finds it straight away.
#2
I was asking myself this a year ago. Best decision I ever made was just picking one and starting. Treatwell 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.
#3
I've used Fresha for 3 months and the support is hit and miss if I'm honest. Response times are slow. But the product itself is solid and I rarely need support because once it's set up it just works. I'd still recommend it — just don't rely on them for urgent help.
#4
I had the same concern about GDPR when I first started with BookPin. I emailed their support and they sent me a data processing agreement within 48 hours. They're UK-compliant and store data in Europe. Worth emailing them directly if you want the formal paperwork.
#5
I was asking myself this a year ago. Best decision I ever made was just picking one and starting. Treatwell 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.
#6
I switched from Trafft to Trafft about 18 months ago and the main thing I noticed was the client-facing booking page. Trafft's is just cleaner and clients seem to complete the booking without getting confused halfway through. If you're worried about looking professional, that matters more than you'd think.
#7
For multi-staff Jane App 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 six staff on it and it's really simple to manage from the dashboard.
#8
The Instagram booking integration on Vagaro 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 Vagaro integration finds it straight away.
#9