Online Booking Setup Checklist for Small Businesses

Online booking works well when the rules inside the tool match how your day really runs. Setting them up carefully takes an hour and saves you from double-bookings, impossible days and confused customers. This checklist works with any tool. Where we mention specific settings, they come from Google's help page for Calendar appointment schedules, checked on 20 September 2026.

This article is part of our guide to choosing appointment scheduling software.

Before you start

• Decide which services customers can book and how long each takes.
• Decide who takes the booking: you, or several staff.
• Connect the calendar you actually use, so the tool sees your real availability.

The settings

Availability

• Set your general working hours and days off.
• Add adjusted availability for holidays and one-off changes. Google's page lists general availability and adjusted availability for specific dates as options.

Buffer time

• Add time between appointments for travel, set-up or notes. Google's schedules let you add time between appointments on your calendar.

Limits

• Set a maximum number of appointments per day, so the day stays workable. Google lists this as a booking limit.
• Set how far in advance people can book, and how close to the start time they can still book.

Confirmations and reminders

• Turn on a confirmation message when someone books.
• Turn on reminders. Google's schedules allow up to five. See how to reduce no-shows.

The booking form

• Ask only for what you need. Google's schedules include required name and email fields and let you add more.

Location or meeting type

• Say whether it's in person, by phone or online. Google's schedules offer Google Meet, in person, phone or unspecified.

Payments

• If you want a deposit or payment at booking, check that your tool and plan support it. Google's help page mentions connecting Stripe.

Test before you share it

1. Open the booking page on your phone, not just your computer.
2. Book an appointment as a customer, right through to the confirmation.
3. Check that it appears in your calendar and that the reminder arrives.
4. Try to book at a time you shouldn't be available. It should refuse.
5. Cancel or reschedule using the link in the email.
6. Ask someone else to try it and tell you where they got stuck.

When it's live

• Put the link on your website, your Google Business Profile and your email signature. See Google Business Profile guidelines.
• Check your calendar for the first week to see whether the rules need adjusting.
• Track no-shows and cancellations monthly.

If you haven't picked a tool yet, start with free appointment scheduling software and Google Calendar appointment schedules.