Squarespace Scheduling (2024): Key Features and Benefits
When you offer appointments to your customers, it’s important to keep track of them all. You don’t want to end up double-booked or forget that a client is coming to see you!
One of the best ways to simplify the process is by using scheduling software. This makes it easier for you to keep top of your appointments and means your customers can schedule and pay online.
(Perfect for those of us who hate picking up the phone and calling someone!)
Squarespace has its own appointment software called, surprisingly enough, Squarespace Scheduling! In this article, we’ll explain what it does, how to use it, and look at the different Squarespace Scheduling pricing tiers on offer.
What is Squarespace Scheduling?
Squarespace Scheduling is a platform you can use to schedule and manage appointments through your website. The software comes in two parts: a ‘back-end’ where you can manage your calendars and a ‘front-end’ that customers can use to book and pay for appointments online.
Let’s say you operate a beauty salon. You can use Squarespace Scheduling to manage the individual calendars of your employees, detailing what time they are available, the specific services they offer, and blocking out any days they don’t work. Customers can then go to your website, schedule an appointment at a time convenient to them, and pay (either in full or a deposit) online.
Your customer will then receive an email (or a text) confirming their appointment, and the appointment will automatically appear in your calendar. This means you always know how your working day is looking!
The technology behind Squarespace Scheduling is provided by Acuity, one of the most well-known scheduling tools on the market. As a result, you may often hear Squarespace Scheduling referred to as Acuity Scheduling.
Squarespace bought Acuity in 2019, offering the scheduling platform to its users. This means you can use Squarespace Scheduling even if you don’t have a Squarespace site!
Find out more about Squarespace Scheduling
What are the benefits of Squarespace Scheduling?
Some of the top benefits of Squarespace Scheduling include:
1. Integration with a wide range of apps
You can integrate Squarespace Scheduling with several third-party apps including Zapier, Google Analytics, and Stripe. You can also integrate it with tools like Zoom and GoTo Meeting so you can offer video consultations as a service.
2. Additional bonuses to engage customers
You can offer subscriptions, gift cards, and packages, increasing take-up and profits for your business. For example, you can send customers a coupon on their birthday.
3. HIPAA compliance
If you’re on the Powerhouse Plan and work in healthcare services in the US, you can enter into a Business Associate Addendum to help make your scheduling software HIPAA-compliant.
4. Customized branding options
You can apply custom CSS to your scheduling tool to personalize it, as well as send customized email confirmations and reminders to your customers.
5. Access through a wide range of platforms
You can use this software on any platform, not just Squarespace. You also receive a link you can use to share your appointment booking page anywhere, for example, on your social media platforms
6. A range of pricing tiers to suit every need and budget
We’ll look at the different Squarespace Scheduling pricing tiers later in this article.
7. Extensive customer support
Squarespace is known and loved for its customer support, and Squarespace Scheduling is no exception. It’s easy to get help if you have any questions.
Squarespace Scheduling pricing
Squarespace Scheduling doesn’t come with the standard Squarespace pricing plan. This means if you want to use it, you have to pay extra.
There are three pricing tiers for Squarespace Scheduling: Emerging, Growing, and Powerhouse. Here’s what you get with each tier and what you can expect to pay:
All tiers come with calendar syncing, automatic reminder emails, and invoicing. Squarespace Scheduling offers a free trial of the Emerging plan so you can see if it’s right for you before committing.
Which Squarespace Scheduling pricing tier should you go for?
Emerging plan: If you run a one-person business, the Emerging plan will be more than enough for your needs.
Growing plan: If you have a small business with a handful of employees, the Growing plan means each of your staff can have their own calendar.
Powerhouse plan: If you operate a large business with many employees who work in different time zones, Powerhouse is the best option.
You can change your pricing tier anytime, so don’t worry if you need to scale up or down in the future.
How to set up Squarespace Scheduling
Want to use Squarespace Scheduling on your website? Here’s how to get started in three simple steps.
Start by signing up for the Squarespace Scheduling plan of your choice. You’ll be asked if you want to attach your account to your Squarespace website
When you log into your Squarespace website, you’ll see a Scheduling option in the Home menu. Click on this to set up your calendars, create appointment types, and determine your availability. You can also sync your appointments with a calendar like Google Calendar, Outlook, or iCloud
Add a scheduling block to the relevant pages on your site by choosing Add a Section and clicking Appointments. There are several different styles to choose from
Squarespace appointments FAQ
What industries can I use Squarespace Scheduling for?
Squarespace appointments work well for the following industries:
Health and well-being
Beauty
Life coaching
Marketing services
Photographers
Squarespace Scheduling isn’t ideal for businesses where you need to book appointments that last more than a day, like hotel reservations or car rentals.
Do I have to have a Squarespace website to use Squarespace Scheduling?
No. You can use Squarespace Scheduling with any website platform, like Magento or WordPress.
Can I choose the payment gateway I use with Squarespace Scheduling?
Yes. All tiers let you accept payments with either PayPal, Stripe, or Square.
Can I use Squarespace Scheduling to book services on behalf of clients?
Yes. You just use the administrative settings to book your clients in.
Can clients cancel and reschedule appointments once they’ve booked?
Yes. You can also set a cancellation window or a cancellation fee to ensure customers give you as much notice as possible.
Can I customize how my scheduling block looks?
If you’re on the Powerhouse plan, you can use custom CSS to change the style of your scheduling block on your website.
While you can’t edit the CSS on the Emerging or Growing plans, there are still lots of ways you can customize the appearance of the scheduling block.
Don’t forget that you can also use Spark Plugin to customize the page your scheduling block is on!
Are there any alternatives to Squarespace Scheduling?
Yes, if you want to offer appointment booking on your Squarespace website, you don’t have to use Squarespace Scheduling. Most appointment booking platforms have functionality where you can embed a calendar into your website.
Some popular alternatives to Squarespace Appointments and Acuity include:
The right platform for your needs will depend on your industry, budget, and the functionality you require.
Can I import data from my old scheduling software into Squarespace Scheduling?
Yes. To do this you add your appointments and/or clients into a spreadsheet and import them into Squarespace Scheduling.
I want to use Squarespace Scheduling, but it’s too expensive. What can I do?
Don’t like the Squarespace Scheduling pricing? There are things you can do to reduce the cost.
You can get up to 20% discount on Squarespace Scheduling by paying for the entire year rather than month-by-month. If you’re new to Squarespace, Squarespace frequently offers discount codes for signing up, as well as reduced prices for students.
However, think of Squarespace Scheduling as a return on investment for your business. If it leads to more appointments and more revenue, it’s a good thing!
Is Squarespace Scheduling right for me?
If you offer appointments to your customers, whether beauty appointments or marketing consultations, scheduling software can significantly boost your profits. You can accept appointments outside of working hours and ask for a deposit to reduce the risk of ‘no-shows’.
In fact, over two-thirds of people prefer to use online scheduling instead of picking up the phone!
If you’re considering using scheduling software, Squarespace Scheduling offers lots of flexibility and functionality. It’s easy to use, seamlessly blends into your website, and gives you complete control over the scheduling process.
Don’t forget that you can sign up for a free 14-day trial to see if Squarespace Scheduling is the right choice for your business. Give it a try today and see how you get on!
Want to know more about making kick-ass Squarespace websites that your customers will love? Check out the Spark Plugin blog!
