SumUp Bookings: your powerful, free new appointment tool

Say hello to SumUp Bookings, one of the latest additions to SumUp's suite of great business tools. Streamline your schedule and wave goodbye to calendar chaos for good.

The SumUp Bookings story

At SumUp, we're always looking for new ways to make the lives of small business owners easier. Back in 2023, we spotted a gap that desperately needed to be filled: a free online booking system.

We reached out to the businesses already using our SumUp suite of tools. The answer was clear: people really wanted us to launch an online booking system. In particular, we found that businesses like hair salons, beauticians and spas found online booking systems useful. They weren't the only ones, though. SumUp clients wanted online appointment systems to use for all kinds of fields: events, healthcare, hotels, sports sessions, restaurant reservations and more. In short, just about every small business would benefit from an online booking tool.

We put our heads together to think of all the features that small business owners would need - and we have to say, we think we've done a pretty good job.

Take a look at how SumUp Bookings can help your business.

Your one-stop shop for calendar management

We set out to make the perfect online booking system for small businesses in the UK and beyond. That meant thinking about things from two different perspectives: first of all, what does a business owner want and need from this system? Secondly, what do their customers want and need?

With that in mind, we developed Bookings: an online appointment booking system that's user-friendly and packed with great features. Here are some of the handy details that will turn Bookings into your new favourite business tool:

Calendar and timetable management

This is what it's all about, right? If you're sick of juggling calendars, then appointment scheduling software is a must. Without it, your business may suffer from the dreaded double bookings, forcing you to cancel appointments manually - which is inconvenient for customers and embarrassing for you.

You'll also be able to easily block out time on your calendar - so if you know you're going to be busy or unavailable on a particular day, you can make it inaccessible to guests in just a few quick clicks. Plus, you can mark no-shows, freeing yourself up for last-minute appointments.

Manual or automated appointment acceptance

SumUp Bookings users can choose how they prefer to accept appointments. Go for automated if you want customers to get a booking confirmation immediately. Alternatively, manual appointment acceptance gives you more control, allowing you to review each appointment request before making any decisions.

A powerful customer-facing website

One of the ways that Bookings really shines is in its website, which is carefully tailored to your customers' needs. It's powered by your SumUp website and comes with a simple URL for you to share with your customers.

Customers can schedule a booking at any time without having to wait for you to pick up the phone during business hours. They can also add notes to their appointments, providing you with extra details or information. Our event booking software also allows them to request cancellations. Being able to do all of this through one simple platform without having to make a phone call will make your customers' lives so much easier.

Automated pre-appointment reminders

Here's another handy feature that will reduce hassle. You can set up your SumUp Bookings platform to automatically send out reminders to your customers using emails, SMS, or both. Oh, and you can also send reminders to yourself, so you're prepared for the upcoming appointment, too.

Customers will receive a booking confirmation email once their reservation is confirmed. That will be sent out instantly if you've enabled automated acceptance or right after you click "accept" if you're using manual acceptance. Either way, your customer will quickly get the reassurance that their booking is confirmed - and then, as it draws closer, your system will automatically send them a gentle reminder.

Reminders help reduce no-shows and encourage open communication with your customers. You can customise your reminders - decide how often and how long before the appointment to send them.

Flexible payment systems

When it comes to improving your customer experience, flexibility in payments always ranks high. Every customer has their own preferences about how they like to pay, and the best booking systems respect that.

With SumUp Bookings, you can choose how you're going to accept payments: online, in person, or both. Your preferred payment methods will be shown to guests when they make their booking, empowering them to choose the way they'd like to pay.

Plus, we're working on integrating SumUp's own online payment systems into the Bookings platform. Watch this space, as we'll soon deliver an even more powerful booking system online.

Easy access through the SumUp app

As a SumUp customer, you're probably already familiar with our app - and if not, it's time to change that. The app is one of the most powerful tools in our suite, allowing you to manage so much of your business through a single platform.

We know how awkward it is to navigate a brand-new programme, so we've integrated SumUp Bookings into our existing app. SumUp customers can now manage their calendars and appointments through the same simple, user-friendly platform they use for other parts of their business.

You'll also be able to access Bookings on your computer. If you prefer to use your SumUp tools from the comfort of your desktop, that's not a problem - but our handy, easy-to-use app means you can manage your business appointments on the go, too.

Find the SumUp app in the App Store or Google Play.

Making the most of an online booking system

Many small businesses are already looking for a free booking system online to help manage their day-to-day dealings. Not convinced yet? Here are some of the major benefits for a business owner:

You're not tied to the phone anymore

An online booking system allows customers to request an appointment in just a few clicks. That means you're no longer waiting for them to call - which frees you up to focus on other things. Customers can now make their appointments at a time that suits them, like after they get off work, rather than being restricted to calling during your business hours.

Now, that's great news - but it's even better if your business has a dedicated receptionist. With an online booking system, your receptionist won't have to answer calls all day long and will have more time to spend on the customer service experience for people who are already there and want personal, face-to-face attention.

Double bookings are a thing of the past

Double bookings are every small business owner's nightmare. Calling a customer to tell them that you need to change their appointment can be embarrassing and uncomfortable and can leave them annoyed. In the worst-case scenario, they may question your competence and take their business elsewhere.

That's easily avoided with appointment scheduling software. Put simply, double bookings become impossible because the software won't allow them to happen. That keeps everyone happy.

It reduces the number of no-shows

No-shows are a true headache for small business owners. Increasingly, businesses like restaurants and salons have to develop pricing strategies that take no-shows into account, which means charging customers more. Perhaps you're uncomfortable about raising your prices but still want to reduce no-shows. What can you do?

There are two handy ways to combat no-shows: first, you can charge a non-refundable deposit. When customers make a booking, make it clear that a certain amount of their fee will not be refunded unless they give adequate notice - often 24 or 48 hours.

Secondly, send out reminders. Traditionally, a reminder might have been a phone call - but your customers may be busy with their own lives and unable to answer the phone. Online booking platforms send reminders via email and/or SMS. These are automated, so you don't have to remember to send them out. Choose the right strategic moment to send them and watch your number of no-shows reduce. Ready to try it out? Sign up to SumUp Bookings now and start enjoying streamlined calendar control.