Square Appointments Review: Is It Right for Your Business in 2022?

Square is revolutionizing the way companies operate. It has created a suite of tools that allow anyone to open their own on-demand business or sell items without the hassle and expense of traditional storefronts. The company’s latest app, Square Appointments, makes it easier for businesses to connect with customers looking for appointments in person as well as online.

Square Appointments is a scheduling app that integrates with your Square account. It’s a great option for businesses who need to schedule appointments and collect payments. Read more in detail here: square appointments features.

Square Appointments is an appointment scheduling software that includes a fully integrated POS system and Online Reservations platform, as well as payment processing and inventory management capabilities. It also has a mobile app that allows you to manage your company while on the road. This application offers a free plan (monthly subscriptions start at $50) and is best suited for individuals or small service-based organizations looking for a full scheduling solution with built-in payment features.

Appointments at Square Square

When Should Square Appointments Be Used?

We found Square Appointments to be one of the finest appointment scheduling applications for individuals and small service-based enterprises after evaluating and comparing dozens of appointment software. While it’s only for one person, it’s completely free and comes with a ton of useful features for managing and scheduling appointments, processing payments, and expanding your business online.

Square Appointments were found to be especially well-suited for the following:

• Square Appointments allows you to create custom service menus and includes scheduling tools like an Online Reservations page that you can embed into your social media platforms and personal website, automated calendar syncing, intake questions and forms, and built-in no-show protection, so you don’t lose money due to double bookings or cancellations. As a result, we recommend Square Appointments as the finest salon POS and spa management software.
• Coaches and instructors who work on a freelance basis: One of the most popular free appointment scheduling applications on the market is Square Appointments. Because the program is free for single users, solopreneurs like tutors and personal trainers may take use of all of its capabilities. Square’s free plan includes all of the subscription plan’s rewards and features, so you won’t have to worry about any essential functions being locked behind a barrier.
• Square Appointments offers capabilities that enable you to issue customizable estimates, recurring billing, and invoices in addition to appointment scheduling and Management of the Calendar. This makes it an excellent choice for professionals like accountants, advertisers, and marketers who need to create professional estimates and invoice customers.
• Home repair and cleaning services: For independent contractors in the home repair and cleaning service industry, Square Appointments provides excellent schedule management capabilities. You may use the mobile card reader to collect mobile payments in addition to placing customer notes and preparing invoices. Square is one of the finest mobile POS applications for traveling service firms since it allows you to plan appointments and receive payments from anywhere.

When Square Appointments Aren’t the Best Fit

• Businesses having a large number of employees on a tight budget: The premium plan for Square Appointments begins at $50 for two to five people. Fresha, Picktime, and Setmore are more economical options for businesses on a limited budget that need a feature-rich scheduling software. Check out our post on the best appointment scheduling software for a detailed look at all of your alternatives.
• Medical practices: The majority of medical practices employ an electronic health record (EHR) system that includes appointment scheduling, patient portals, and enhanced billing capabilities. ChARM EHR is a popular small practice EHR with a free plan that lasts indefinitely.
• While Square Appointments enables advanced booking and the ability to block off time slots for restaurant reservations, these capabilities are better suited for professional services. For a better solution, check out our top selections for restaurant POS systems and restaurant reservation systems.
• Businesses that are largely retail: Square Appointments supports inventory management; however, customers that want additional retail functionality, such as managing big inventories and purchase orders, may select Square for Retail to be a better fit.
• Businesses in the hotel or bed-and-breakfast industry: Square Appointments’ booking and invoicing facilities are more suited to professional services than hospitality. For a more industry-specific solution, look at these hotel CRMs or a reservation system like Little Hotelier.

Are you looking for a different Square app? Square also offers a variety of POS systems for small companies, ranging from the all-purpose Square POS to industry-specific solutions like Square for Retail and Square for Restaurants. Square Payments—a straightforward, built-in payment system that also happens to be our top pick for the finest merchant services for small businesses—comes standard with Square.

Overview of Square Appointments

Appointments at Square Square

Pricing for Square Appointments

Square Appointments offers a free option for individuals as well as three paying levels. Monthly rates for two to five workers start at $50 and go up to $10 for up to ten users, with bespoke pricing available for 11 or more seats. Fees for credit card transactions begin at 2.6 percent plus 10 cents. All plans include with full access to the company’s appointment scheduling and payment processing tools.

Pricing for Square Appointments Plans

*For each swipe, dip, or tap of a credit card.

Square may also be used to receive payments from afar.

• 3.5 percent + 15 cents per transaction for manual card insertion through POS app
• Payments made using the Square virtual terminal are charged at a rate of 3.5 percent plus 15 cents each transaction.
• Payments made via the Square Online shop are charged at 2.9 percent plus 30 cents per transaction.
• Transactions with a card on file: 3.5 percent plus 15 cents per transaction
• 2.9 percent + 30 cents per transaction for square invoices

Add-ons for Square Appointments

Square Appointments is part of the greater Square ecosystem, which includes other services that may be completely connected with your POS system. These add-ons will help you effectively manage an ever-increasing number of clients while also increasing personnel numbers to meet the demand.

• Square Online: Includes a smart website builder, free online shop, and Instagram selling capabilities as part of your Square Appointments account. Paid plan features include a custom domain and on-page product reviews, and start at $12 per month. For additional information, see our Square Online review.
• Paid subscriptions for 0–500 contacts start at $15 per month on Square Marketing. Unlimited email sends, automated email campaigns, Square Assistant, and campaign performance statistics are among the features.
• Paid subscriptions for Square Loyalty start at $45 per month per location for up to 500 loyalty visits. Quick customer sign-up, automatic rewards notification through text messaging, and the opportunity to apply rewards at checkout are just a few of the features.
• Square Payroll’s monthly subscription is $35 + $5 per employee. Square’s Management of a group app is integrated. Full-service payroll, limitless pay runs, and automated tax computations are just a few of the features. For more information, see our Square Payroll review.

Hardware for Square Appointments

Square Appointments does not need any hardware to run. Because the application is both an app and a website, it can be used on a desktop computer as well as on Android and iOS smartphones. This allows you the freedom to run your company without having to learn new software or even while traveling.

However, if you’re interested, Square also has a variety of hardware alternatives that you can use with any Square software, including Appointments. For brick-and-mortar businesses with a front desk, such as salons, spas, and clinics, Square provides the Square contactless chip reader, Square Register, and Square Stand for iPad.

A complimentary mobile magstripe card reader is included with both the Square Register and the Square Stand. However, if you want to accept EMV and NFC card payments, we suggest acquiring a contactless chip reader.

Features of Square Appointments

Every Square Appointments subscription has all of the software’s functionality, including Management of the Calendar tools and options for selling additional items. Because the program is both cloud and web-based, you may use it from any computer and even operate your company remotely if necessary. This also implies you may collect payments from any place, whether it’s a front desk, a website, or a distant location.

The only thing you should think about is Square’s long-term viability as your company grows. Square is free for a single user, but it costs $50 per month for two to five users, and $90 or more for six or more. While you do gain access to some amazing tools, this may not be a realistic pricing point for your company. When considering how this program will work for you over time, you should evaluate both your monthly sales volume and the value you get from Square.

For a more in-depth look at Square Appointments’ features, click through the tabs below.

Management of the Calendar

The scheduling features in Square Appointments are at the heart of the software’s functionality. You have complete control over your cloud-based calendar, allowing you to access and manage your appointments and calendar from anywhere.

Square Appointments Management of the Calendar includes:

• Square App and Online Account: Use your Square Appointments login to access and manage appointments from your Square app or any computer.
• Acceptance of appointments: There are two options for accepting appointments: manual and automated.
• Advanced calendar viewing: Filter your calendar by time period, staff, or location to customize your viewing choices.
• When you connect your personal Google Calendar is a free service that allows you to, you may better organize your daily calendar by blocking personal activities and labeling them as “busy.”
• Calendar syncing: Sync your Google Calendar is a free service that allows you to with your appointment schedule.
• Resource booking: This feature allows you to attach resources (such as seats, rooms, or supplies) to specific appointments so that they are reserved when the appointments for which they are assigned are made.
• Multiple time zone synchronization: Make sure that all of your appointments are synced with the relevant time zones so that no one forgets a reservation.
• Cancellation and no-show insurance: Set a cancellation window and use a deposit scheme to defend against no-shows.

Square’s mobile app allows you to manage your appointments from anywhere. (Image courtesy of Square)

Online Reservations

Square Appointments allows you to provide your clients a variety of online appointment booking options. These are immediately linked to both your Square and Google Calendar is a free service that allows you tos, ensuring that your schedule is always up to current. Depending on your technical abilities and company needs, you may select from the following options:

• Online Reservations page: Set up a free Online Reservations page that you can share with your clients via text or email. This page is customizable, so you can make it fit your brand and desired customer experience.
• Booking page embed: Embed your Online Reservations page into your existing website.
• Adding a booking widget or a booking button to your current website is simple. Your widget and button are also totally customisable, and Square Support can assist you in getting them set up.
• Integrate your social media accounts by adding a booking button to your Instagram and Facebook pages.
• Adding a booking button to your Google listing is a good idea.
• Square website: Create a custom website and Online Reservations with Square Online at no extra cost.

Create a custom Online Reservations page that you can send to clients or include on your website. (Source: Square Seller Community)

Reminders and Messaging for Appointments that are Automated

Square Appointments enables you to communicate with customers using SMS and email messaging capabilities, allowing you to send customized messages from the time they schedule an appointment until the time their service is performed and payment is received.

You may use Square Appointments to make appointments.

• Send appointment confirmation messages as soon as a customer makes a reservation so that they have all of their appointment details in one spot.
• Make sure your customers don’t forget about their appointments by setting up appointment reminders.
• After their sessions, provide digital receipts and customer survey forms so they may provide feedback on your company. Square also allows you to reply to survey results immediately, making it simple to resolve any issues and sustain client loyalty.
• Use Square Assistant, a smart messaging tool included with Square Appointments for free. In response to your automatic appointment reminders, customers may confirm, cancel, or reschedule appointments through SMS at any time of day. It will reply and update your calendar automatically, allowing you to focus on your job rather than worrying about your schedule.

You may reply to customer problems 24 hours a day, 7 days a week using Square Assistant. (Image courtesy of Square Appointments)

Payment and Cancellation Policies That Are Customized

To safeguard your company against no-show customers, you may personalize your payment criteria and cancellation policies. Choose between allowing customers to book without providing their credit card information and needing credit card information either to hold a reservation or for payments from your appointments dashboard’s options.

If you need a customer to input credit card information to hold a reservation, you may define a cancellation cut-off period and the fees associated with canceling after the deadline. You may alternatively specify the price as a percentage of the total cost of the canceled service or as a monetary number.

When you confirm cancellation or rescheduling requests after the cut-off time, the cancellation cost is revealed. (Image courtesy of Square Appointments)

Once you authorize the cancellation, your customers will get an email message. It will contain information about the canceled appointment, as well as the price and your cancellation policy.

Customization of Services

You may build and personalize your service list using Square Appointments. Each service will include a description, a time limit, and a price range. You may also designate particular resources to your services so that appointment reservations update their availability.

You may either specify a fixed price that clients can pay immediately online at checkout or a variable price that is established when the service is completed and paid at checkout when pricing your services. Variations and a block transition time between services may also be included.

You may select how your services display on your booking page, whether as a menu or on your real calendar, after you’ve created your list of services.

Create custom service options that customers can view and schedule from your Online Reservations page. (Source: Square)

Management of a group

While Square Appointments’ free plan is only for one person, if you do adopt Square for additional staff members, the program comes with rich Management of a group tools so that you can stay on top of all your employees and their schedules.

Each employee is given a personal login that allows them to view and manage their own calendar from any desktop or mobile device using the Square Appointments app. Each profile may be personalized by stating the location, services provided, and available hours for booking. You may also include information about their availability, speciality, and other services supplied in the biography area.

You can manage your staff’s scheduled appointments and grant permissions to govern what they view with administrator access. You may also give workers special permissions so that they can only alter the things on their schedule that they need to. You may also define various salary rates, apply different commission rates, disable booking, divide tips, or completely erase a staff profile. Regular timecards and labor vs. sales figures are also provided to users.

Each employee has their own profile that they may use to manage their appointments. (Image courtesy of Square)

Point-of-Sale (POS) Software

You’ll get a Square POS system when you sign up for Square Appointments, so you can process payments and keep track of your inventory, appointment activities, and client information. Walk-in customers may also examine your service menu, make appointments, and check out using the Square POS system. You may either offer a refund for the whole session or for each service item separately.

While the Square POS system is designed to operate with Square hardware, you may also utilize Square POS with your current equipment. Square, on the other hand, works better with a tablet application.

Additional point-of-sale customization tools include:

• Produce expert invoices.
• Use a customer’s card-on-file to expedite checkouts.
• Process payments that have been typed in.
• Split payments are OK.
• Use the proper sales taxes.
• Reward yourself with discounts.
• Allow for customized tipping.
• Redeem your loyalty points
• Accept gift cards as payment.
• Compatible with contactless payments
• PCI compliance (data security)
• Sales data reporting

Management of clients

You may store extensive client information to your Square Dashboard using Square Appointments. Additionally, if you already have a client contact list, you may import it as a CSV file into Square. Personal information, credit card information, appointment schedules, and purchase history are all included in each customer profile. You may also add unique comments to each client’s profile to remind you of the services they like.

Square also offers communication tools to improve client relations. When a new client gets added to your dashboard, Square allows you to send custom messages to welcome your new customer. You can also send email and text reminders for their appointments, as well as send soft copy contracts if you require a client’s signature before performing a service. Management of clients also lets you create client groups for marketing campaigns.

Square’s CRM capabilities allow you to establish profiles for each of your clients so that you can keep track of their information. (Image courtesy of Square Seller Community)

Inventory and Retail Management

For integrated enterprises, Square Appointments may merge service and retail. While Square for Retail is a better choice for companies with thousands of SKUs or sophisticated inventory demands, Square Appointments’ POS has an inventory management tool that is ideal for service-based organizations with less inventory. The inventory system at Square Appointments is simple to use and contains options such as:

• Stock an infinite amount of inventory, modify goods with categories, and utilize an item search function before checkout to keep track of what you have.
• Inventory tracking: Monitor stock levels in real time and establish low stock email alerts for goods that are about to run out.
• Barcode scanning: Use a barcode scanner or your iPad’s camera to scan barcodes and ring up sales.
• Sales allocation: Track retail sales and automatically allocate them to the appropriate staff, allowing you to conveniently manage commission payments for certain transactions.
• Integrate your goods with Instagram and create a storefront for consumers to purchase directly from your social media presence.

A free inventory management system is included with Square Appointments, which is ideal for minimal inventory requirements. (Image courtesy of Square)

Integrations with Square Appointments

While you may utilize all of Square’s products—from website creation to inventory management to appointment scheduling—the company also offers many connection options so you can integrate Square into your current systems without having to worry about compatibility concerns or switching providers.

Square Appointments is compatible with the following third-party integrations:

• Wix
• QuickBooks
• JotForm
• Google Calendar is a free service that allows you to
• Instagram

This software’s third-party integrations are restricted, which most detractors see as a key drawback to utilizing it. The absence of an intake form and the fact that the calendar only syncs with Google are the two greatest flaws here. Picktime and 10to8, for example, enable connectivity with various calendar programs like iCal, Office 365, and Outlook.

Ease of Use for Square Appointments

• Account creation is simple.
• Display of customized services
• Dashboard with a Square Shape
• Square Assistant, Automated
• Tool for finding items and customers
• Community discussion forum that is active
• Step-by-step instructions for getting started

While several connections are missing from Square, the program is largely simple to use and well-liked by its consumers. Square Appointments allows you to manage your company from your Square Dashboard—or on the road with the Square Appointments app. You may also use the Square Assistant app to automate your reservation process. Square also makes it simple to edit your booking page and rearrange how your services are shown, so you can prioritize your most popular services, offers or bundles, and specialist services.

The Square Appointments help center has fairly limited documentation, however it does include a full starting guide for new users. To contact customer care, you must first log in to your Square account. Monday through Friday, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., Pacific time, live phone help is available.

Alternatives to Square Appointments

See how Square Appointments stacks up against other popular appointment scheduling applications.

Users’ Opinions on Square Appointments

While some users and reviewers have qualms with Square Appointments, the app has a favorable overall rating. The number of functionality and customization choices that Square Appointments offers are praised by users, but the absence of integrations and video capabilities is cited as the most common complaint. Square Appointments has a 4.9 out of 5 star rating in the Apple App Store and a 4.6 out of 5 star rating on the Google Play Store, based on over 108,000 reviews.

Square Appointments received the following ratings from other well-known third-party review sites:

While reading the evaluations, I noted some good and bad remarks that seemed to be trending.

Conclusion

Square Appointments is one of the most adaptable appointment scheduling tools on the market because to Square’s ecosystem. It has the potential to integrate service and retail, as well as a variety of automation capabilities that allow you to schedule and manage appointments at any time. It’s simple to update services with a few clicks, and upgrading and downgrading plans is straightforward, making it simple to recruit seasonal personnel and provide seasonal services.

Are you ready to give Square Appointments a shot? For a quick sign-up procedure, go to its website. It’s completely free, and there’s no obligation or need for a credit card, so you may cancel at any moment.

Appointments at Square Square

Square Appointments is a free app that lets you create and manage your appointments on the go. It’s compatible with iOS, Android, and Windows devices. Reference: is square appointments free.

Frequently Asked Questions

What percentage does Square Appointments take?

A: Square Appointments takes a 20% cut of what you sell.

Does Square Appointments work with Shopify?

A: Yes, but its not an ideal solution. For best results and customer satisfaction, you should use a third-party tool like Square Webhooks to automate the process of accepting payments on your Shopify store.

Does Square Appointments have a waiting list?

A: There is no waiting list for Square Appointments.

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