Top 10 Best Booking Systems For Small Businesses (2023 Update)

Here at Baluu, we know a thing or two about what makes a great booking system for small business. However, while there’s a huge range of small businesses that can benefit massively from using booking software, every profession is different.

What works for one type of business may not be suitable for another—some software may have specific features you need, and others may be geared specifically around your line of work. By giving you a comprehensive insight into this crowded market, we aim to help you make the optimal choice for your business.

Many of the systems in this list also provide a branded website with comprehensive booking software so that you can start taking bookings fast.

Choosing the right platform from an early stage will be key to your success , there are plenty of options on the market for 2023. We've created this extensive guide to help you make an informed decision when it comes to your booking software.

The different types of booking systems explained

When choosing the best appointment scheduling software, it's important to note that there are various different subcategories of appointment scheduling apps all with their own quirks and specialisations. For example, appointment scheduling for a doctor will require different features (advanced calendars and meetings features) from the scheduling apps a personal trainer or barber shop uses. Below we break down the main categories of booking software, there are also both offline and online booking systems available, so knowing the difference between the categories is vital in ensuring you make the right decision.

‍ Appointment scheduling software

‍While often used interchangeably, there can be salient differences between booking software and appointment software. The latter chiefly focuses on accepting and managing customer appointments, usually offering advanced features relating to online booking and reminders. For example, if you want advanced meeting tools, appointment scheduling software will probably have what you need. Check out our blog on the best appointment booking software systems to learn more.

Yoga studio appointment scheduler

One of the most important features Yoga professionals should look for in a booking system is that it's easy to use and intuitive. After all, rather than spending hours figuring out how to use it, you want to be able to get up and running quickly so that you can get back to teaching yoga!  

Features such as online payments, class management, and marketing tools are valuable additions. What's more, the software should be affordable—you don't want to break the bank just to get a booking system set up! Read our blog on the top 7 best booking systems for yoga businesses to get a leg up.

Best appointment scheduling  for massage therapy studios

Competitors in the massage industry are aplenty, so having a system that helps maintain appointments manually is essential to staying ahead of the pack. It can help streamline the process, making it easy for both therapist and client to make appointments online quickly and conveniently at any time of day. What’s more, custom intake forms will help massage therapists understand their client’s needs. Ultimately, bodyworkers need a booking software that understands their profession and can help them serve their clients faster while keeping up with the competition. Check out our Top 5 Best Massage Therapy Scheduling Software to learn more!

Mini-session appointment scheduling

Photographers are usually on the move, travelling from A to B to meet clients for mini-sessions. This means they don’t necessarily have the time to deal with a lot of niggly admin. Therefore, we recommend choosing a booking software that’s user-friendly and streamlines your workload. Thankfully, there are many booking systems tailored specifically for photographers. For a more in-depth look, have a read of our top 5 best mini session booking software tools .

Personal trainer appointment scheduling app

The fitness space is huge, and when it comes to picking a booking system there are many to choose from. As you're often meeting clients on the go and in different locations, you need appointment software that accommodates that. Perhaps, more so than many other professions, what software you choose requires a lot of careful thought. To give you a helping hand, we’ve done a lot of the research for you, so check out our blog on the top 6 best booking systems for personal trainers to find out more. And if you’re thinking about setting up your own business, don’t hesitate to explore our detailed guide on how to start your own personal trainer business .

Right, now let’s get to business!  Below is a breakdown of 10 of the best booking software available—their pros and cons, price plans, features, and more. We’re confident that, by the end of the article, you’ll have a good grasp of what platform to go for.

Top 10 best booking systems for small businesses are:

1. Baluu
2. Appointedd
3. Setmore
4. Obby
5. Acuity Scheduling
6. Vcita
7. SimplyBook.me
8. BookWhen
9. Momence
10. Timely
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1. Baluu

Founded: 2021
HQ: London

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Looking for an all-in-one booking software that will help you grow your small business? Then " Baluu " might just be the best appointment scheduling app for you.

There’s a reason this relatively young online appointment booking system is number 1. Designed with small businesses in mind, Baluu is an affordable yet powerful and user-friendly booking. We may be biased, but once you try it for yourself you'll quickly see it's one of the best scheduling apps in 2023. It's also  It's easy to create bookable events, arranging a meeting or activity to display on your website — ready for customers to book.

Simply use Baluu's out-of-the-box, fully brandable website builder to create your free booking website!

Baluu makes bookings easy, handling all your payment processing, admin, and a whole lot more. You can even build a branded bookings website from scratch with their easy-to-use tools. Few (if any software) provide this all-in-one solution. Before you know it, you'll have created a seamless booking experience for your customers.

The chief selling point of Baluu is its ease of use. The onboarding, dashboard, and tools are ergonomic and streamlined so even for the most inexperienced technophobe. Baluu makes scheduling, managing income, and listing events a simple and effortless experience.

The Baluu dashboard is also a thing of beauty, allowing organisers to manage their business all from one simple view in the browser or on a phone.

How does Baluu work?

Getting started on Baluu is incredibly straightforward. Once you’ve created an account, and added an activity or event, you'll be given access to your Baluu dashboard.

On the dashboard, you can integrate your new booking pages with your website directly, just by adding a few lines of code to your existing website platform.

If you don't have your own website yet, Baluu also has a code-free website builder that allows you to build your own completely branded booking website.

See an example site built with Baluu by clicking here .

On the dashboard homepage, you get a clear overview of your sales, bookings, reviews, customer profiles, and upcoming events. The dashboard is also where you can manage marketing tools such as creating gift cards and producing discount codes.

Everything you need to manage your bookings is accessible here. You can view your timetable, classes, events, products, inbox, customers, and students. Here businesses can easily manage their events, access marketing tools, and manage their income and insurance.

If you’d like some further help, don’t hesitate to check out our step-by-step guide to creating your online booking system on Baluu.

Presenting Baluu's New Booking Widget!

Baluu has recently introduced a piece of tech that's going to change the way businesses take bookings. Do you want the full power of a booking system, but don't want to deal with the finicky process of integrating it? Are you fed up with having to use a clunky online booking page that negatively impacts your user experience? Well, Baluu's customisable widget makes integrating your booking system effortless.

This sleek, user-friendly app is incredibly easy to set up and contains all Baluu's  features—events, timetables, products, branding options, marketing tools, and more. Few companies provide such a smart and seamless way to integrate a booking system on an existing website. Doubtful? Make use of Baluu's free trial and give it a spin for yourself!

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Baluu Key Features

Baluu can help you manage just about every aspect of your small business, from effortlessly taking bookings to building your branded website. Not only does it offer a broad range of comprehensive features within affordable pricing plans, but the supportive Baluu teams are also available to help you navigate the user-friendly software 24/7. 

• Easily build a branded website with no coding experience.
• Using Baluu's customisable booking widget, you can create an effortless branded booking experience for your customers, easily integrated into your own website. 
• Customers can manage, amend and cancel their own appointment bookings via the booking portal.
• Use variable permissions to easily organise your team
• Send appointment reminders and reschedule appointments with ease
• Use customer intake forms to collect essential customer information with custom data collection fields. 
• Extensive variety of marketing tools enables you to grow your client-base.
• Access meaningful insights, create advanced discounts, and run integrated marketing campaigns.
• Sell learning kits, products, and gift cards and create unlimited listings with multiple ticket types.

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Book a Baluu Demo Call 

Want to grow your small business with Baluu? Arrange a meeting with a member of the Baluu team for a free demo call and discover how you can get started with this comprehensive booking system.

2. Appointedd

Founded: 2011
HQ: Edinborough

In our opinion, Appointedd  is one of the best booking apps available. It's an intuitive appointment scheduling app designed to help small businesses create a hassle-free booking experience for their customers. It provides multiple features that can help you make your experiences and events easily bookable for your customers.

Whether you're a hairdresser or a personal trainer , Appointedd 's online booking portal contains  a wide range of features that will make taking bookings easier. Whether you’re using its online booking system or scheduling app, Appointedd offers a number of useful tools and features.

Appointedd Key Features

• Appointedd users can enjoy creating and listing unlimited bookings for their events and experiences. 
• Automated customer communication tools mean you can spend less time contacting customers and reduce the chance of customer no-shows. 
• With this online appointment scheduling software, your small business can easily take payments safely online. Choose whether you’d like your customers to pay online in full, pay deposits, or pay at the event.
• Appointedd’s calendar synchronisation features render keeping track of your schedule a simple and easy task. 
• Multi-user management system enables you to set different user permission levels.
• Multi-resource scheduling limits manual output and allows for a lot of freedom when setting up different types of bookings
• Asset management and booking tools enables you to manage assets necessary for a service to take effect, like desk space or a room.

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3. Setmore‍

Founded: 2011
HQ: Portland‍

Setmore is designed to help small businesses organise, manage and take client bookings. Whether you want to reach more customers or create a booking page, Setmore has the tools to help you manage your small business bookings.  Considering its free plan offers unlimited appointments, It's also a good option for businesses looking for a feature-rich, free appointment software.

Setmore Key Features 

When it comes to features, Setmore is no slouch and offers a broad array that users can make the most of. From giving small businesses the tools to take payments online to providing email automation, users are spoilt for choice. 

• Boost your small business’s brand and collect reviews from customers, and draw attention to glowing feedback from your customers to encourage new customers to book.
• Easily access email automation tools so you can send confirmation and reminder emails to your customers. 
• Setmore has the tools to help you build a booking page that you can integrate into your own website or social media platforms. 
• Scheduling is made easy as customers can manage their own bookings. On the Setmore booking page, customers can easily self-book an appointment that works for them. 
• Setmore allows businesses to add multiple staff members to their accounts, with customisable staff schedules and availability.
• Integrates with a range of third-party apps, including Mailchimp, QuickBooks, and Zapier, to help businesses streamline their workflows.
• Setmore stores customer information in one place, making it easy to view appointment history, notes, and other relevant data.

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4. Obby

Founded: 2016
HQ: London

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Like Baluu, Obby is also an all-in-one booking system. However, it stands out from other appointment scheduling apps,  as it's specifically designed for small businesses that host classes, workshops, and courses. If you need to pencil in a regular group meeting or take bookings for your in-person, online, and hybrid classes, few appointment schedulers can hold a candle to Obby!

Obby Key Features

If you run a teaching business that takes bookings, then Obby is sure to have many valuable features that will help you organise, market, and grow your small business. From seamlessly running classes online to marketing your business on the Obby Marketplace, let’s investigate the key features this booking system has to offer. 

• Virtual classroom which makes running online or hybrid classes a straightforward experience for you and your students. 
• Tools to sell at-home learning kits and products. 
• Access CRM tools that allow students to easily cancel or reschedule their bookings and so much more. 
• Build a branded website or booking widget a simple and straightforward process. 
• The opportunity to have your listed classes appear on the Obby Marketplace.
• Access Obby’s automation tools to collect reviews and send reminder emails. 
• Create discounts, sell gift cards and send newsletters to your students. 

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Book a Demo

Want to learn more about how Obby can help your small teaching business take off? Book a free demo call and speak to a supportive member of the team to see how you can start using Obby.

5. Acuity Scheduling

Founded: 2006
HQ: New York

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Acuity Scheduling is a well-known booking system with an extensive array of valuable features and tools for small businesses. There’s a reason Acuity Scheduling is so popular: its user-friendly booking system is a synch to navigate and also easily scalable to your business growth.

Acuity Scheduling Key features

Acuity is a robust booking system with many essential scheduling features which are sure to benefit your small business. You can procure useful client information, share your calendar with customers and take online payments. 

• Create client intake forms which are completed upon booking. 
• Very simple for customers to navigate when cancelling and rescheduling their bookings. 
• Choose to create subscription plans and memberships for your clients. 
• Keep your customers happy with marketing features that give you the ability to sell vouchers and coupons 
• Send automated reminders to clients via email or SMS before appointments to reduce no-shows and cancellations.
• Customisable booking forms enable you to collect relevant information from clients such as their name, contact details, and reason for the appointment.
• Ability to schedule group appointments makes it ideal for businesses such as salons, fitness studios, and healthcare providers.

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6. Vcita

Founded: 2010
HQ: Washington

Vcita is an all-in-one booking system and business management tool. Founded in 2010, this booking system offers anything from CRM to scheduling and timetable features. Vcita offers a range of tools to help you easily manage your small business’s schedule. 

Vcita Key Features

This all-in-one booking system has a varied list of features that small businesses can benefit from. In a world of overly complicated software, Vcita offers a simple solution; one that will help you manage your communication with customers and keep track of your schedule.  

• Easily integrate with Zoom, making it easy to run your online appointments, events, experiences, or classes.
• Make the most of business performance reports to keep track of how your small business is growing.
• Allows you to create and send invoices to customers and track payments in real-time.
• Capture leads from your website using customisable lead capture forms that can be integrated with your CRM.
• Run comprehensive email and SMS marketing campaigns to keep your community of clients engaged with your business. 
• Bundled with email templates that you can customise to fit your brand as well as notification schemes. ‍
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7. SimplyBook.me

Founded: 2010
HQ: Cyprus

This online booking system is designed for all businesses which take bookings, from appointments to events. With Simplybook.me businesses can build their own booking widget, keep an up-to-date schedule and raise their profile to prospective clients. 

SimplyBook.me Key Features 

SimplyBook.me is one of the more versatile booking systems out there, with an abundance of custom features. Whether you host driving lessons or beauty appointments, you can bet SimpleBook.me has the specific tools you need to help your business grow.

• Customers have the option to purchase and enjoy gift cards and coupons. Small businesses can also keep their customers happy with loyalty system initiatives.
• Gives you a variety of tools to sell products to your customers and clients.
• If you have multiple staff members or locations, SimplyBook.me allows you to manage them all from one account. You can set up different schedules and availability for each staff member or location.
• Set up custom booking rules to control your availability, appointment duration, and other parameters. You can also set up different booking rules for different services or staff members.
• Organise your team's schedule, notify your employees when a customer books, and access employee selector tools.
• Boost your business’s credibility and request reviews from previous customers.

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8. BookWhen

Founded: 2009
HQ: Oxford, UK

Founded over 10 years ago, BookWhen has since become a reputable booking system that specialises in keeping scheduling simple. As well as streamlining and organising bookings, BookWhen also gives you access to block booking tools and ticket type options which are designed to stimulate business growth.

BookWhen Key Features

BookWhen has many key features which will simplify how you run both online and in-person events. With block booking and different ticket type options, several of BookWhen’s features support businesses that run a broad range of events.

• Ability to power virtual or in-person classes and activities.
• Businesses that run a selection of varied events can make the most of BookWhen’s ticket options. Apply a different ticket type for every kind of booking your offer. 
• Allows you to create custom pricing options for your events, including early bird discounts, multiple ticket types, and coupon codes.
• Integration with Zoom enables  a specific meeting link for each event, automatically sending it to attendees.
• Set up custom cancellation policies for your events, including cancellation fees and refund policies.
• Supports bookings across multiple time zones, which is particularly useful for international events or training sessions. Customers can easily book events in their own time zone, and BookWhen automatically converts the time to your local time zone.
• Want to keep track of your customers, clients, and students? BookWhen has an attendee register. 
• If your small business hosts courses, BookWhen gives you the ability to use block booking discount options.    
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9. Momence

Founded: 2020
HQ: Colorado

Momence is a booking system dedicated to helping you manage your business’s marketing, admin, and scheduling. Get valuable insights, reports, and marketing tools that will help you boost your small business’s bookings. 

Momence Key Features

If you’re looking for a way to increase your bookings as well as manage your business’s operations, Momence has several key features that will support you. From courses to bookings for trips and retreats, Momence offers a useful range of features that can make bookings and business management straightforward. 

• Unlimited video content storage, so you can create a video library for your pre-recorded classes and events.
• If your small business offers bookable courses, retreats, trips, and challenges, Momence has many tools which will help you host your events smoothly.
• Create and manage staff accounts and explore Momence’s payroll tools.
• Need to schedule a group meeting or conference? Momence has the cutting-edge tools to help you do so.
• Thorough reporting tools give you valuable insights into how each area of your business is performing.
• Great attendance tracking tools allowing you to easily monitor your bookings.
• Customisable forms and templates enable you to tailor your customer's experience and easily attend to their needs.
• Inventory management tools enable you to manage and keep track of your resources.
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10. Timely

Founded: 2011
HQ: New Zealand

As you’d expect from such an established and well-loved booking software, Timely excels in making your availability clear to your clients and customers. As well as securely taking payments and sending automated emails, Timely gives your customers the freedom to easily book in its comprehensive calendar.

Timely Key Features

Timely’s list of features aims to help appointment-led businesses easily manage a variety of business elements. Whether you require  tools to build a pleasurable booking experience, need to book an important meeting, or want to manage your team, Timely’s features can bring that special something to your business.

• Access staff dashboard features and organise their timetable. 
• Customers can enjoy an effortless checkout experience when booking appointments with your small business. 
• Allows you to create projects, assign tasks, and set deadlines, making it easy to manage your workload and stay on top of your projects.
• Detailed reports and analytics help you analyze your team's productivity, identify areas for improvement, and make data-driven decisions.
• Mobile app that lets you track your time on the go, so you can stay productive and monitor your work no matter where you are.
• Timely's management tools enable you to visualise your team's workload, plan projects, and optimize resources to ensure that everyone is working efficiently.
• Reduce your admin time and accurately keep track of your business’s stock with Timely’s inventory tools. 
• Get a greater understanding of your clients and customers with in-depth reports and insights. ‍
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*All pricing outlined in this article was accurate to the best of our knowledge and sourced from the aforementioned website's pricing page at the time of writing (07/03/2023).

How do I choose a Booking software for my small business?

Starting a business is no easy feat. Whether you’re building an eye-catching website, working on your brand identity, arranging a meeting, or managing staff and clients, getting those initial stages right will save you time and money in the long term. It is therefore essential you choose platforms that are both affordable and meet your requirements.  

Fortunately, there are now countless software options that can support every aspect of your business operation. An online appointment scheduler is just one component. 

When it comes to booking software, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. Figuring out which is suited to the needs of your business depends on a number of factors, including the size and type of your business, your budget, and the features that are most important to you. 

For example, if you manage a chain of gyms, you’ll likely need a different booking software than if you run a small independent facility. To narrow down your options, start by considering what features are essential, and what you can live without.

If you need to be able to take payments online, then look for software that offers online payment processing. Alternatively, if you need to be able to track your bookings and guest information, then look for software that offers reporting and customer management tools. 

Once you have a good understanding of your specific needs, you can start comparing and contrasting to find the perfect Booking software. Remember, many of the above options offer a free trial and/or demo, so be sure to check them out before settling. Furthermore, there are also many other great client booking software we didn't include on this list, like Picktime,  10to8, or the Square Appointments, so be sure to explore the market.

It may not seem like much, but choosing the right platform can be integral to your future success. Navigating all the options on the market in 2023 can make your head spin, so we wanted to give you a helping hand. This extensive guide will help you make an informed decision when opting for the best booking software for your small business. 

Other potential booking software

Perhaps you're seeking a free scheduling software? Maybe you want to prioritize meetings,  integrations, or user-friendliness? Whatever your business needs, the market is positively brimming with options. Below are a few notable mentions, so feel free to explore these and others. Remember, be diligent and discerning before you make a commitment!

Square Appointments

Square Appointments is a robust online appointment booking system that integrates seamlessly with other Square products, creating a streamlined experience for both you and your clients. What sets the Square Appointments app apart from other booking systems is its simplicity and versatility. It's designed to facilitate easy scheduling of meetings and appointments for a wide range of businesses. From managing client bookings to arranging staff meetings to processing payments, Square Appointments offers an all-in-one solution that is both efficient and user-friendly.

Moreover, its automated reminders feature greatly reduces no-shows, making Square Appointments a reliable choice for businesses. With its unique blend of ease, functionality, and integration, Square Appointments stands out as a compelling choice for a booking system. Bear in mind, while it is technically a free booking system, its fee plan lacks the key features of other free scheduling apps.

Appointy

Appointy, with its user-friendly interface, allows you to manage your schedule and client bookings effortlessly, enhancing the overall customer experience. It's more than a simple booking tool—by integrating with popular calendars, it synchronizes your schedules, minimizing the chances of double booking or conflicts. Plus, Appointy's automated reminders keep you and your clients aware of upcoming appointments and meetings, reducing no-shows.

With the versatility to manage bookings for multiple staff or resources, Appointy is a flexible solution for various business needs. In essence, it is a comprehensive, intuitive, and efficient online appointment booking system that stands out in today's market. Appointy is also a robust free appointment scheduler should you be on a budget.

Zoho Bookings

Zoho Bookings is a powerhouse in the realm of online appointment booking systems. With its intuitive user interface, the appointment scheduler simplifies the process of managing appointments and client bookings, enhancing customer interactions. While it isn't a free appointment scheduling app, Zoho bookings does offer a 14-day free trial.  One key aspect that makes Zoho Bookings shine is its robust integration with other Zoho products and popular calendars, providing a seamless scheduling experience and mitigating the risk of overlapping appointments.

Zoho Bookings also offers great automated reminder tools, a feature that helps decrease missed appointments, and ensures a planned meeting doesn't clash with another. Its capacity to manage bookings for multiple resources or staff members underlines Zoho Bookings' flexibility, making it an ideal solution for diverse business needs. All in all, Zoho Bookings presents a comprehensive, user-friendly, and efficient solution in the online appointment booking landscape.
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Need more advice?

Have read of some related guides on the Baluu blog below, or book a demo with one of our friendly team today. We'll be happy to walk you through the Baluu system and how it can help you manage and grow your bookings business.

• How To Create An Online Booking System: The Ultimate Guide
• How To Make A Bookings Website In Less Than An Hour
• Top 10 Best Online Booking Systems
• Top 6 Best Scheduling Tools For Google Calendar
• Top 5 Best Appointment Booking Systems For Any Business
• Top 10 Best Free Booking Systems
• Top 7 Best Booking Systems For Websites
• Top 5 Best Booking Systems for WordPress
• Top 6 Best Appointment Scheduling Apps
• Top 5 Best Squarespace Booking Systems
• Top 7 Best Booking Systems For Yoga Businesses
• Top 6 Best Booking Systems For Personal Trainers
• Top 5 Best Mini Session Booking Software