Square vs Booksy

In recent years, there has been a rise in customers using online booking software to book appointments and prepay for services. Booking software is efficient, and convenient, helps increase revenue, improves customer satisfaction, and helps you save time. It has helped owners save time by not having to schedule appointments on behalf of clients. Additionally, it helps businesses avoid double bookings by not allowing customers to book appointments in time slots that are already filled. Lastly, customers prefer online booking and even seek out businesses that offer scheduling software that allows them to prepay for your services. 

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It's easy to see that online booking software has numerous advantages! Check out different scheduling software to see which is right for you. 

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Client Management:

Booksy and Square both provide centralized client information with client cards on file and allow you to maintain client profiles and histories on their databases. Both also provide automatic notifications and reminders of client appointments and activities. Booksy additionally provides the option to import old clients and invite new ones onto the booking software. On the other hand, Square allows you to personally message clients about upcoming appointments, import existing clients, and keep track of transaction history.

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Brand Management:

Brand management on Booksy allows you to create a customizable services menu, showcase your portfolio, and display individual staff profiles and your online business profile. Yet, brand management on Square allows you to create a customizable shoppable website that allows customers to shop online. Additionally, customers can book appointments with you directly from your custom-branded website.

Appointments:

Booking appointments online is made easy with Booksy and Square. Booksy offers Streamlined booking and can be integrated with Google, Instagram, Facebook, and more. In addition, Booksy offers an easy-to-use customer app and streamlined booking with add-ons and combo Services. Square gives you the option to sync your appointments with your Google Calendar. Also, customers can book directly from your website by adding the booking widget, compatible with sites powered by Squarespace, Wix, WordPress, and more. Square also lets clients book multiple services with different service providers on your booking site, and streamline checkout with a single transaction and automatic tip splitting.

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Business Management:

When it comes to business management, Square offers staff management, multi-location stock management, sales reports, Instagram integration, and ring-up barcodes using your iPad camera or barcode scanner, and employees can have their accounts that they can personally manage. On the other hand, Booksy has availability and booking management along with the option to include multiple locations. Booksy offers staff management, performance metrics, and inventory management, and allows you to manage shifts, commissions, and tips. Booksy also offers the ability to provide clients with documentation with custom forms. 

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Payment Processing:

Booksy has a streamlined checkout process keeping clients’ cards on file and setting cancellation policies with auto-charges. On the other hand, Square has a streamlined checkout process keeping clients’ cards on file and setting cancellation policies with auto-charges. Square Appointments POS system allows you to easily take payments with a processing fee between 2.5-3.5%. Square accepts Cash App pay and allows customers to pay in installments with Afterpay. Both software provides the option for contactless payments, and prepayments and will auto-charge no-shows.

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Marketing Tools:

Booksy enables you to market to clients with Boost which gives you the option to create email and social media templates, promotions, and message blasts, and collect/share customer reviews. Yet, you can send custom email marketing campaigns to engage with your customers with Square Marketing. Square Loyalty is a loyalty program that gives customers the incentive to return to your business. Plastic gift cards and eGift cards with your custom branding are available to make shopping easier using Square.  

Target Market:

Booksy is geared towards a large audience including hair salons, barbershops, nail salons, skin care, eyebrows and lashes, massage, makeup artists, day spas, braids & locs, tattoo shops, personal trainers, chiropractics, and aesthetic medicine.

Square is for hair and beauty salons, barbershops, personal training, spas and nail salons, tutoring and music lessons, health and wellness, home repair and cleaning, and professional services.

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Pricing:

Booksy’s pricing starts at $29.99/mo with an additional $20/mo for each staff member. Additionally, Booksy requires a one-time commission fee per new client. Boost from Booksy helps attract new customers by marketing your skills in an attempt to keep your calendar full at no monthly fee. 

Square offers a free plan with basic features to run your business and stay ahead of schedule at a single location. Square Plus offers more advanced features for growing teams starting at $29 per month per location. Square’s complete plan is $69 per month per location and offers a complete plan for all your booking and staff management needs.

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Regardless of which platform you choose, you’ll still need your phone calls answered and Lovage is the best choice! Lovage works with both Booksy and Square.