Online Scheduling Software for Massage Therapists

Online Scheduling Software for Massage Therapists is an important tool for your massage business.  With online scheduling it frees up your time and lets clients book appointments directly from your website.
There are so many different systems that is really difficult to choose.  You just have to start testing them one by one to see which one you like the best.  You have to know what it is that you want it to do and figuring out what you want is often a matter of seeing what they can do.

Last year I started my search and first I tried Genbook, but it didn’t work well with my Android Phone.  I kept getting error messages and really didn’t have the patience to figure it out.  That is one of my requirements.    Here are some other things to consider:

• Do you want the ability to take credit cards to secure the appointment and reduce/eliminate no shows?  This will also create another barrier for clients in making appointments so it is a toss up as to whether to use it or not.
• Do you have a computer at the office (I don’t!) that you can use for scheduling or will you be using your phone or tablet to set up the system and make all of the appointment/schedule changes you need to make?  If you are using only your smartphone, then the system really needs to have a mobile website or app for you to use.  Other systems are just too cumbersome to use.
• How do you want to get notices of appointments that are made and canceled?  Text and email are your options.  Which one will work best?
• Will you be using this for all your regular clients too?  You will have to set up each client in the system.
• How much are you willing to pay?  The prices vary from free to I have seen like $79 a month but that probably includes more than just a booking system and there are free ones too.
• Will you need a system to screen clients and ask them questions before or when they book?  Is there information you need to know, like I need to know what insurance they have if they have it and if they have their prescription.  Many insurance companies here will tell people that they don’t need a prescription and I won’t take anyone that doesn’t have one so with the contradictory information, some people just think it is OK because the insurance company said it was OK.
• Will you be able to easily update your schedule from wherever you are – like to take yourself off the schedule or book a client who has called or that you run into in person somewhere?  Again a mobile website or app is necessary.
• Is there just you or do you need to have it so employees/Independent Contractors can access the scheduling?  How many people will need to have their own schedule?
• How easy is it to reach support?  Some only have email support and not live, phone support.

So I would recommend that you start with the companies that your association have networked with that provide you with a member discount.  For ABMP members it is  FullSlate.  AMTA offers discounts with Genbook. 

Also most companies will let you have a free trial which is good for you to see how it really works and if it will work for you.   Look at the actual process that people go through to make appointments – is it easy to follow and figure out how to make appointments?  Some are much better than others.  How many clicks does it take to make an actual appointment?

So after a few trials so far, I am settling into FullSlate – mainly because it was just the first one that worked with my phone.
There are also many, many others.  Here are a few:

Schedulicity.com , www.appointment-plus.com ,  www.mindbodyonline.com,    www.bodyworkbuddy.com.  

Free:  www.clickbook.net

Some other things that I thought was that everyone would just start using this and it would make it so I wouldn’t be answering and returning phone calls.  That is not true so far.  People are still calling.  I am not sure if they don’t clearly see the button for booking even though I have it in about 3 different places or what it is.   I had people calling on Sunday when I don’t work and I have my hours clearly stated and set up accordingly on the scheduling system.  People will still call! and email!  I am not sure how much it is really cutting down my work time either.  I have to always remember to check the thing and also if I have an opening that doesn’t get filled, I have to remember to block it out.  I usually will leave early or go run errands when I don’t have an appointment.