Is Your Website Set Up for Bookings?
Running a business that depends on appointments or rentals? Whether it’s a salon, a dental office, a small hotel, or even a bike rental service, people expect to book online. If a website doesn’t support that, customers may move on to one that does.
WooCommerce is a great way to sell products; however, it isn’t able to support bookings. The great thing is that there are tools available to allow you to easily transform an existing WooCommerce site into a space where customers can spend the time of their visit, book an appointment, or book rooms.
So, what’s the best way to add booking features to a WooCommerce store? Here’s what to know.
Why Booking Features Matter in WooCommerce
Customers don’t want contact via send an email, or wait on replies to book. They’d like to select the time, pay and then get confirmation within a couple of clicks.
Without a proper system in place:
- Staff spend time managing bookings manually
- Mistakes and double bookings happen
- Customers get frustrated
This is the point where a WooCommerce booking plugin comes in. It takes care of the heavy lifting while letting the store’s owner as well as the customer concentrate on what is important.
What to Look for in a Booking System
There are a lot of booking tools out there. Some are too simple. Others are too complex. The best ones offer the right features without being hard to use. Here are the most useful features to keep in mind:
1. Custom Time Slots
Some businesses work by the hour. Others by the day. Some need gaps between bookings. A good plugin should let store owners:
- Set fixed time slots
- Let customers choose how long they need
- Block out lunch breaks, holidays, or off-hours
You can use this sort of setup to save time when it comes to back-and-forth customer communication.
2. Pricing Based on People or Rooms
Not all customers are the same. A family booking a room won’t pay the same as a single guest. The right booking tool should support:
- Different prices for adults and children
- Custom rates for group bookings
- Price changes based on the room type or service selected
This is useful for hotels, tour companies, or anyone who offers different options.
3. Extra Services
Sometimes customers want more than just the base booking. Maybe they want to add breakfast, book an extra bed, or request equipment. A solid WooCommerce appointment booking plugin should allow optional services with clear pricing so customers can add what they need before checking out.
4. Booking Confirmations and Reminders
After booking, people expect to get a confirmation right away. They also appreciate reminders before the appointment. A booking system should:
- Send automatic confirmation emails
- Remind customers before the scheduled time
- Let admins know when new bookings come in
With these features, you can reduce any missed appointments and keep things running smoothly on your site.
5. An Easy Calendar System for Admins
Managing bookings is easier with a calendar view. Instead of digging through order lists, admins should be able to:
- See bookings by day or week
- Click to view or edit any booking
- Keep track of availability at a glance
This is especially helpful for busy businesses with multiple bookings a day.
A Look at Some Booking Tools That Work with WooCommerce
There are a few well-known plugins built for WooCommerce appointments, but one stands out for offering a full list of features without being hard to set up.
Booking and Appointment for WooCommerce by Extendons
The Booking for WooCommerce plugin covers pretty much everything that a business may need for performing online booking.
Almost everything a business might need for taking bookings online. It’s built to handle different booking types, whether that’s appointments, rentals, or overnight stays.
Key features:
- Choose from fixed or flexible time slots
- Set prices based on people or rooms
- Show optional add-on services during checkout
- Display business location using Google Maps
- Let customers book multiple rooms or items at once
- Send confirmation and reminder emails
- Works with multiple languages (great for stores with international customers)
Extendons is a trusted developer in the WooCommerce space, and this plugin is a solid option for businesses that want to take bookings seriously.
Other Tools Worth Considering
Here are a couple of other plugins that people often use for booking:
- Bookly for WooCommerce: Good for businesses offering services like coaching, tutoring, or wellness sessions. Has a modern design and many add-ons.
- WooCommerce Bookings (by WooCommerce) The official option. It’s a good plugin, but it may have a few shortcomings in comparison to third-party plugins, particularly when it comes to prices and other add-ons.
Each tool has its strengths. The ideal fit is determined by the nature of the business and what is required from your booking software.
Setting Up Booking for WooCommerce (Simple Steps)
Here’s how the setup usually works, using a plugin like Extendons:
1. Install the Plugin
Upload and activate your WooCommerce booking plugin through the WordPress admin after you have bought it.
2. Create a Bookable Product
Make a new product or update an existing one, and mark it as bookable. This tells WooCommerce to treat it as something customers can schedule.
3. Set Time Slots and Availability
Pick how bookings should work—fixed times, custom durations, available days, etc.
4. Add Pricing Rules
Set different prices based on person type or service options. Add extras that customers can select.
5. Turn on Email Notifications
Send booking confirmations and reminders automatically through the settings of your plugin.
6. Check Everything
Perform a test booking process from the front end to make sure that it looks right, your prices are accurate, and your emails are sent as expected.
How a Booking System Helps Day to Day Business
A good booking system not only makes things easier for the customer, it also helps the business stay organized.
Here’s how:
- Less time spent answering emails or taking phone calls
- Bookings can come in even when the business is closed
- Customers get instant confirmation, so there’s no waiting
- Easier to plan ahead when the calendar is full and up to date
It also greatly reduces errors that are usually man made, including accidental appointment scheduling twice or forgetting to make one in the first place.
FAQs
Is it really necessary to have a booking plugin if we have WooCommerce?
Yes. WooCommerce doesn’t include any booking related features by default. A plugin adds that functionality.
Can customers book more than one thing at a time?
Yes, many plugins—including the one from Extendons—let customers book multiple rooms or services in one go.
Is it possible to set prices for adults and kids separately?
Definitely. A good booking plugin lets store owners create custom pricing for different groups of people.
What happens if a customer cancels?
Most plugins let store admins manage cancellations and send out updates. Some also let customers cancel or reschedule from their account.
Will booking features slow down my site?
If the plugin is built well and properly optimized, it will not be a problem. However, it is recommended to first test the plugins before you go live.
Final Thoughts
Taking bookings through a WooCommerce store doesn’t need to be complicated. With the right setup, a website can become a full booking system, one that works around the clock.
There are many tools out there, but the Booking and Appointment for WooCommerce plugin by Extendons is a reliable choice. It is very adaptable for various types of businesses and has features that simply make the online booking process easy.
Whether you have a hotel, a rental service, a small clinic, or whatever, the goal is always the same when it comes to them, making it simple for customers to book stuff!
