This guide will walk you through best practices for setting up your Online Booking system — from branding and booking rules to staff display and smart restrictions that protect your calendar.
To access Online Booking settings, go to:
Setup > Online Bookings > Customize tab
General Settings Best Practices
1. Header & Footer Messages
Use clear, welcoming text to guide your clients.
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Header message: A short, friendly intro (e.g. “Welcome to our Online Booking platform. Just a few clicks to book your next appointment!”)
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Footer message: Add your contact info or support note (e.g. “If you have questions, call us at 0123 456 789.”)
NOTE: To learn more about this topic please refer to this article.
2. Add Terms & Privacy Policy Links
Include your clinic’s Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy URLs so clients can review them while booking. This ensures legal transparency and builds trust.
3. Avoid “Require Form to Be Completed”
We don’t recommend enabling this option. Forcing clients to complete a form before booking often causes drop-off.
Instead: Attach the form to the confirmation email or assign it through the Client Portal.
4. Avoid “Allow Cancellations” & “Allow Reschedule”
Giving clients the ability to cancel or reschedule online can lead to last-minute gaps in your schedule.
Best practice: Keep both disabled and handle changes manually through your team.
5. Enable Waitlist
Allow clients to join a Waitlist if their preferred time is unavailable. This helps fill last-minute cancellations and keeps your calendar full.
6. Time Interval (Recommended: 15 or 30 minutes)
Choose how often clients can book — most clinics use 15-minute or 30-minute intervals to match their standard appointment durations.
7. Background Color
Choose a default or soft color that matches your company branding — pastel shades are ideal for a clean, professional look.
Services & Categories Best Practices
1. Show service prices
This gives clients clear expectations upfront and helps avoid surprises at checkout.
2. Show service duration
Useful for clients planning their schedules. It also communicates how long they’ll be in-clinic.
3. Show service description
Short, clear descriptions help clients choose the right service — especially for aesthetic or treatment-based clinics.
`NOTE: Read this article, on how to use the AI tool for service descriptions.
4. Show service reviews — Leave disabled unless you have 5–10 reviews per service
If a service has few or no reviews, showing stars or review counts can backfire.
It’s better to hide this setting until your reviews build up.
You can always turn it on later once your online feedback is consistent and positive.
5. Minimum Advance Booking Time (Recommended: 6h+)
Prevent clients from booking too close to the appointment time by setting a minimum advance time.
We recommend at least 6 hours to give your team time to prepare.
Location Settings Best Practices
Enable:
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Search by ZIP/postcode
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Select most-visited location by default
NOTE: You can refer to this article to learn more about this topic.
These settings help clients find and book at the right clinic faster, especially if you have multiple branches.
Team Display Best Practices
Enable:
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Show employee job title
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Show employee profiles
Additional display options can also be enabled based on your clinic’s preferences.
NOTE: You can refer to this article to learn more about this topic.
Disable:
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Show employee reviews
Until your team members each have a strong review base, it’s best to leave this off.
Your Booking Details Best Practices
Enable Package Upsell
Encourage clients to book treatment packages (e.g., 3 Microneedling sessions) by highlighting bundled offers.
Allow Promo Codes
If you run discounts or marketing campaigns, enabling promo codes helps you track and apply offers easily during online checkout.
Enable Google Reserve (If Applicable)
Activate Reserve with Google to let clients book directly from your Google Business listing. This can boost online visibility and reduce booking friction — especially for new clients searching nearby.
Final Setup Checklist
| Setting | Best Practice |
|---|---|
| Header & Footer | Friendly intro + contact info |
| Terms/Privacy | Add your clinic’s policy links |
| Require Form | Disabled (send forms after booking) |
| Cancellations/Rescheduling | Disabled |
| Waitlist | Optional — fill last-minute gaps |
| Time Interval | 15 or 30 minutes |
| Minimum Advance | 6 hours or more |
| Background Color | Soft, light, and consistent with your emails |
| Show Prices | Enabled — transparent pricing builds trust |
| Show Duration | Enabled — helps clients plan their day |
| Show Description | Enabled — clear guidance for service selection |
| Show Service Reviews | Disabled unless service has 5–10+ reviews |
| Category Photos/Icons | Enabled — improves visual flow |
| Location Search + Default | Both enabled — faster booking for repeat clients |
| Employee Job Titles/Profiles | Enabled — builds trust and guides selection |
| Employee Reviews | Disabled until consistently positive |
| Package Upsell | Recommended |
| Promo Codes | Recommended if used in campaigns |
| Google Reserve | Optional — boosts discoverability through Google |
Setting up your Online Booking settings properly isn’t just about branding — it protects your calendar, streamlines operations, and builds client trust.
Keep things simple, informative, and structured — and let your clients focus on booking with ease.
Need help reviewing your setup? Reach out to our team — we’re happy to guide you through optimizing it for your clinic.
For more guides, refer to related articles below, select additional guides, or use the search bar at the top of the page. These guides will help you get the most out of your Pabau account.
Additionally, to help you fully utilize and understand your Pabau account, we recommend exploring additional guides and resources offered at the Pabau Academy. It offers in-depth video tutorials and lessons, offering a holistic learning experience that can equip you with the essential skills for achieving success with Pabau.