Acuity Scheduling: Online Appointment Scheduling Software

If you run a service-based business, you know the drill: endless emails, phone tag, missed calls, and the constant headache of coordinating appointments. What if your clients could book themselves, pay upfront, and get automatic reminders, all while you focus on actually running your business? That’s the promise of Acuity Scheduling, now integrated into the Squarespace platform as Squarespace Scheduling.

This online appointment scheduling solution aims to be your 24/7 automated assistant, letting clients self-schedule appointments or classes, fill out custom forms, receive confirmations, and even handle payments securely online. Whether you’re managing a simple solo practice or a complex team schedule across multiple locations, Acuity Scheduling is designed to bring order to the chaos.

What Exactly is Acuity Scheduling?

Think of Acuity Scheduling (or Squarespace Scheduling) as a smart, automated receptionist living on your website. It tackles the time-consuming administrative tasks associated with booking clients. The core problem it solves is freeing up business owners and teams from manual scheduling, reducing no-shows through automated reminders, and providing a professional, seamless booking experience for clients anytime, anywhere. Its purpose is to automate the entire booking lifecycle, from initial interest to post-appointment follow-up.

Key Features That Make a Difference

Acuity Scheduling packs a punch with features designed to simplify operations:

• Effortless Online Booking: Clients see your real-time availability and book appointments or classes directly online, 24/7, without needing to contact you.
• Automated Reminders & Confirmations: Reduce no-shows significantly with customizable email and SMS reminders sent automatically to clients.
• Customizable Intake Forms: Gather all the necessary information upfront by creating tailored forms clients fill out during booking.
• Online Payments: Securely accept payments or deposits via integrations with Stripe, Square, and PayPal. This can improve cash flow and commitment.
• Calendar Syncing: Automatically syncs with Google Calendar, Outlook, and iCloud Calendar to prevent double bookings and keep your personal schedule aligned.
• Team Scheduling: Manage multiple staff members, locations, and calendars under one account, setting unique availability for each.
• Client Management: Keep track of client history, notes, and appointment details in one place.
• Customization & Branding: Embed the scheduler directly onto your website and customize its look to match your brand identity.
• Packages, Gift Certificates & Subscriptions: Offer appointment packages, sell gift certificates, or even set up recurring appointments or subscriptions.
• Reporting & Analytics: Gain insights into your bookings, revenue, popular services, and client trends.
• Robust Integrations: Connects with video conferencing tools (like Zoom, Google Meet), email marketing platforms (like Mailchimp), accounting software (like QuickBooks), and thousands more apps via Zapier.

How Does It Work?

Setting up Acuity Scheduling typically involves:

1. Defining Your Availability: Block off times you’re unavailable and set your regular working hours.
2. Creating Appointment Types: Define the services or classes you offer, including duration and price.
3. Customizing Settings: Set up reminder timings, intake forms, payment requirements, and branding.
4. Sharing Your Scheduler: Embed the booking widget directly onto your website or share your unique scheduling page link.

From the client’s perspective, they simply visit your scheduling page, choose a service/time, fill out any required forms, potentially make a payment, and receive an instant confirmation. The appointment automatically appears on your calendar, and reminders are queued up.

Use Case Example: A yoga studio can use it to let students book classes online, pay for drop-ins or class packs, and receive reminders. A business consultant can use it to schedule client calls, automatically request project details via intake forms, and sync bookings with their Google Calendar.

Who is Acuity Scheduling For?

Acuity Scheduling is incredibly versatile, making it suitable for a wide range of users:

• Service-Based Small Businesses: Salons, spas, photographers, therapists, tutors, repair shops, etc.
• Coaches & Consultants: Business coaches, life coaches, financial advisors.
• Health & Wellness Professionals: Therapists, chiropractors, personal trainers, massage therapists.
• Educational Institutions & Tutors: For booking classes, workshops, or tutoring sessions.
• Teams & Agencies: Managing schedules for multiple staff members or across different locations.

Essentially, anyone who relies on appointments and wants to automate the booking process can benefit.

Pricing & Availability

Acuity Scheduling is now part of Squarespace and offered under the Squarespace Scheduling name. It operates on a subscription model with different tiers, typically including:

Note: Specific features and pricing are subject to change. Check the official Squarespace Scheduling website for the most current details.

Pros and Cons of Acuity Scheduling

Based on its features and common user feedback, here’s a balanced look:

Pros:

• Significant Time Savings: Automates the entire booking process, freeing up valuable time.
• Reduced No-Shows: Automated reminders are highly effective in minimizing missed appointments.
• Professional Client Experience: Offers a smooth, modern, and convenient booking process for clients.
• High Customization: Allows for tailored intake forms, branding, and scheduling rules.
• Powerful Integrations: Connects seamlessly with essential business tools (calendars, payments, video conferencing, marketing).
• Payment Processing: Simplifies collecting payments or deposits upfront.
• Scalability: Supports solo users up to large teams with multiple locations.

Cons:

• Cost: Can become relatively expensive, especially for teams needing the higher-tier plans.
• Learning Curve: While generally user-friendly, mastering all advanced features and customizations can take time.
• Feature Gating: Some highly desirable features (like SMS reminders or specific integrations) are often reserved for more expensive plans.
• Squarespace Integration: While powerful, being part of the Squarespace ecosystem might feel unnecessary or add complexity if you don’t use or need other Squarespace tools.
• Limited Customization on Lower Tiers: Branding and functional customization might be restricted on entry-level plans.

Take Control of Your Calendar

Acuity Scheduling, now Squarespace Scheduling, stands out as a robust and comprehensive solution for automating appointment bookings. It effectively eliminates the administrative burden of manual scheduling, reduces costly no-shows, and provides a polished, professional interface for your clients. While the advanced features come at a higher price point, the time saved and improved client management often provide a significant return on investment for service-based businesses.

Simplify Scheduling with Acuity Today

If you’re drowning in scheduling tasks and looking for a powerful, customizable, and automated way to manage your appointments, Acuity Scheduling is definitely worth exploring.

Ready to simplify your schedule? Visit Squarespace Scheduling to learn more and start a free trial.