How do I set up online booking for my salon?

Sign up for Booklink (free), add your services with prices and durations, add your team members, set your availability schedule, and share your booking link on WhatsApp, Instagram, and your website. Takes under 5 minutes.

Can my clients choose their stylist when booking online?

Yes. With Booklink, you add each stylist as a team member with their own profile and photo. Clients see the full team on your booking page and choose who they want, or you can let Booklink auto-assign based on availability.

How to Set Up Online Booking for Your Salon

Running a salon means your phone is constantly buzzing with booking requests - WhatsApp messages, missed calls, Instagram DMs. Meanwhile, you're trying to do someone's colour. An online booking system lets clients book themselves while you focus on what you do best.

Here's how to set up online booking specifically for a hair salon, beauty salon, or nail studio in South Africa.

What you need from a salon booking system

Not all booking systems are built for salons. You need one that supports:

A service menu with prices - clients should see "Cut & Blowdry - R350, 45 min" not just a blank time slot
Multiple team members - clients want to choose their stylist, not get assigned randomly
Individual availability - each stylist has their own schedule and days off
Payment collection - take deposits or full payment at booking to reduce no-shows
WhatsApp reminders - because your clients check WhatsApp, not email

Booklink is built for exactly this. Here's how to set it up.

Step 1: Create your account

Step 2: Add your services

Create a service for each treatment you offer. For a typical salon:

Wash, Cut & Blowdry - R350, 45 min
Cut Only - R200, 30 min
Full Colour - R650, 90 min
Highlights - R800, 120 min
Blowdry & Style - R250, 30 min
Treatment & Blowdry - R450, 60 min

Include the duration - Booklink uses this to calculate available time slots and prevent overlapping bookings.

Step 3: Add your team

Add each stylist or therapist as a team member. Each team member gets:

Their own name and profile on the booking page
Their own availability schedule
Their own Google Calendar connection (so personal events block their booking slots)

When clients book, they see all available team members and choose who they want. No more "who's available on Thursday?" back-and-forth.

Step 4: Set availability

Configure working hours for each team member. For example:

Sarah: Mon-Fri 08:00-17:00, Sat 08:00-14:00
Thandi: Tue-Sat 09:00-18:00
Lebo: Mon, Wed, Fri 08:00-16:00

Connect each stylist's Google Calendar so their personal appointments automatically block booking slots. If Sarah has a dentist appointment Tuesday at 10:00, that slot disappears from her bookings.

Step 5: Set up payments

Connect Yoco, PayFast, or Paystack to collect payment at booking. You can:

Require payment for high-value services (colour, treatments) and keep basic cuts free to book
Charge the full amount or a deposit

Salons that take payment upfront report 60-70% fewer no-shows. That's fewer empty chairs and more revenue.

Step 6: Share your booking link

Your booking page is ready. Share the link:

Instagram bio: Replace "DM to book" with your Booklink URL
WhatsApp auto-reply: "Thanks for your message! Book online here: [link]"
Google Business Profile: Add as your booking URL
Front desk / mirror: Print a QR code for walk-in clients to book their next visit

What your clients see

When a client visits your booking link, they see:

Your salon name and branding
A menu of services with prices and durations
Available team members
Available dates and times (based on each stylist's schedule)
A simple booking form and payment step

It's professional, mobile-friendly, and takes clients about 60 seconds to book.

Get started for free - set up your salon in about 5 minutes.