The decisions that come before the button
The «book» button is the last step, not the first. First, four things must be decided: which services are bookable online, how long they really take, whether the client can choose the professional, and whether requests are confirmed immediately or go through an approval process.
These are decisions that seem technical but are actually commercial. Making a bleaching service bookable online without ever having seen the base means ending up with a four-hour job booked in the calendar as if it were two. Making only cuts and blow-dries bookable means leaving out the services that pay the rent.
The middle ground that almost always works: repetitive services are booked independently, important technical services go through a first visit or a request that the salon approves. This way the agenda fills up without anyone promising times they cannot keep.
What to make bookable and what not
The table distinguishes the services that can be opened immediately from those that should be filtered.
| Service | Bookable online | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Cut and styling | Immediately | Predictable duration, little variability |
| Color touch-up for existing client | Immediately | The base is already documented |
| Bleaching or major change | On request | The duration depends on the actual base. |
| First visit with consultation | Immediately, as a standalone service | This is the moment the rest is decided. |
How to open bookings
Choose bookable services
Repetitive immediately, important technicals on request.
Measure actual durations
Two weeks of stopwatch time are worth more than the price list.
Decide on confirmation or approval
And how long a pending request remains valid.
Publish page and widget
On the website, on social media, and on the local listing.
Before opening
- Decide which services are bookable and which require approval.
- Measure actual durations, not those on the price list.
- Establish what happens to a request that no one approves.
Price list durations and real durations almost never coincide. Before publishing the agenda, it is worth timing the most frequent services for two weeks: it is the fastest way to discover that a blowout takes twenty minutes longer than thought, and that this is the reason why delays accumulate on Saturdays.
The other question to close first is what happens to a pending request. If it occupies the slot and no one approves it, it blocks the appointment calendar; if it does not occupy it, two people can book the same time. The correct answer is that it occupies the slot and expires on its own after a limit decided by the salon.
From guide to salon work
In Saloria, you can set services and durations, define salon hours, and receive bookings on your public page. The general calendar is free; separate calendars for professionals are available from the Basic plan. Appointment management. Compare updated features, quotas, and prices.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to make everything bookable?
No. Repetitive services open immediately; for long technical ones, it is better to have them go through a request that you approve or a first visit.
What happens if someone books at night?
The appointment enters the appointment calendar with the rules you have set: minimum advance notice, bookable days in advance, and limit of appointments per day.
Does the client have to create an account?
With Saloria, no. You book with name and services, receive confirmation and a link to modify or cancel within the limit you decide.