Why Tradies Lose Customers Without Online Booking
A customer who can book a time on your website has no reason to ring the next tradie. One who has to wait for a call back does. Here is what online booking changes, and what a booking system has to handle for a trade.
Your Online Booking Questions Answered
What booking system should tradies use?
One that captures the job address, allows a different length for each type of job, takes a deposit upfront and connects to your CRM. Not every booking tool handles all four, so check before you choose.
How much does online booking cost?
On our plans it is included in the setup and monthly fee; current prices are on our Pricing page. Standalone tools charge a monthly subscription. Acuity Scheduling, for one, starts from US$16 a month.
Can customers pay a deposit when they book online?
Yes. The booking form can take a deposit by card when the customer picks a time. A customer who has paid has a reason to be there when you arrive.
How quickly can I get online booking set up?
For most service businesses it goes live with the rest of the build — a 10 business day launch, counted from the day we have your details and account access. The booking system is configured as part of the full build.
What online booking changes, and what it has to handle
The customer gets a time, not a call back
Someone ready to book wants a time. If your site gives them one and the next tradie's gives them a voicemail, the job is yours.
After-hours enquiries captured
People organise repairs when they get the chance, often after you have knocked off. Online booking takes the job while your phone is in the ute.
A deposit makes the booking firm
A customer who has picked a service, chosen a time and paid a deposit has a reason to be home when you turn up.
The job address, captured up front
A trade booking is not a salon booking. The form has to take the job address, so you know where you are going, and whether it is in your area, before you accept.
A different length for each job
A power point takes an hour and a switchboard upgrade takes most of a day. The system needs its own length for each service, or the diary fills with slots that do not fit the work.
Every job tracked automatically
Every booking flows into your CRM automatically. Full pipeline visibility without manual data entry.
The job is booked before you see the message
Most tradies call back the same day. The trouble is the gap in between, while the customer is still looking. Online booking closes that gap.
We set up online booking on Growth Plus, or as an add-on to Growth, configured for your services, your job lengths, and connected to your CRM so every lead is tracked from first contact to completed job. Not every platform can do this. We've compared which website builders actually handle tradie bookings.
Rather see it than read about it?
Tell us about your business and we'll build your homepage — a real working page, not a sketch. Back to you within 2 business days of getting your details. No cost, no obligation. It's a preview: the page stays with us unless you go ahead.