How do I choose a booking app for a barbershop?

1. Test haircuts, beard services and barber selection

If a haircut and beard service take longer than a haircut alone, the calendar needs to reflect that. Check who provides each service and when, especially with different shifts.

Illustrative example: two barbers can serve customers at 10 a.m. in separate calendars. That does not mean one barber can cut two people’s hair at once. Choose a system that makes the distinction clear.

• Haircut, beard and combination durations.
• Services and availability per professional.
• A way to record bookings agreed by phone or at the shop.

2. Check what happens when a customer misses a visit or wants to return

Review the complete journey: booking, receiving appointment details, confirming where applicable, and cancelling or rescheduling. Check no-response policies and last-minute bookings.

For return visits, look for history and future appointments. Compare the subscription with messaging costs and each professional’s access. A confirmation request does not guarantee attendance and a waiting list does not guarantee a replacement booking.

• Test on the phone of someone unfamiliar with the system.
• Check who receives notifications and through which channels.
• Compare costs for your team and expected messaging volume.

3. How BookingChat meets these criteria

This guide is published by the BookingChat team. Each professional has a calendar with associated services and hours. Customers book on the web without installing an app or creating an account and manage bookings through their link under applicable rules.

Selected extras add duration and price. WhatsApp requests and notifications follow settings, an active plan and balance. History lets you review visits, and the waiting list can notify someone of a released space when conditions are met. Test your haircut and beard workflow and review current plans before deciding.