Square Adds No-Show Protection

You probably know all about Square as a credit card processor, but you may not realize the company offers online scheduling as well. With Square Appointments, your clients can book online 24/7. The software is flexible, allowing you to accept appointments on your website, on a free Square web page, or via e-mail. As customers book, your schedule automatically fills up.

Square recently added “no-show protection” to reduce this too-common drain on your time and bottom line. When you log into Square Appointments, you now have the option to require clients to enter their credit card information when they book. You can also elect to apply a fee if someone misses the appointment or cancels at the last minute. This fee will never be charged automatically — you’re in control of when you choose to apply it. You can also display a custom cancellation message to describe your policy in plain terms.

“Businesses using Square Appointments have found that merely instituting a policy reduces no-shows,” says Faryl Ury, a spokeswoman for Square. “The simple act of entering card information is often enough to keep customers from missing their appointment.”

For more information, go to www.squareup.com/appointments.