/ Web design
How do I add online booking to my website?
Use an off-the-shelf tool for £0–£30/month, or build custom if your rules are unusual. Most businesses should use the tool.
/ 01
The short version
Booking is a solved problem unless your scheduling logic is genuinely weird.
/ 02
What actually matters
- • Calendly, Cal.com or Google Appointments for consultations.
- • Fresha, Treatwell or Timely for salons and clinics.
- • ServiceM8 or Tradify for trades with job scheduling.
- • Embed it — don't send people off-site if you can avoid it.
- • Custom builds make sense for multi-resource or deposit-heavy scheduling.
/ 03
The bit most people get wrong
Deposits reduce no-shows more than reminder emails do. If no-shows are your problem, take payment at booking.
/ 04
What to do next
Pick one tool, embed it on a dedicated /book page, and link it from your header.
/ 05
Where RIOT fits in
We're a small Colchester studio helping UK SMBs get online booking right without agency waste or freelancer flake. If you've read this far and you want a second opinion on your specific setup, book a 20-minute call and we'll tell you honestly whether it's worth doing anything at all.
We work with clients across Essex, Suffolk, London and the wider UK — and remotely with brands abroad. No lock-in, no monthly retainer minimums, no pretending your problem is bigger than it is.
/ FAQs
Common questions
Can I take deposits?
Yes — most tools integrate Stripe.
Does booking hurt phone enquiries?
No, it adds a channel for people who hate phoning.
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