Have you ever tried to arrange a call with someone and ended up in a never-ending game of email tennis?
“I can do Tuesday morning.”
“Oh, I can’t do Tuesday. What about Thursday?”
“Thursday works, but only after 3pm.”
By the time you finally agree on a date, you’ve exchanged 17 emails, checked your diary 42 times and forgotten what the meeting was about in the first place.
This is exactly why I recommend using an online booking tool. And for many small business owners, TidyCal is a simple, affordable option that does the job without making your brain hurt.
What is TidyCal?
TidyCal is an online appointment scheduling tool. You decide when you are available, create the types of appointments people can book and share your booking link.
Your client chooses a suitable time, adds their details and receives the booking information. The appointment is added to your connected calendar too.
No diary juggling. No accidental double booking. No twenty message WhatsApp conversation while you both try to remember what next Wednesday looks like.
Your booking page can work for you at any time, even while you are with a client, walking the dog or enjoying a cup of tea that is still miraculously hot.
Why is TidyCal useful for a small business?
1. It gives you back precious time
Every “What time works for you?” message might only take a few minutes, but those minutes soon pile up.
With TidyCal, you send one link and your client can see the times you have chosen to make available. They book the slot that suits them, and everyone can get on with their day.
It is a small bit of automation, but it removes a surprisingly annoying admin job from your plate.
2. Clients can book when it suits them
People do not always look at your website during office hours. They might finally have five quiet minutes at 9pm, after the children are in bed and the house has stopped asking them questions.
A TidyCal booking page lets them choose an appointment without waiting for you to reply. That makes the process quicker and easier for them, while you keep sensible working hours.
3. It helps prevent double bookings
TidyCal can connect with Google Calendar, Microsoft 365 or Apple Calendar. It checks your connected calendar and uses your existing events to help determine which appointment times are free. You choose a primary calendar for new bookings, so everything lands where you expect it to. See TidyCal’s current calendar integrations.
That means you are far less likely to book a discovery call at the same time as a client meeting, school event or dentist appointment you had completely forgotten about.
Technology saving us from ourselves. We love to see it.
4. You stay in control of your time
Using a booking tool does not mean giving the entire internet unrestricted access to your diary. Quite the opposite.
You can choose:
- which days and hours people can book
- how long each appointment lasts
- how much notice you need
- how far ahead people can book
- whether you want breathing space between calls
- which dates you want to block out
TidyCal calls that breathing space a gap between bookings. I call it time to make a cuppa, write my notes and remember who I am before the next Zoom call begins. Explore TidyCal’s availability and booking restrictions.
5. You can create different types of appointments
Not every conversation in your business needs to be the same length or follow the same process.
You might create separate booking options for:
- a free 15-minute discovery call
- a one-hour paid consultation
- a website support session
- a client catch-up
- a workshop or group session
Each booking type can have its own link, duration, availability and price. TidyCal currently allows unlimited booking types on every plan, including its free plan. Read about TidyCal booking types.
You can also make a booking type private, so it does not appear on your public booking page but can still be shared directly with the right people. That is useful for existing clients or services you do not want available to everyone.
6. You can ask useful questions before the meeting
TidyCal lets you add questions to your booking form, including short text, longer answers, choices, dates and phone numbers. This feature is currently available on the free plan as well as the paid options. See TidyCal’s booking form options.
You could ask:
- What would you like help with?
- What is your website address?
- Which service are you interested in?
- Is there anything I should know before our call?
You arrive at the meeting with some context, your client does not have to spend the first ten minutes explaining the basics and everyone feels a little more prepared.
7. It can take payment when someone books
If you offer paid consultations, coaching calls, training or other appointment-based services, TidyCal can connect with Stripe or PayPal so clients can pay as part of the booking process. Payment features and fees vary by payment provider and TidyCal plan, so check the current TidyCal pricing and features before deciding which option is right for you.
Taking payment upfront can reduce invoice chasing and gives the client a clear, simple journey: choose a time, pay and receive the booking details.
8. Reminders can reduce forgotten appointments
TidyCal sends standard email reminders on every plan, with more customisation available on paid plans. Some plans also offer SMS reminders in supported regions. Check TidyCal’s current reminder options.
Reminders are helpful for your clients and for you. We are all human, diaries are busy and sometimes Tuesday arrives with absolutely no warning.
9. It creates a more professional client experience
An organised booking process reassures people that they are in safe hands.
Instead of sending a jumble of dates and instructions, you give them one clear place to choose a time, answer any questions, pay if needed and receive their meeting details.
It feels polished without requiring a complicated system behind the scenes.
You can share your TidyCal link in emails, messages and social media, or embed a booking type on your website. TidyCal explains the available sharing and embedding options here.
Is TidyCal free?
TidyCal offers a free plan as well as paid options. The free plan includes useful essentials, but features such as automatic video meeting links, group bookings, custom reminder settings, booking limits and some integrations require a paid plan.
Plans and features can change, so always look at TidyCal’s latest pricing page rather than relying on an old screenshot or blog post.
The best option is not automatically the one with the longest feature list. Choose the plan that supports the way you actually work. There is no point paying for seventeen bells and six whistles if all you need is a straightforward way for people to book a call.
How to set up your TidyCal calendar
If you are thinking, “This sounds useful, Lisa, but I do not want to spend my afternoon clicking random settings and hoping for the best”, I have you covered.
I filmed a short video showing you how to set up your TidyCal calendar, step by step:
In the video, I’ll help you get the basics in place so you can create a booking experience that works for your business and feels easy for your clients to use.
A few tips before you share your booking link
- Before you release your shiny new calendar into the wild, test it yourself.
- Open the booking link in a private browser window.
- Make a test booking using a different email address.
- Check that the appointment appears in the correct calendar.
- Read the confirmation and reminder emails.
- Test any payment or video-call connection you plan to use.
- Make sure the available times protect your energy as well as your diary.
That final point matters. Just because you could offer calls from 8am until 8pm does not mean you should. Your booking system is there to support your business, not turn you into an appointment vending machine.
Is TidyCal right for your business?
TidyCal is worth considering if you:
- regularly arrange calls, consultations or appointments
- want to reduce back-and-forth messages
- need a simple link to share with potential or existing clients
- would like bookings added automatically to your calendar
- want the option to collect information or payment when someone books
- prefer something straightforward and budget-friendly
Like any tool, it is only helpful if it fits the way you work. But if arranging appointments is eating up your time or turning your inbox into a small administrative swamp, TidyCal could make life much easier.
Set it up once, test it properly and let it handle the diary faff while you get back to the work only you can do.
Disclosure: This post contains an affiliate link. If you buy through my link, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend tools I genuinely think could help your business.