Barbershop booking guide
Taking appointments on your barbershop website.
This page explains how online booking on your website works, the different booking systems you can use, how to set each one up, and what it costs in Canada and the USA. Take your time. If you get stuck, contact us.
Outside companies' prices checked October 31, 2026. Prices can change, so check the provider's own page before you sign up.
Who does what: This is a step-by-step guide for you to follow. You set up your own accounts and equipment (Square, Booksy, Fresha or another booking app) using the steps below. Our part is the website: once your account is ready, we connect your website to it at no extra charge.
How it works
- Your customer opens your website and taps Book.
- They pick a service. Each one shows its price and how long it takes, for example "Classic cut $32 · 30 min".
- They pick a barber, or "Anyone" for the first free chair.
- They pick a day (only days you're open) and a time.
- They enter their name, mobile number and an optional note, then tap Book appointment. The site tells them to pay at the shop after the cut, and that tipping is optional.
- What happens next depends on the option you choose below.
Walk-in shops skip booking. Their website shows a big "call ahead for the wait" button instead.
Your options at a glance
| Option | Real open times? | Monthly cost (starting) |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Email + text request | No, you confirm | None (texts are pennies) |
| 2. Square Appointments | Yes | $0 |
| 3. Booksy | Yes | $29.99 |
| 4. Fresha | Yes | $19.95 |
| 5. Vagaro | Yes | US $30 / CA $35 |
| 6. Squire | Yes | US $30 |
| 7. Setmore | Yes | $0 |
| 8. Google "Book" button | Through a provider | Free from Google |
Option 1: Email and text request, you confirm
How it works: The request comes to you by email and/or text: service, barber, day, time, name, mobile and note. You text or call the customer to confirm.
- Decide which email and cell number requests should go to.
- Send us that, plus your hours, services, prices and barbers. We connect your website's booking form to them at no extra charge.
- Make a test booking on your website and check that it arrives.
Good
- Free and simple
- Fine for a one-chair shop
Watch out for
- It doesn't know your real calendar, so double bookings can happen
- No automatic reminders
- No deposits
Canada
- Email: no outside cost
- Texts: about $0.0083 USD each plus carrier fees, and $1.15 USD/month for a number (Twilio)
USA
- Same costs
- Business texting needs a one-time registration ("A2P 10DLC") with extra fees
Option 2: Square Appointments
How it works: Your services, barbers and calendars live in Square. Customers only see real open times. Square sends text and email reminders, and you take payment at the chair with Square.
Two ways to connect your site:
- Easiest: your website's Book button opens your Square booking page.
- Or your website's own booking form, connected to Square, so times are real and bookings land in your Square calendar. Square allows this on its free plan. Ask us if you'd like this instead.
- Open a free Square account and turn on Appointments.
- Add your services (price and length), your barbers and their hours.
- Choose your reminder and cancellation settings.
- Send us your Square booking link. We connect your website at no extra charge.
- Make a test booking on your website and check that it shows in Square.
- You can also add a Book button to Google, Instagram and Facebook from Square.
Canada
- Free: $0/month. Plus: $35. Premium: $85 (per location)
- Free includes the booking site, text and email reminders and unlimited staff calendars
- No-show and late-cancellation fees need Plus. Plus also adds a waitlist and Google Calendar sync
- Prepayments: on all plans
- Card fees: in person 2.5% (credit), Interac 0.75% + 7¢. Online prepayments and no-show fees 2.8% + 30¢. Typed-in or card on file 3.3% + 15¢
USA
- Free: $0/month. Plus: $49. Premium: $149 (per location)
- Free includes the booking site, reminders and unlimited staff calendars
- Cancellation policy, no-show fees and waitlist need Plus
- Card fees: in person 2.6% + 15¢ (Free), 2.5% + 15¢ (Plus), 2.4% + 15¢ (Premium). Online 3.3% + 30¢ (Free) or 2.9% + 30¢. Card on file 3.5% + 15¢
Option 3: Booksy
How it works: A booking app many barbers already use. Customers book on your Booksy page or in the Booksy app. Reminders, no-show protection, waitlists and Google booking are included.
- Sign up (14-day free trial in the US).
- Add your services and barbers.
- Send us your Booksy booking link. We add it to your website at no extra charge.
Canada
- Booksy's Canadian page shows $29.99/month + tax
- It doesn't list extra-staff or card fees, and says Canadian features may differ. Ask Booksy before you sign up
USA
- $29.99/month, plus $20/month for each extra team member
- Card fees: 2.69% + 30¢ (mobile and typed-in), 2.49% + 10¢ (Booksy reader), 2.49% + 20¢ (Tap to Pay)
- Optional "Boost": 30% of a new client's first visit, up to $100. Off unless you turn it on
Option 4: Fresha
How it works: Booking, calendar and checkout for salons and barbers. Card payments are optional, but you need them for deposits and no-show fees.
- Sign up (7-day trial).
- Add your services and team.
- Send us your Fresha booking link. We add it to your website at no extra charge.
Canada
- Canadian prices weren't confirmed. Check Fresha's page from Canada
USA (as shown on Fresha's page)
- Independent: $19.95/month (one person)
- Team: $14.95/month per bookable team member
- 100 free texts a month, then $0.02 each
- New clients from the Fresha marketplace: 20% one-time fee ($6 minimum). No fee for clients who book through your own link or website
- Card fees: online 2.79% + $0.20, in person 2.29% + $0.20
Option 5: Vagaro
How it works: Booking, calendar, checkout and marketing for salons and barbershops. You pay per bookable calendar (each barber).
Canada
- $35/month, plus $15/month per extra calendar, up to 7
USA
- $30/month ($23.99 for the first 6 months), plus $10/month per extra calendar, up to 7
Beyond 7 calendars, more barbers are free. Premium features cost extra. Card and text fees weren't confirmed.
Your website: sign up with Vagaro yourself, then send us your booking link. We add it to your website at no extra charge.
Option 6: Squire
How it works: Booking, payments and shop management built just for barbers, with free unlimited email and text reminders and no-show protection.
Canada
- Availability and pricing weren't confirmed. Ask Squire
USA
- Independent (solo barber): $30/month
- Pro (one shop, multiple barbers, Google and Instagram booking, waitlist): $50/month
- Executive $150, Titan $250
- 14-day free trial
When we checked, Squire's sign-up page showed a different Pro price ($100/month), so confirm the price with Squire.
Your website: sign up with Squire yourself, then send us your booking link. We add it to your website at no extra charge.
Option 7: Setmore
How it works: Simple booking pages, with a free plan.
Canada and USA (US dollars)
- Free: $0 for up to 4 staff, with email reminders
- Pro: $12 per staff member a month, or $5 a month if paid yearly. Adds text reminders (500 per member each month; Setmore says this varies by country)
Good to know
- Every staff calendar counts as a user
- Setmore lists Google booking
Your website: sign up with Setmore yourself, then send us your booking link. We add it to your website at no extra charge.
Option 8: Google "Book" button
How it works: Customers book right from your Google listing on Search and Maps.
- In your Google Business Profile, choose Bookings, then Get started.
- Pick your booking provider (Square, Booksy, Setmore and Squire all list Google booking), or add your own booking link that points to your website.
- It shows on Google within about a week.
Cost: Google doesn't charge. Google says your provider might, so check with them.
Deposits, no-shows, reminders, staff and walk-ins
- Deposits and no-show fees: Square has prepayments on all plans and no-show fees on Plus. Booksy, Fresha and Squire all offer no-show protection or fees. For Vagaro and Setmore, ask them. Card fees apply. Tell customers your policy clearly before they book.
- Reminders: free on Square, Booksy and Squire. Fresha includes 100 free texts a month. Setmore's texts need Pro. With option 1, you call or text yourself.
- Staff calendars (one per barber): unlimited on Square's free plan. Booksy: +$20/month per extra member (US). Fresha: $14.95 per member. Vagaro: +$10 (US) or +$15 (Canada) per calendar, up to 7. Setmore: free up to 4 staff.
- Walk-ins: most shops take both walk-ins and bookings, and booked times keep a chair free. For walk-in-only shops, the simplest setup is a big "Call for the wait" button. Ask us about a wait board on your website that you update from your phone.
Differences for US barbershops
- Prices are in US dollars. Square's paid plans cost more in the US ($49 and $149, vs $35 and $85 in Canada). Vagaro costs less in the US ($30 + $10 per calendar, vs $35 + $15).
- Sales tax: in Ontario, HST applies to haircuts. In the US, whether haircuts are taxed depends on the state.
- Business texting in the US needs a one-time registration (A2P 10DLC) with fees.
- Reminder texts are normally fine to send. Marketing texts and emails need the customer's permission in both countries (Canada's CASL; US federal and state rules).
- Booksy, Fresha, Squire and Setmore publish US prices. Canadian details are thinner, so check before you sign up.
Common questions
What does MainStreetReady charge for this?
Nothing extra. Connecting your website to your booking app is included at no extra charge. The only costs are the outside companies' fees listed on this page.
Do customers pay to book?
No. They pay at the shop, unless you choose to take a deposit.
Who gets the tips?
Your shop. Tips are paid at the appointment.
Can each barber have their own schedule?
Yes, with any of the booking systems (options 2 to 7). With option 1, you manage it yourself.
What if a customer doesn't show?
With option 1, you can only call them. With a booking system, reminders cut down on no-shows, and you can charge a no-show fee if your plan allows it.
Sources (checked October 31, 2026)
- Square Appointments pricing: Canada, USA, bookings from other websites
- Booksy: USA pricing, Canada
- Fresha: pricing
- Vagaro: plans and pricing
- Squire: pricing
- Setmore: pricing
- Google Business Profile: bookings help
- Twilio texts: USA, Canada
Questions? We're happy to walk you through it.
The MainStreetReady team
Email: support@mainstreetready.com
Text or call 226-583-1464 (send a text)