> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.tipo.io/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.tipo.io/tipo-appointment-booking/service-setup/regular-booking-service-book-by-time-slot.md).

# Regular Booking Service (Book by time slot)

Regular Booking is the best option for services that happen in fixed time slots (minutes or hours), like haircuts, consultations, tutoring, or classes.

### ✅ What this service type does

With **Regular Booking**, customers can:

* Pick a date
* Choose an **available time slot** (example: 09:00–09:30)
* Book and (optionally) pay, depending on your payment settings

You can control:

* **Service duration** (30 min, 60 min, custom…)
* **Capacity** (how many people per slot)
* **Payment type** (free booking or pay-to-book)
* **Availability** (team members / schedules, if your app supports it)

<figure><img src="https://2420234940-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F1ux6d1pfkKFKCAAHuj8H%2Fuploads%2FyorPpEXG7PPrkCDEM9tM%2F2026-04-10_15-16-03.png?alt=media&amp;token=12b83079-2f8e-4d8d-8cdb-b334bd7a54b8" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

***

### 🎯 When should I use Regular Booking?

Use this when your service:

* Takes less than a day
* Has clear start/end times
* Needs a time-slot schedule

**Examples**

* Haircut (30–60 min)
* 1:1 consultation (60 min)
* Language lesson (45 min)
* Massage (90 min)

***

### 🧩 Before you start (recommended)

Make sure you know:

* Your service **duration** (ex: 30 min)
* Your service **capacity** (ex: 1 customer per slot)
* Whether customers must **pay to book** (Pay now / Pay later / customer chooses)

***

### 🛠️ Step-by-step: Create a Regular Booking service

#### 1) Open services

* Open the app > click **Services**
* Click **New service** button

#### 2) Choose service type

Select **Book by time slot** (time-slot service).

<figure><img src="https://2420234940-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F1ux6d1pfkKFKCAAHuj8H%2Fuploads%2Fd2Q5vUH0Wl7vxtMieYer%2F2026-04-10_15-37-24.png?alt=media&amp;token=9e0fb029-8166-4c51-9f0a-1a3015dfe0a3" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

#### 3) Create product&#x20;

* **Title** (example: *Haircut for men*)
* **Description** (optional, but helpful for customers)
* **Status**: Active (or **Draft** while testing)
* Optional: **Media**, **Vendor**, **Tags**, etc. (Shopify product fields)

<figure><img src="https://2420234940-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F1ux6d1pfkKFKCAAHuj8H%2Fuploads%2FWU4doOhUvGgf7KvrYmf1%2F2025-12-11_13-52-56.png?alt=media&amp;token=64cef357-7fcc-473e-aca6-a3b7529d4ab9" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

#### 4) Configure service settings

* Set **Capacity:** choose how many customers can book each time slot.

**Examples**

1 = one customer per slot (most common)

5 = group class with 5 seats per slot

* Set **duration** (minutes/hours): Under **Duration**, choose a preset or **Custom**.

**Examples**

Haircut: 40 **min**

<figure><img src="https://2420234940-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F1ux6d1pfkKFKCAAHuj8H%2Fuploads%2F23NVsJv9NHwjY3RHftBi%2F2025-12-10_17-48-13.png?alt=media&amp;token=6c895608-386e-47b7-8ea9-f90c5b6f61ad" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

#### 5) Choose payment type

Pick one option under **Choose payment type**:

| Option                             | What it means                                        | Best for                                   |
| ---------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------ |
| **No payment required**            | Customers book without paying online                 | Free consultations, pay-in-person services |
| **Pay to book**                    | Customers must pay (or commit to payment) to confirm | Deposits, paid appointments                |
| **Pay now** (inside Pay to book)   | Charge immediately                                   | High-demand services                       |
| **Pay later** (inside Pay to book) | Book first, pay later                                | Invoices, manual payment                   |
| **Customer chooses**               | Customer selects Pay now or Pay later                | Flexible businesses                        |

**Example**

* Salon appointment → **Pay to book → Pay now**
* Free consultation → **Book without payment**

#### 6) Configure availability

* Assign **team members**
* Set **available days of the team member**

[Learn more](https://docs.tipo.io/tipo-appointment-booking/availability-team-members/set-availability-for-services#how-to-set-availability)

Set these to match when you can actually accept bookings.

#### 7) Customize more settings (Optional)

* In **Location** field, enter the location of the service
* **Color**: helps identify bookings in the calendar
* **Questions & Add-ons**: collect info (name, preferences) or sell add-ons
* **Advanced settings**: booking rules, lead time, buffer time, etc. (if available)

#### 8) Save

Click **Save** to finish creating the service.

***

### 🧪 Example setup (simple)

**Service:** Haircut

* Duration: **0 min**
* Capacity: **1**
* Payment: **Pay to book → Pay now**\
  Result: Customers will see 30-minute slots and must pay to confirm.

***

### 🌐 How it works on your storefront

After you create the service:

1. The app adds a **Book** button on the product/service page
2. Customer clicks **Book**
3. A booking popup opens where they select:
   * date
   * time slot
   * (and location/team member if applicable)

<figure><img src="https://2420234940-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F1ux6d1pfkKFKCAAHuj8H%2Fuploads%2FXfFE1kPeqLU7Tzg4R0ll%2F2025-12-10_17-49-43.png?alt=media&amp;token=228be162-eef0-4b7c-a3fc-b94889730e57" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

4. If it’s a paid service, the customer continues to checkout to complete payment

***

**🙋 Still need support?**

If you still need help, please feel free to contact us at <hi@tipo.io>. We’ll be happy to assist you further.