Guide

What to ask before you buy any booking system

Eleven questions that tell you who really controls your business data, your page and your costs, before you sign up.

3 min read · Last checked 22 October 2026 · Sources at the end

Why ask at all

Most of us choose a booking system by what it does on day one. The questions that matter most are about year three, or the day you want to leave. Ask every provider, us included, and write the answers down.

Ownership and exit

1. Who owns my client data? The answer should be you. Ask where the terms say so.

2. Can I export everything? Ask what you can export, in which format, and what you cannot. Some providers will not let you export everything, such as stored card details, which is often reasonable, but you should know it in advance. Others give you a file straight away, and some ask you to contact their support team first. Compare what you are told against what you would want to keep.

3. What happens when I leave? Ask what happens to your page, your reviews and your access. Some providers remove your access and unlist your profile at the end of your billing period, and others may do it sooner. Ask which applies. Ask for the notice period too, because some require weeks of notice.

4. What happens if the company closes or changes its terms? Ask how you would get your records back, and whether you hold copies yourself.

Website and domain

5. Who owns my website and domain? Ask whether the domain is registered in your name. Being able to connect a domain you already own, or to register one in your own account, is a useful thing to look for in any provider.

6. Can I move my website if I leave? Ask in plain words what you would take with you.

Forms and health information

7. What do consultation forms look like, and can I edit them? Ask to see one for your craft, and whether clients complete them before they arrive.

8. Where is health information stored, and who can see it? Ask which country, who has access and how long it is kept. This is general guidance, not legal advice. If in doubt, ask the provider for their privacy and data-handling document and take it to a professional.

Money and support

9. Is there commission on new clients? Some charge a percentage on first bookings from their marketplace, some only if you switch a feature on, some not at all. Ask for the percentage, the minimum and when it applies.

10. What will it cost over three years? Ask for monthly price, add-ons, payment fees and any VAT. Multiply by 36 and add your own estimate of commission. Then add your own admin time.

11. Who do I call? Ask whether you can speak to a person, how fast they reply, and whether support is included in the price.

One finished system, not a stack

If your answers show you will be stitching together a booking tool, a form tool, a website and a payment tool, add the hours that will take. We think a single finished system, on accounts and a domain that you own, is easier to live with. Make your own decision on the evidence.

Do this next

Copy the eleven questions above into a note.
Send them to any provider you are considering and ask for written answers.
Compare the three-year cost for each, using your own numbers.
Ask each provider to show you how an export looks before you commit.
Pick the one that gives you the clearest answers, not the longest feature list.

To see how The Finisher answers these questions for your craft, visit our page for your craft.

Sources

The questions are general practice, not rules. The examples in questions 2, 3 and 9 come from these pages, read on 22 October 2026:

Last checked 22 October 2026. General guidance, not legal or tax advice.

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