How to offer bookable services to members

BySupport Admin

Offering bookable services to members allows you to automate your schedule while providing exclusive value to your subscribers. Whether you are running a gym with private training sessions, a consultancy with monthly strategy calls, or a salon with VIP time slots, this setup ensures only authorized members can reserve your time.

Steps to set up member-only bookings

1. Create a Bookable Product
Navigate to Products > Add New in your WooShop dashboard. Give your service a clear name, like "Monthly Strategy Session." In the Product Data dropdown menu, select Bookable Product.

2. Define the Booking Duration
Decide how long each session lasts. You can set fixed blocks (e.g., 60 minutes) or allow customers to choose multiple blocks if they need more time. Under the General tab, set your booking duration and decide if the booking requires admin confirmation before it’s finalized.

3. Set Your Availability
Click the Availability tab to define when you are open for appointments. You can set global rules (like Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM) or specific date ranges for one-off events. Make sure to set "All slots are…" to "unavailable by default" if you only want to work during the specific hours you define.

4. Restrict Access to Members
Scroll down to the Memberships section on the product page. Here, you can choose which membership plan is required to book this service.

  • Select the plan (e.g., "Premium Members").

  • Choose whether non-members can see the product but not book it, or if it should be completely hidden from the general public.

5. Configure Member Pricing
If the service is free for members, set the price to 0. If members get a discount on the booking, you can set a "Member Price" within the membership plan settings rather than on the product page itself. This ensures that when a member is logged in, they see their exclusive rate automatically.

6. Publish and Test
Click Publish. To ensure everything works, log out or use an incognito window to view the page as a guest. Then, log in with a test member account to confirm the calendar appears and the pricing is correct.

Practical Scenarios

  • The Private Studio: A yoga instructor offers "Member-Only Private Lessons." The product is hidden from the public shop page. Only students with an active "Gold Membership" can see the booking calendar on their dashboard.

  • The Consultancy: A business coach provides a "15-Minute Check-in" service. It is priced at $50 for the public, but the membership restriction is set so that "Pro Plan" members see a $0 price tag and can book one session per month.

  • The Restaurant: A bistro offers "Chef’s Table" bookings. While anyone can browse the menu, only "Loyalty Club" members can see the calendar to reserve the specific VIP seating area.

Troubleshooting common issues

The booking calendar isn’t showing up
Check your availability settings. If you haven’t defined any "available" time slots, or if the dates have passed, the calendar will appear blank or grayed out. Ensure your "Minimum block bookable" isn’t set too far into the future.

Non-members can still add the service to their cart
Double-check the Memberships tab on the product page. Ensure you have selected "Hide completely" or "Redirect to page" for non-members. If it is set to "Show public," they might still see the "Add to Cart" button depending on your global shop settings.

Members are being charged the full price
If you want the booking to be free or discounted, ensure the discount is applied within the WooCommerce > Memberships > Membership Plans settings for that specific plan. Product-level prices usually override general settings, so check both.

Summary

By linking your bookable products to your membership plans, you create a seamless, automated system for your clients. This reduces manual scheduling and ensures your most loyal customers get priority access to your time.

Related topics to explore:

  • Setting up automated email reminders for bookings

  • Creating tiered membership plans

  • Managing your booking calendar from the mobile app

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