How to Pick the Best Booking Management Platform for Your Business

Jarod LaFalce

Co-Founder / COO of BookingTerminal

Published on: Nov 18, 2024 | Estimated Read Time: 5 minutes

If you’ve made it to this article, you’ve most likely decided to take the next step in building your business’s online presence—awesome! Now comes the big question: Which booking management platform is right for you?

While I can’t answer that question outright, I can lay out some key considerations to help guide your search for the perfect vendor.

Key Considerations for Choosing a Booking Platform

Ensure the Software Supports Your Industry and Use Case

One common challenge we hear from customers switching to BookingTerminal is that their previous software didn’t fully support their needs. This isn’t always apparent until after an in-depth demo or purchase. And with a million things going on at once, many owners and operators, understandably, choose convenience from the outset.

Unfortunately, for businesses in the Tour, Activity, and Attraction (TAA) industry, this can be a trap. A quick search for “booking software” will flood you with popular options, many of which cater to simple appointment scheduling. While these tools work great for salons or tutors, they often lack the robust resource management, communication tools, and customization required to run experiences efficiently.

The result? Many owners end up frustrated, stuck with software that doesn’t work, and forced to switch. You can avoid this by doing a deeper upfront evaluation and aligning with the platform’s supported use cases.

Key Takeaway: Investing the time upfront to ensure your vendor is a perfect fit for your business will save you time and frustration down the line.

Understand the Pricing Model

In the TAA industry, booking management software usually follows one or both of these pricing models:

• Monthly Fee: A fixed rate, often tiered based on functionality. This model doesn’t scale with booking volume.
• Booking Fee: A percentage or flat fee applied per booking, which is either paid by you or passed to your customers.

For example, BookingTerminal uses a booking fee model where a 3% fee is passed on to customers for bookings made through your website. Internal bookings (via phone, email, etc.) are fee-free, saving you and your customers money. Few platforms offer this kind of flexibility and savings, making it an important consideration when evaluating options for your tours or experiences.

Support Levels

Support is a critical factor and comes in two stages:

1. Integration Support: When onboarding, your vendor should guide you step-by-step through setup and configuration. They should handle complex tasks, ensuring you’re not left on your own.
2. Ongoing Customer Success: Once live, your business will inevitably face changes—whether it’s new offerings, policy updates, or just tweaking your platform configuration. A strong vendor provides accessible, responsive support tailored to your preferences.

For instance, some businesses prefer 24/7 chat support, while others value direct access to an account manager. Be sure to ask vendors about their support structure and read reviews to ensure they deliver on their promises.

Prioritize a User-Friendly Interface

As a small business owner, your time is valuable. The last thing you need is a platform with a steep learning curve or a cluttered interface. Your booking software should simplify your work, not add to it.

Use demos as an opportunity to evaluate how intuitive a platform is. Pay attention to how quickly you can navigate the system, complete tasks, and understand its features. A well-designed interface should make your processes feel easier, not harder.

At BookingTerminal, we’ve designed a platform that’s intuitive and streamlined, without sacrificing functionality. Our goal is to minimize the time you spend in the software so you can focus on what matters most: running your business.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

Choosing the right booking management platform is an investment in your business’s future. By focusing on alignment with your industry, transparent pricing, robust support, and user-friendly design, you can find a solution that works for both you and your customers. Taking the time to evaluate your options upfront ensures you’ll never have to search for a new platform again.

If you’re ready to explore how BookingTerminal can help your business thrive, schedule a demo with us today or email us directly to set up some time to chat!