Learn how to easily use a WordPress booking plugin with payment forms for collecting online payments.
Is your business currently offering services through its WordPress website? Are you in need of a reliable solution for accepting paid bookings for appointments?
Look no further — a solution is here.
In this guide, we'll take a look at how to easily accept online payments through your appointment booking forms. We'll use the Formidable Forms and the free version of Simply Schedule Appointments. Other booking plugins for WordPress or services like Amelia and Bookme lack easy integration with WordPress forms.
Ready? Let's jump in!
Why accept online payments with a booking form?
With more limited in-person visits, offering online appointments has become essential. Businesses looking to smoothly manage operations involving customers and clients need to automate wherever possible.
By adding online reservations and booking management, both businesses and their customers can easily take instant payment for services. You don't need to require mailed checks, wire transfers, or in-person payments.
Additionally, requiring an upfront online payment helps to reduce no-call, no-shows by adding a financial commitment to your meeting. If they don't show up, it'll be at no loss to you, as you've already received payment.
Who can benefit from adding a WordPress booking plugin with payment forms?
Any business that offers virtual appointments or consulting can benefit from offering online booking payments. But there are a few that are particularly well-suited, such as:
- WordPress agencies
- Digital freelancers and consultants
- Professional and business coaches
- Lawyers and law firms
- Online tutors, teachers and mentors
These types of businesses can benefit greatly from appointment scheduling, by making the most out of your availability with automated booking. Plus, they are generally paid for their consulting services on a meeting-by-meeting basis. Whether it's a 15-minute phone consultation or a one-hour strategy session via Zoom, it can be automated.
Set up a booking form with payments
First and foremost, ensure that you have Formidable Forms and Simply Schedule Appointments installed and activated.
Then, set up your booking form using Simply Schedule Appointments to be displayed on your website. If you need help, check out our guide on how to create a WordPress booking form. It's super simple and shouldn't take longer than 10 minutes.
Integrate with PayPal, Stripe or Authorize.net
Now that your booking form has been set up, you'll want to integrate Formidable Forms with PayPal, Stripe or Authorize.net to begin collecting payments for your bookings.
To collect payments, you'll need the Formidable Forms Business plan or higher.
We're going to assume that you already have a PayPal Business, Stripe or Authorize.net account. If not, you can create a PayPal Business account here, a Stripe account here, or an Authorize.net account here.
With your account(s) ready to go, you'll now need to integrate them with Formidable Forms. You'll find the setup guides for both integrations below:
- PayPal for Formidable Forms
- WordPress Stripe Plugin for Formidable Forms
- Authorize.net for Formidable Forms
Once you've successfully integrated your PayPal, Stripe or Authorize.net account with Formidable Forms, you're now ready to begin collecting payments through your booking form.
Collecting payments with your booking form
Next, we'll show you how to set up an appointment type. You'll then add it to your form and collect payments when it is booked.
To make things easy to follow, we'll pretend we're a consultant offering paid strategy sessions via Zoom. We'll also use PayPal to collect payments.
1. Create an appointment type for your paid booking
In the Appointments tab, create an appointment type that you'd like to charge for.
2. Add your appointment to your booking form
Now, in Formidable Forms, open up your booking form. Then, in your Appointment field settings, select the Appointment Type you'd like to display and collect payment for.
3. Set up payment details for your appointment
In the navigation bar above your form, click Settings → Actions & Notifications → PayPal. This will open up PayPal payment settings. Here, you can label your payment, set the exact payment amount, choose your currency, and more. If you'd like email notifications, add those here as well.
Note: To ensure successful payment, make sure email address entered is the email associated with your PayPal Business account.
4. Update your booking form and test out payment collection
Now you're all set to collect payments for booked appointments. Your new booking form on your WordPress site is ready to make your life easier! Your available time slots will show up in your booking form for customers to choose from.
Hint: Make sure to test your form and payment collection before promoting your paid sessions.
And that's a wrap!
For businesses shifting their operations online, offering virtual appointments through a booking form on your website is a no-brainer.
Is your business offering paid services? Collecting booking payments is a great way to continue serving your customers, while smoothly operating your business in the digital world.
We hope this guide using Formidable Forms and Simply Schedule Appointments has helped. Your WordPress booking plugin with payments should be all set up. You can now accept online payments through your website's booking form.
If you need more options for your bookings the premium version of Simply Schedule Appointments has much more to offer. From Google Calendar integration to scheduling for your whole team, you'll find it a great alternative to software like Calendly.
Read more posts about WordPress booking plugins
How to Easily Schedule Your Team in WordPress
How to Create WordPress Appointment Booking Forms
7 Best WordPress Events PluginsTry Formidable and Simply Schedule Appointments now! You can get started with the free form builder too.
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