Packages, gift certificates, and subscriptions in Scheduling

Packages, gift certificates, and subscriptions give your clients more options for how they pay for your services.

• Package - The client pays for multiple appointments at once, often with a discount (like five appointments for the price of four).
• Gift certificate - The purchaser pays for multiple appointments at once, then receives a certificate to print out or send digitally to someone else.
• Subscription - The client pays on a repeating basis. These can be set up as one payment per appointment, or spread out to pay for individual appointments over time.

Clients can only apply one code to an appointment they book. That includes codes from packages, gift certificates and subscriptions as well as coupons. 

This guide explains how to create and sell each option.

We've merged the Acuity Scheduling Help Center with the Squarespace Help Center. This guide applies to both versions of Scheduling.

Tip: These features are separate from the gift cards and subscriptions that you can offer through Squarespace Commerce. Gift certificates sold through Squarespace Scheduling can't be used for purchases through Squarespace Commerce.

These features are available with the Growing and Powerhouse plans. Subscriptions are only available if you use Stripe or Square as your payment processor.

Create a package

To create a new package:

1. In Scheduling, click Packages, gifts & subscriptions.
2. Click New package.
3. Add a title.
4. Set the Access to Public, Private, or Unavailable. Learn more about these options below.
5. Add a price.
6. Add an optional picture, description, or category.
7. Leave the Gift certificate? box unchecked. To create a gift certificate, follow the steps below.
8. Add an expiration date
9. Use the Redeemable for drop-down menu to set the package value.
10. Click Add package.

Create a gift certificate

To create a new gift certificate:

1. In Scheduling, click Packages, gifts & subscriptions.
2. Click New gift certificate.
3. Enter the title and price.
4. Set the Access to Public, Private, or Unavailable. Learn more about these options below.
5. Add an optional category, picture, or description.
6. To display extra information on the certificate, fill out the Extra info shown on the certificate section.
7. Choose an expiration date.
8. Use the Redeemable for drop-down menu to set the gift certificate value.
9. Click Add gift certificate.

Keep in mind:

• A gift certificate doesn’t have to cover the whole cost of an appointment. The recipient can pay the remaining amount using whatever payment method you've set up.
• Only gift certificates that are worth a set dollar amount can also be used toward the cost of add-ons.
• Recipients can use gift certificates for appointments and classes, but can't use them for packages, subscriptions, or more gift certificates.

Create a subscription

To create a new subscription:

1. In Scheduling, click Packages, gifts & subscriptions.
2. Click New subscription.
3. Add a title.
4. Set the Access to Public, Private, or Unavailable. Learn more about these options below.
5. Add a price and, from the drop-down menu, and choose how often Scheduling should charge the client.
6. Enter a number in the Number of billing cycles field to set how long the subscription charges should continue.
7. Enter a price in the Initial setup fee field to charge clients an extra fee when they sign up for the subscription.
8. Add an optional picture, description, or category.
9. From the Every subscription billing cycle drop-down menu, choose how or if the subscription code should recharge:
   • Reset the amount - Resets the value to the full amount, but doesn't save unused credit
   • Rollover remaining appointments - Resets the value to the full amount plus any unused credit
   • Leave as-is - Leaves the current value as-is
10. Use the Redeemable for drop-down menu to set the subscription value.
11. Click Add subscription.

Note: In some jurisdictions, businesses are legally required to send subscription renewal reminders to their clients. To learn more, visit Email notifications for Squarespace Scheduling clients.

Access settings

Set how the package, gift certificate, or subscription appears to your clients, or make it hidden. Choose from these settings:

• Public - Available for all clients to purchase from your scheduler.
• Private - Only available to clients who have the direct link and hidden from your scheduler.
• Unavailable - Hidden from all clients. Clients who previously purchased the item can still redeem their codes.

Keep in mind:

• Direct links to items set to Unavailable display a note that the option is no longer available. Clients can still visit the links, but they can't purchase anything.
• Review the status of all items at a glance in the Packages, gifts & subscriptions panel, which includes access labels next to each item's name. 

Set the value

When creating a package, gift certificate, or subscription, set the value with these options:

Option	Notes
Total number of appointments	Sets the number and type of appointment
Total number of minutes	Sets the length of time and type of appointment If there's less than one appointment's worth of credit remaining, clients can't use the code
Total dollar amount	Sets the total dollar amount and type of appointment A good option for bulk discounts, as the client can buy for one price, but redeem it for services worth a higher amount The only option for selling packages with add-ons If there's less than one appointment's worth of credit remaining, the client is charged the difference between the appointment cost and the remaining code value
Unlimited appointments	Sets which appointment types the code is good for The client can book as many appointments as they like

Set the expiration date

You can decide how many days it takes a package or gift certificate to expire by entering the number of days in the Expires after field. If you leave the field blank, your clients’ codes never expire.

A client can book appointments using the package code until the expiration date. When they use the code, they can book an appointment as far into the future as your scheduling limits allow.

Choose where the items appear

Your packages, gift certificates, and subscriptions can appear on your scheduler, or on a Scheduling store page:

1. In Scheduling, click Packages, gifts & subscriptions.
2. In the Sell packages of appointments, gift certificates, subscriptions, and products section, select one of the three options.
3. Click Save.

Scheduling hides packages, gift certificates, and subscriptions that you don't set to Public.

Scheduling store pages

Keep in mind:

• The store page is separate from any store you create in Squarespace Commerce. It only sells packages, gift certificates, and subscriptions in Scheduling.
• You can link to the store page from your scheduler, or keep it separate.
• A direct link to the store page appears in the top-right corner.

Require terms and conditions

To require clients to agree to your terms and conditions before purchasing:

1. In Scheduling, click Packages, gifts & subscriptions.
2. Select Require clients to agree to your terms before placing an order.
3. Enter your terms and conditions in the field that appears and format the text. If your terms and conditions are listed on your site, you can add a link to that page.
4. Click Save.

Client information and intake forms

When clients purchase a package, gift certificate, or subscription, they enter their name and email address. They have the option to enter their phone number and to leave a note for the business.

It's not possible to have clients fill out a Scheduling intake form during the checkout process. Instead, clients fill out intake forms (if you've created them) when they book appointments, including when they redeem packages, gift certificates, or subscription codes.

If you want clients to enter more information when they buy a package, gift certificate, or subscription, consider creating a form outside Scheduling. Options include a Squarespace form block or a form from a third-party form app.

You can include a link to the form in the email Scheduling automatically sends when a client purchases a package, gift certificate, or subscription. Information entered into these forms won't automatically appear in Scheduling.

Sell a package, gift certificate, or subscription

Clients can purchase the option from your site, or you can sell or give it directly to them.

Clients purchase directly

When you've made an item available in your scheduler, Scheduling store page, or shared it with them directly, clients can:

1. Click the package, gift certificate, or subscription they want to purchase.
2. Enter their first and last names, email address, and, optionally, phone number.
3. Click Pay now and complete order, enter their payment details, and click Pay & finish. If you don't have a payment processor connected, they'll only click Complete order.
4. Click Schedule on the confirmation page to use their code immediately. They can also find the code later in the automated email that Scheduling sends them.

For gift certificates, the confirmation page includes a link in the top-left corner of the page. After clicking the link, the purchaser can print the certificate or email it to the recipient.

Sell directly

To sell to a client from the Scheduling panel:

1. In Scheduling, click Calendar.
2. Click New.
3. At the top of the window that appears, click New order.
4. Select a package, gift certificate, or subscription.
5. Enter the client’s name and email address.
6. Select a payment method. You can mark the payment as cash, use a stored card, or enter a new card, depending on your payment settings.
7. At the bottom, click Pay now.

Note: If you use Square as your payment processor, Scheduling won't be able to store SCA-affected card numbers when you enter them through the Scheduling panel. If you enter an SCA-affected card number when selling a subscription, Scheduling will process the initial purchase, but recurring payments will fail until the client enters their card. This doesn't affect card numbers clients enter through the scheduler.

Offer free packages

To offer a free package:

1. In Scheduling, click Packages, gifts & subscriptions.
2. Click Edit for the package you want to give the client.
3. Click Add code.
4. If you like, use the dropdown to assign the code to a specific client account or email address.
5. Click Add code.

This process won’t trigger an automated email, so ensure that you share the code with your client.

Redeem codes

Clients can apply a code when booking, or you can apply the code to their appointment.

Client applies a code

When a client books an appointment, they click a button on the checkout screen to enter their code.

Scheduling only shows clients the button if you've created at least one code. The button's wording is based on the types of codes you've created. For example, if you've created only packages (and not gift certificates, subscriptions, or coupons), the button reads Redeem package. 

After clients enter the code and click Apply, they can book the appointment without paying. If the code doesn't cover the full cost of the appointment, they pay the remaining balance, then book the appointment.

Apply a code for clients

When booking an appointment for a client, click Forms, codes and notes, then enter the code in the Coupon or package code field. To apply a code to an existing appointment, open the appointment details and add the code in the Forms, codes and notes section.

Manage codes

You can manage, edit, and cancel codes from your client list, plus review how many appointments a client has left for all codes.

To review how many appointments a client has remaining:

1. In Scheduling, click Client list.
2. Click the client’s name.
3. Scroll to the bottom for a breakdown of all the codes the client has.

To review how many appointments are left on specific types of codes:

1. In Scheduling, click Packages, gifts & subscriptions.
2. Click the Edit button for the code type you want to check.
3. Active codes are listed along the right side of the page, along with how many appointments are left on each.

Edit a code

Note: Be careful when editing codes, as errors are difficult to fix, and can be compounded when subscriptions recharge.

To edit a client's code:

1. In Scheduling, click Client list.
2. Click the client’s name.
3. Scroll to the bottom.
4. Click View order for the code you want to change.
5. Click the code.
6. Make changes, then click Update code.

You can also edit the original package, gift certificate, or subscription, which changes every code in that package, gift certificate, or subscription.

Edit a package, gift certificate, or subscription

To change the settings for an option:

1. In Scheduling, click Packages, gifts & subscriptions.
2. Click Edit for the package, gift certificate, or subscription you want to edit.
3. Make changes, then click Update package, Update gift certificate, or Update subscription.

Note: To make changes that affect many clients, edit the package, gift certificate, or subscription. To make changes that affect one client, edit the code.

Manage subscriptions

Clients can manage their subscriptions using the link sent in each confirmation email. From the link, they can:

• View past payments
• Update their card on file
• Cancel the subscription

You can also manage subscribers from the Scheduling panel:

1. In Scheduling, click Packages, gifts & subscriptions.
2. On the left, click Subscribers.
3. Click View for a subscription.
4. Click Edit.
5. Edit the subscriber's name, phone number, email address, card number, or billing date as needed. You can also cancel or reactivate subscriptions.
6. Click Save changes.

Note: If you change your payment processor while client subscriptions are active, your clients' automated payments will fail until you or they re-enter their card numbers.

Export orders

You can export a summary of all package, gift certificate, and subscription orders. The list exports as a .csv file and includes all orders, but not codes generated with the Add Code button. Only the first payment of a subscription is listed.

1. In Scheduling, click Packages, gifts & subscriptions.
2. Click View orders.
3. Click Export all.

Tip: Exported orders don’t include codes that were generated without a payment.

Canceled appointments

If you mark an appointment that was paid for with a package, gift certificate, or subscription code as a no-show, the client doesn't get anything back. If you or your client cancels such an appointment but you don't mark it a no-show, the client gets the value of the appointment added back to their code.