Square expands from mobile payments into bookings with launch of Appointments

Mobile payments company Square is launching a booking tool today to let users schedule appointments with small businesses.

When Square bought BookFresh back in February (a company that handles appointment requests and scheduling), we knew it was looking to push beyond payment services. Now those tools we imagined are starting to roll out.

Square Appointments includes an online interface where consumers can book appointments 24/7 based on available slots in a business’s calendar. The application also sends reminder texts to clients, so they know they have an appointment coming up.

If a company doesn’t have a website, Square will provide a site just for booking appointments with a given company. It also offers a mobile dashboard for business owners on the go.

The payment structure is pretty straightforward, starting at $30 a month for a one-person business and going up to $90 a month for an unlimited number of staff members.

This offering, in tandem with Square’s register and back office software, shows Square is gearing up to corner the small business market. Though the company is clearly looking to expand its product offering, it’s smart to play well with others. Square can integrate with Intuit QuickBooks, Xero, StitchLabs, and even customized office software.

Other companies are already tackling appointment making online and for lower prices, like GenBooks, which starts at $20 a month. But because Square offers payments, appointments, and integration, it may be able to hold its own in the SMB software space.