Control Every Booking with Manual Approval
Not every booking request should be automatically accepted. SchedulingKit's booking approval feature gives you the power to review and approve each appointment before it's confirmed. Hold tentative slots while you evaluate client details, set auto-decline rules for requests that don't meet your criteria, and receive instant notifications when new booking requests arrive. Whether you're a consultant vetting potential clients, a specialist managing limited availability, or a business that needs to verify insurance before confirming — booking approval keeps you in control without sacrificing the convenience of online scheduling.
Require manual confirmation before bookings are finalized. Review client details, hold tentative slots, and set auto-decline rules for full control over your schedule. Explore all SchedulingKit features.
Why Booking Approval Matters
Require manual confirmation before bookings are finalized. Review client details, hold tentative slots, and set auto-decline rules for full control over your schedule. Not every booking request should be automatically accepted. SchedulingKit's booking approval feature gives you the power to review and approve each appointment before it's confirmed. Hold tentative slots while you evaluate client details, set auto-decline rules for requests that don't meet your criteria, and receive instant notifications when new booking requests arrive. Whether you're a consultant vetting potential clients, a specialist managing limited availability, or a business that needs to verify insurance before confirming — booking approval keeps you in control without sacrificing the convenience of online scheduling.
As part of SchedulingKit's scheduling platform, booking approval integrates with your existing calendar, notification, and client management workflows. Changes propagate instantly, keeping every part of your system in sync.
Booking Approval Capabilities
Everything included with booking approval
Booking Approval Use Cases
How businesses use booking approval
How Booking Approval Works
A closer look at booking approval in SchedulingKit
Tentative Hold System
When a client requests a booking, the time slot is held tentatively on your calendar. No one else can book that slot while you review the request, preventing conflicts without committing your time prematurely.
Tentative Hold System
Smart Auto-Decline Rules
Define criteria to automatically decline requests that don't fit your business. Filter by service type, lead time, client history, or custom intake form answers to reduce manual review overhead.
Smart Auto-Decline Rules
Approval Notifications
Receive real-time push notifications, email alerts, or SMS messages whenever a new booking request needs your attention. Respond from your phone, desktop, or the SchedulingKit dashboard.
Approval Notifications
Client Communication
Send personalized approval or decline messages to clients. Include alternative time suggestions when declining, or attach preparation instructions when accepting a booking.
Client Communication
Approval Analytics
Track your approval rate, average response time, and most common decline reasons. Use these insights to optimize your booking page and reduce low-quality requests.
Approval Analytics
Booking Approval Best Practices
Get the most out of booking approval with these practical tips
- 1
Set a clear approval window (e.g., respond within 4 hours) and communicate it on your booking page so clients know what to expect.
- 2
Use auto-decline rules to filter out requests that fall outside your service area, budget range, or scheduling parameters.
- 3
Combine booking approval with intake forms to collect the information you need to make an informed accept/decline decision upfront.
- 4
Enable push notifications for new booking requests so you can respond quickly and avoid losing interested clients.
Booking Approval FAQ
Common questions about booking approval
How long are tentative slots held before they're released?
You can configure the hold window from 1 hour to 72 hours. If you don't approve or decline within that window, the slot is automatically released and the client is notified to rebook.
Can I set booking approval for some event types but not others?
Yes. Booking approval is configured per event type. You might require approval for initial consultations but allow instant booking for returning client check-ins.
What happens when I decline a booking request?
The client receives a notification with your optional custom message. You can suggest alternative times or direct them to a different service. The held slot is immediately released.
Can I automate approvals for returning clients?
Yes. You can create rules to auto-approve bookings from clients who have previously been approved, while still requiring manual review for new clients.
Further Reading
- G2: Scheduling Software with Approval Workflows — Find tools that support booking confirmation flows.
- HBR: Running Effective Meetings — Why pre-screening improves meeting quality.
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Related Features
Intake Forms
Build custom intake forms with conditional logic, file uploads, and required fields to gather everything you need before each booking.
Automated Reminders
Send email and SMS reminders before appointments to reduce no-shows by up to 50%. Customize timing and messaging for each appointment type.
Automated Workflows
Add workflows, add actions to them, and ease your scheduling.
Routing Forms & Lead Qualification
Pre-booking forms that qualify leads and route them to the right team member based on their answers.