What Shopify gives you out of the box
Shopify excels at catalog, cart, checkout, and customer records for product sales. It does not ship a full multi-staff scheduling engine for service merchants — no stylist columns, no package redemption against sessions, no appointment reminder ops by default.
That gap is normal. Service merchants add a booking layer that speaks Shopify’s language (products, variants, customers) while handling time, staff, and visits.
Do you need an app?
You likely need a booking layer if:
- Customers choose a time (not just “buy now”)
- Multiple staff or rooms share one calendar
- You sell packages or memberships redeemed per visit
- No-shows cost real money (deposits + reminders matter)
If you only sell digital downloads or shipped goods, native Shopify may be enough.
How to add booking with Revenu (early access)
Revenu is in early access — real product, onboarding before the public App Store listing.
Step 1 — Request access
Join the waitlist at revenuapp.com#get-started. You will connect your Shopify shop during onboarding (OAuth on `app.revenuapp.com`).
Step 2 — Business profile and services
Complete onboarding: business profile, services, and staff. Confirm the checkout path for each bookable service so booking and commerce stay aligned for your shop.
Step 3 — Availability and timezone
Set IANA timezone and working hours. This prevents “off-by-one-hour” slots that erode trust.
Step 4 — Staff assignment
For multi-provider shops, assign which staff can perform which services. Salons and clinics depend on this — see salon booking for a vertical walkthrough.
Step 5 — Publish booking to customers
- Today: Use admin-managed booking links / public booking flow.
- Rolling out: Theme app extension for storefront embed (early access shops only).
Step 6 — Reminders and deposits
Enable appointment reminders. Configure deposits/payments with support during onboarding — do not assume a specific deposit UX until verified on your shop.
Step 7 — Go live checklist
Use Revenu’s go-live gate: services configured, staff ready, availability set, widget or booking path tested, at least one successful test booking.
Before / after tool stack
Before: Calendly + Shopify + spreadsheets, manual deposit tracking, ad hoc text reminders, packages in Notes.
After: A connected booking record, configured deposit path, scheduled email/SMS reminders, and package appointments tracked in the same workflow.
Common setup mistakes
- Skipping checkout-path review — creates reporting and payment surprises.
- Wrong timezone — silent conversion bug for online booking.
- Launching without a test booking — staff discovers edge cases on real clients.
- Promising App Store “Install” before listing — use early access language only.
FAQ
How long does setup take?
Merchants targeting first value in under a day should finish core steps (services, staff, availability, one test book). Complex multi-location shops take longer.
Can I migrate from Calendly?
Plan a parallel week: new bookings in Revenu, legacy Calendly links phased out. Export historical data separately — Revenu does not claim automatic Calendly import here.
Where is pricing?
See revenuapp.com#pricing. Specific dollar amounts are not published on this guide until App Store billing is finalized.
What next?
Read the Shopify appointment booking app overview for positioning and feature depth.