Booxt is an SMS-based AI assistant for contractors. You text your job notes from the truck and Booxt drafts a priced, phase-by-phase estimate in your numbers, emails it to the customer to sign, collects the deposit to your own Stripe, invoices automatically, and dispatches your crew and subs — all by text.

How much does Booxt cost?

Booxt is $99/month flat. Every feature is included — estimates, invoicing, deposit collection, crew and sub dispatch, unlimited texts, unlimited crew members — and Booxt never takes a cut of your deposits or jobs.

How does Booxt collect deposits and payments?

Booxt emails the customer a clean estimate page where they e-sign and pay the deposit by card — straight to the contractor's own Stripe account, with no cut to Booxt. The balance gets paid online the same way, or the contractor records a check, cash, or Zelle payment to keep the books straight.

Can Booxt put customers on a monthly maintenance plan?

Yes. Tell your assistant the plan — the service, how often, and the monthly price — and Booxt sends the customer a signup link, collects the card once, and bills them automatically every month, straight to your own Stripe.

Do customers need an app?

No. Customers get a text and a simple web link to view, sign, and pay the estimate. There is nothing to download and no portal to log into.

How to Set Up Online Booking for Your Service Business

June 4, 2026 · 5 min read · Updated June 14, 2026

Setting up online booking sounds like a project, but for a service business it comes down to a handful of decisions. Get these right and clients can book you in seconds, day or night. Here’s the short version.

Step 1: List your services and times

Write down each service, how long it takes, and the price (or "quote"). This is the backbone of your booking system — it’s how the software knows a full groom needs two hours and a trim needs thirty minutes, so it never double-books you.

Step 2: Set your hours and staff

Enter your real working hours, and if you have a team, each person’s hours and the services they offer. Accurate hours are what keep clients from booking a slot you’re closed for — get this wrong and you’ll fight your own calendar.

Step 3: Turn on reminders and deposits

Reminders are the highest-ROI setting you’ll touch — switch on a 24-hour, 2-hour, and 30-minute sequence. For high-value services, add a deposit that applies to the bill. Together they’re your strongest defense against no-shows. See how to take deposits without scaring clients off.

Step 4: Choose how clients book

This is the decision that makes or breaks adoption. A booking link is great for your Instagram bio and Google profile. But most service clients would rather just text — no app, no form. The strongest setup offers both: a link for self-serve types and text for everyone else. We make the case in why booking by text beats a booking link.

Step 5: Put your booking everywhere

Add it to your Google Business Profile, Instagram and Facebook bios, and your website. The easier you make it to find, the more bookings you’ll get — every place a customer might look should lead straight to booking you.

The fast way

Booxt sets all of this up in a quick text conversation — you tell it your services, hours, and policies, and it’s live. It books clients by text 24/7 with a booking page included. Try it: text BOOXT to (329) 888-5488.

Try the live demo

Text BOOXT to (329) 888-5488 for the rundown — then reply DEMO and watch it draft you a real, priced estimate like you’re the customer.

Text BOOXT to (329) 888-5488

Frequently asked questions

How do I set up online booking for my business?

List your services and durations, set your real hours and staff, turn on reminders and deposits, choose how clients book (text and/or a link), and put your booking link everywhere customers look — Google, Instagram, and your site.

Do I need a website to take online bookings?

No. You can take bookings by text or a simple booking page and share it on Google Business Profile and social media — a full website is optional.

What’s the best way for clients to book?

For most service businesses, text converts best because there’s no app or form. Offering both a booking link and text booking captures the most clients.

Keep reading

Why letting clients book by text beats a booking link
Booking links make customers do the work. Booking by text meets them where they already are — and converts far better for service businesses.
How to take deposits for appointments (without scaring clients off)
Deposits are the single best defense against no-shows for high-value services. Here’s how to introduce them so clients happily pay.
What Is an AI Receptionist? (And How It Books Appointments by Text)
An AI receptionist answers and books your clients automatically, 24/7. Here’s what it is, how it works, and how it compares to voicemail, an answering service, and a phone tree.