Booking system for small businesses
A custom booking system built directly into your own website. Customers book themselves, you manage the calendar from one place, and the system is yours.
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The phone rings in the evenings and at weekends
Customers can't book when it suits them.
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The calendar is on paper or from memory
Double bookings and forgotten appointments.
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Receipts and customer details are in different places
Time is spent looking for information.
These are solved with a system built once, working the way your process works, no monthly fee.
Booking is the most common, but the same applies to others: admin panels, invoicing, stock tracking, customer registers. If off-the-shelf software doesn't do what you need, it can be built.
When an off-the-shelf platform is enough, and when it isn't
An off-the-shelf platform is the right choice for many businesses. It's quick to set up and works well when the need is straightforward. Custom is worth considering when your process doesn't fit the platform's model or when owning your data matters.
An off-the-shelf service is enough when
- — your need is a standard booking flow
- — your process fits the platform's model
- — you don't need your own data or integrations
- — a monthly fee is fine as an ongoing cost
Custom makes sense when
- — your process doesn't fit a ready-made model
- — you need multiple functions in one place (e.g. bookings + archiving)
- — you want to own the data and the system
- — platform monthly fees and transaction fees grow with your volume
Example: a tyre shop booking system
The system built for Ratakumi handles three things in one place: the customer books a tyre change online and picks a free slot from the calendar, the owner manages bookings and hours from an admin panel, and tyre hotel receipts are archived digitally.
What does it cost?
It depends on what you need: a simple booking form is a different project than an admin panel with archiving. Tell me what your business needs and you'll get a fixed price before anything starts.
Interested in a booking system?
Tell me what your business needs and you'll get a fixed price before anything starts.
Get in touchFrequently asked
What does a custom system cost? +
It depends on what you need: a simple booking form is a different project than an admin panel with archiving. Prices start from around €1,500 for simpler systems; more complex builds cost more. Tell me what your business needs and you'll get a fixed price before anything starts.
How long does it take to build? +
A simple booking system typically takes 3–5 weeks. Admin panels and larger builds take longer; the timeline is agreed when the quote is made.
Do I own the system? +
Yes. The code and data are yours. No monthly subscription, no platform lock-in. If you ever want to switch developer or maintainer, you take everything with you.
What about maintenance after it's built? +
Minor bug fixes are included in an initial period. Ongoing maintenance (technical updates and backups) is available from €10/month.
Can it be added to my existing website? +
It depends on your current site and the technology it runs on. If it's built on a modern stack, it's usually possible. Tell me what your site runs on and we'll assess the options in a free scoping call.