# Set up bookings

> The order to set up the BCL Booking System - employees, then services, then a booking form - and what each menu under Bookings is for.
>
> Source: https://docs.bcl.my/booking-setup/

The Booking System lets customers book a time, a table, a ticket, a room or a court and pay online. You set it up in three parts: the people who deliver the service, the services customers can book, and the booking form that you share.

## What is under Bookings

All booking pages are in the **Bookings** menu in the sidebar:

*(Screenshot: The Bookings menu in the sidebar with Forms, Bookings, Calendar, Print List, Services and Employees)*

Each menu item does one job:

| Menu | What it is for |
| --- | --- |
| **Forms** | The booking forms customers use to book and pay. |
| **Bookings** | Every booking, with its status. Add walk-ins with **Manual Booking** and check customers in. |
| **Calendar** | All bookings by month, week, day or as a list. |
| **Print List** | A printable list of one day's bookings for your front desk. |
| **Services** | What customers can book: its type, price, duration and capacity. |
| **Employees** | Your staff and the days and hours each one works. |

## The setup order

Set things up in this order, because each part uses the one before it:

1. **Add your employees.** Go to **Bookings** → **Employees** and add each person who delivers a service, with their working days and hours. Appointment services need at least one employee. See [Add booking staff](/booking-staff/).
2. **Create your services.** Go to **Bookings** → **Services**, choose the service type, and set the price, duration and slot capacity. Assign the employees who deliver it. See [Create booking services](/booking-services/).
3. **Create the booking form.** Go to **Bookings** → **Forms**, choose the booking type, the services on offer and your opening hours, and share the link. See [Create a booking form](/create-booking-form/).

When you create a form, the **Quick Setup Guide** at the top of the page links to the other two steps:

*(Screenshot: The Quick Setup Guide with Create Services, Add Staff and Create Form)*

> **Note**
> The guide lists **Create Services** first and calls staff optional. That is true for Reservation, Ticket, Accommodation and Court services. An Appointment service cannot be saved without an employee in **Assigned Staff**, so add your employees first.

## Choose a booking type

The service type decides how customers book and how BCL counts capacity:

| Type | Customers choose | Good for |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **Appointment** | A service, a staff member (optional) and a time slot | Spa, clinic, salon, classes |
| **Reservation** | A party size and a time slot, no staff | Restaurant, cafe, meeting room |
| **Ticket** | Ticket types and quantities for a date | Museum, theme park, tour |
| **Accommodation** | A check-in and check-out date, then a room | Hotel, homestay, chalet |
| **Court** | A court and a time from a grid | Badminton, tennis, futsal |

## Tips

A few things make the first week smoother:

- **Start from a template.** **Bookings** → **Forms** → **Templates** creates a complete form with sample services and staff in one click, which you then rename and edit.
- **Turn on every working day.** A new employee starts with every day **Off**. Switch on the days they work, or customers who choose them cannot book.
- **Test before you share.** In Test Mode, make one booking yourself. It shows up in **Bookings** and on the **Calendar** just like a real one.

## Common issues

### What kinds of bookings does BCL support?

Five: Appointment (spa, clinic, salon), Reservation (table booking), Ticket (museum, event, tour), Accommodation (hotel, homestay, room) and Court (badminton, tennis, futsal). You pick the type when you create a service and again on the booking form.

### Do I have to add staff before I can take bookings?

Only for Appointment services. An Appointment service needs at least one employee in Assigned Staff, so add your employees first. Reservation, Ticket, Accommodation and Court services work without staff.

### Is there a faster way to start?

Yes. On Bookings → Forms, click Templates and pick a ready-made form, such as Hair Salon or Badminton Court. BCL creates the form with sample services and staff for you to edit.