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Build Guide

Build a Appointment Scheduling Site Without WordPress

WordPress scheduling plugins break when you have 50+ appointments per week. Build a scheduling system that handles high volume without database strain.

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The Old Way

The WordPress Approach

Required Plugins

1Amelia ($76-240/year) — appointment booking with payment
2BookingPress ($79-249/year) — booking calendar
3Simply Schedule Appointments ($99-399/year) — appointment scheduling
4LatePoint ($79 one-time) — booking plugin
5Start Booking ($49/year) — simple booking

Limitations

Calendar widgets load 200KB+ of JavaScript on every page
Google Calendar sync requires premium tier ($200+/year)
Buffer time between appointments is either global or nonexistent
No timezone auto-detection — clients manually select timezone
SMS reminders require third-party integration with additional monthly costs

Typical Cost

$100-400/year in plugins + SMS costs + hosting

The Modern Way

The Modern Approach

Next.js + Cal.com + Stripe + Twilio

Cal.com (open-source Calendly alternative) handles the entire scheduling engine — availability, bookings, calendar sync, and reminders. Embed it in your Next.js site or use the API for a fully custom experience.

Native calendar sync with Google, Outlook, and Apple Calendar
Automatic timezone detection — clients always see their local time
Buffer time, round-robin assignment, and collective scheduling built-in
Customizable booking forms with conditional fields
Self-hosted option means zero monthly scheduling fees

WordPress vs. Modern Stack

WordPress

  • Calendar widgets load 200KB+ of JavaScript on every page
  • Google Calendar sync requires premium tier ($200+/year)
  • Buffer time between appointments is either global or nonexistent
  • No timezone auto-detection — clients manually select timezone
  • $100-400/year in plugins + SMS costs + hosting

Modern Stack

  • Native calendar sync with Google, Outlook, and Apple Calendar
  • Automatic timezone detection — clients always see their local time
  • Buffer time, round-robin assignment, and collective scheduling built-in
  • Customizable booking forms with conditional fields
  • Self-hosted option means zero monthly scheduling fees

Recommended Tools

Cal.com

Scheduling engine with availability, bookings, and calendar sync

Free (self-hosted), $12/user/month cloud

Stripe

Paid appointment collection and deposit handling

2.9% + 30¢ per transaction

Twilio

SMS appointment reminders and confirmations

$0.0079/SMS sent

Next.js

Business website with embedded scheduling

Free and open-source

Vercel

Hosting

Free hobby tier, $20/month pro

Step-by-Step Build Guide

1

Set up Cal.com (self-hosted with Docker or Cal.com cloud) and configure your appointment types with durations and pricing

2

Connect your Google Calendar or Outlook for real-time availability and conflict prevention

3

Build your Next.js business website with service descriptions and Cal.com booking embeds

4

Configure payment collection via Cal.com's Stripe integration for paid consultations

5

Set up SMS reminders via Twilio at configurable intervals (24h, 1h before appointment)

6

Configure buffer times between appointments and daily booking limits to prevent burnout

7

Test the full booking flow across timezones and deploy to Vercel

Frequently Asked Questions

How is this different from the booking system entry?
The booking-system entry covers general resource booking (rooms, equipment, services). This entry focuses specifically on appointment scheduling for service professionals — consultants, therapists, salons, and similar time-slot-based scheduling.
Can I have multiple team members with different schedules?
Yes. Cal.com supports team scheduling with per-member availability, round-robin assignment (auto-assign to the next available person), and collective scheduling (find a time when multiple people are free).
How do I reduce no-shows?
Cal.com supports payment deposits at booking time (via Stripe) and automated SMS/email reminders. Requiring a deposit reduces no-shows by 50-70%. Reminders at 24h and 1h handle the rest.

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