Square launches appointments service for SMEs

Mobile payments startup Square has rolled out Square Appointments, a new online appointment booking service aimed at small businesses.

The company, founded by Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey, is rumoured to be preparing an Australian launch.

Square Appointments allows customers to book online, select the service, staff member and time. Business owners can accept appointments on their site, a free Square webpage, or via email, with appointments automatically updated to their business schedule.

It also helps reduce no-shows by setting automatic text and email reminders to ensure customers remember appointments.

TechCrunch reports Square has been testing the feature, which will now become a key part of the web-based Square Dashboard, for the past few months.

While it complements Square’s iPad-based point-of-sale Square register, or those already using Square, the company says Square Appointments will also be available as a standalone service.