There’s nothing quite like that moment when you realize a tool you already use can suddenly do more than you thought it could…

And honestly? This was one of those moments for me 👀

Google Appointment Scheduling has been around for a bit, and I’ve already shared how it can replace tools like Calendly. But recently, I discovered you can now connect Stripe directly to Google Scheduling and require payment at the time of booking.

Which means…
Clients can book and pay in one step.
No invoices.
No follow-ups.
No awkward “just circling back on payment” emails.

For simple, paid sessions — like mini shoots, one-off calls, or short coaching sessions — this is a really solid option. And it might be exactly what you need right now 🫶

Let me walk you through what this looks like in real life, and then we’ll talk about when it does make sense to grow into something like Dubsado.

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First things first… connect Stripe to Google Scheduling

Before you create anything, you’ll want to make sure Stripe is connected.

Inside Google Calendar:

• Go to Settings
• Click Appointment schedules
• Connect your Stripe account

Once it’s connected, you’ll see Stripe listed as your payment integration — that’s how you know you’re good to go ✔️

One important note here (and this trips people up):
You want to create appointment schedules, not appointment slots. Slots are more for internal use. Schedules are what you want for client-facing bookings.

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Setting up a paid mini session (step-by-step vibes)

For this example, imagine you’re running a mini branding session day.

You can:

• Create a custom appointment length (like 20 minutes)
• Set it for a specific date only (perfect for mini sessions)
• Offer availability from, say, 11am–7pm
• Add buffer time between sessions (I love a 10-minute breather)
• Allow bookings every 30 minutes

From there, you’ll add a simple booking form:

• Name
• Email
• Phone number (highly recommend for events like this)

You can also add a description explaining:

• What the session includes
• Where it’s located
• How much it costs
• Any important details they should know ahead of time

Then comes the magic ✨
You can require payment at booking, set your price, and add a cancellation policy.

Once someone books, Google automatically:

• Sends them a calendar invite
• Sends a reminder email (like the day before)

Simple. Clean. Done.

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Sharing the booking link (and getting paid)

After you save everything, Google gives you a booking link you can:

• Share directly
• Embed on your website
• Add to a popup or sales page

When someone clicks it:

• They choose their time
• Enter their info
• Complete a full Stripe checkout

The appointment is not confirmed until payment is complete, which is exactly what we want 🤍

Stripe will also automatically send a payment receipt, so you don’t need to worry about manually confirming that part.

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Want to send a bonus follow-up email? Zapier can help

Now, this part is optional — but helpful.

If you want to send a custom email after booking (like a questionnaire or prep guide), you can use Zapier to connect:

• Google Calendar → Gmail

The setup involves:

• Triggering a Zap when a new Google Calendar event is created
• Pulling the client’s email from the event description
• Sending a custom email automatically

It does require a paid Zapier plan for multi-step zaps, so this is very much a “nice to have,” not a must.

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A couple important limitations to know about

Before you go all-in, there are a few things to be aware of:

• Google Appointment Scheduling is not available on the lowest Google Workspace plan
• Reminder emails are not customizable
• You can’t automatically follow up if someone forgets to fill out a form
• You can’t offer payment plans or split payments

So while this setup is incredibly easy and accessible, it does have its limits.

If you want a deeper breakdown of Google’s scheduling features, this post goes into more detail:
👉 Stop Using Calendly – How to Use Google Calendar Scheduling

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When it makes sense to grow into Dubsado 🪄

This is where my Dubsado heart comes in.

Google Scheduling is amazing for:

• One-off sessions
• Mini days
• Simple paid bookings
• Special events
• Testing an offer without overbuilding

But if you want:

• Fully customized emails
• Automated reminders and follow-ups
• Built-in questionnaires
• Payment plans or multiple invoices
• A client experience that runs itself

That’s where Dubsado really shines ✨

With Dubsado, everything lives in one place — contracts, invoices, forms, workflows — and your clients are gently guided every step of the way.

If you’re already using Dubsado (or thinking about it), these might be helpful next reads:

• How to Sync iCal and Google Calendar with Dubsado
• Sync Multiple Calendars inside Dubsado

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A simple takeaway you can use this week

If you’ve been putting off offering paid bookings because the setup feels overwhelming… this is your permission slip.

Start simple.

Use Google Appointment Scheduling with Stripe for:

• A mini session
• A paid consult
• A short coaching call
• A one-time event

Let it be easy.
Let it be imperfect.
Let it support where you are right now.

And when your business grows (because it will)… you can grow your systems with it 🫶

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Closing

You don’t need the most advanced system to get started — you just need one that supports you without draining your energy.

Build what you need today.
Trust that you can evolve it tomorrow.

With systems and a touch of magic on your side,
Lauren ✨

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