Creating packages, gift certificates, and subscriptions

Offer different booking code options for clients to pay for appointments.

You can create packages, gift certificates, and subscriptions to generate a booking code that your clients can use when scheduling appointments.

This guide explains how to create packages, gift certificates, and subscriptions. To sell these to your clients, visit Selling and redeeming packages, gift certificates and subscriptions.

These features are available with the Growing and Powerhouse plans. Subscriptions are only available if you use Stripe or Square as your payment processor.

These features are separate from the gift cards and subscriptions that you can offer through Squarespace Commerce. Gift certificates sold through Acuity Scheduling can't be used for purchases through Squarespace Commerce.

If you get started and decide you want more hands-on help setting up Acuity Scheduling, you can hire a vetted expert.

Create a package

Note: The instructions below include links to Acuity settings separated by the kind of account you use to log into Acuity. Which kind of account do I have?

To create a new package:

1. Open the Packages, gifts & subscriptions panel: I log in with an Acuity account | I log in with a Squarespace account.
2. Click New package.
3. Add a title.
4. Set the package Access to Public, Private, or Unavailable:
   • Public - Available for all clients to purchase from your scheduler.
   • Private - Only available to clients who have the direct link and hidden from your scheduler.
   • Unavailable - Hidden from all clients. Direct links to packages set to Unavailable display a note that the option is no longer available. Clients who previously purchased the package can still redeem their codes.
5. Add a price.
6. Optional: Add a picture, description, or category.
7. Leave the Gift certificate? box unchecked. To create a gift certificate, follow the steps below.
8. Enter an expiration date in the Expires after field. The code is valid until the expiration date, though clients can use the code to book an appointment as far into the future as your scheduling limits allow. If you leave the field blank, your clients’ codes will never expire. 
9. Use the Redeemable for drop-down menu to set the package value, then decide which appointment types the package can be redeemed for. 
10. Click Add package.

Create a gift certificate

To create a new gift certificate:

1. Open the Packages, gifts & subscriptions panel: I log in with an Acuity account | I log in with a Squarespace account.
2. Click New gift certificate.
3. Enter the title and price.
4. Set the gift certificate Access to Public, Private, or Unavailable:
   • Public - Available for all clients to purchase from your scheduler.
   • Private - Only available to clients who have the direct link and hidden from your scheduler.
   • Unavailable - Hidden from all clients. Direct links to gift certificates set to Unavailable display a note that the option is no longer available. Clients who previously purchased the gift certificate can still redeem their codes.
5. Optional: Add a category, picture, or description.
6. To display extra information on the certificate, fill out the Extra info shown on the certificate section.
7. Enter an expiration date in the Expires after field. The code is valid until the expiration date, though clients can use the code to book an appointment as far into the future as your scheduling limits allow. If you leave the field blank, your clients’ codes will never expire. 
8. Use the Redeemable for drop-down menu to set the gift certificate value, then decide which appointment types the gift certificate can be redeemed for.
9. Click Add gift certificate.

Keep in mind:

• A gift certificate doesn’t have to cover the whole cost of an appointment. The recipient can pay the remaining amount using whatever payment method you've set up.
• Gift certificates that are worth a set dollar amount can also be used toward the cost of add-ons.
• Recipients can use gift certificates for appointments and classes, but can't use them for packages, subscriptions, or more gift certificates.

Create a subscription

To create a new subscription:

1. Open the Packages, gifts & subscriptions panel: I log in with an Acuity account | I log in with a Squarespace account.
2. Click New subscription.
3. Add a title.
4. Set the subscription Access to Public, Private, or Unavailable:
   • Public - Available for all clients to purchase from your scheduler.
   • Private - Only available to clients who have the direct link and hidden from your scheduler.
   • Unavailable - Hidden from all clients. Direct links to subscriptions set to Unavailable display a note that the option is no longer available. Clients who previously purchased subscriptions can still redeem their codes.
5. Add a price and, from the drop-down menu, select how often Acuity should charge the client.
6. Enter a number in the Number of billing cycles field to set how long the subscription charges should continue.
7. Enter a price in the Initial setup fee field to charge clients an extra fee when they sign up for the subscription.
8. If you want Acuity to send subscription renewal reminders to your clients, check Send a subscription renewal reminder email to clients 7 days prior to their subscription renewal date.

Note: In some jurisdictions, businesses are legally required to send subscription renewal reminders to their clients. To learn more, visit Email notifications for Acuity Scheduling clients.

9. Optional: Add a picture, description, or category.
10. From the Every subscription billing cycle drop-down menu, choose how or if the subscription code should be recharged:
    • Reset the amount - Resets the value to the full amount, but doesn't save unused credit
    • Rollover remaining appointments - Resets the value to the full amount plus any unused credit
    • Leave as-is - Leaves the current value as-is

Note: If you select leave as-is, the client will receive their subscription credits immediately after they make a payment. However, if there is a set number of billing cycles, they can't cancel the subscription until each payment in the selected billing cycle is made.

11. Use the Redeemable for drop-down menu to set the subscription value, then decide which appointment types the subscription can be redeemed for. 
12. Click Add subscription.

Set the redeemable value

Decide how many appointments the code can be redeemed for using these options:

Option	Notes
Total number of appointments	The package, gift certificate, or subscription code can be redeemed for a set number of appointments per appointment type.
Total number of minutes	The package, gift certificate, or subscription code can be redeemed for a set amount of time for each appointment type.  If there's less than one appointment's worth of credit remaining, clients can't use the code.
Total dollar amount	The package, gift certificate, or subscription code can be redeemed for a specific dollar amount.  You can only use the booking code with a total dollar amount value toward the cost of an add-on. Otherwise, you’ll have to pay separately for the add-on.  If there's less than one appointment's worth of credit remaining, the client is charged the difference between the appointment cost and the remaining code value.
Unlimited appointments	The package, gift certificate, or subscription code can be redeemed for any of the selected appointment types. The client can book as many appointments as they like.

Tip: Total dollar amount is a good option for bulk discounts, as the client can buy for one price, but redeem it for services worth a higher amount.

Display packages, gift certificates, and subscriptions

Your booking codes can appear on your scheduler, or on a Acuity store page:

1. Open the Packages, gifts & subscriptions panel: I log in with an Acuity account | I log in with a Squarespace account.
2. In the Sell packages of appointments, gift certificates, subscriptions, and products section, select one of the three options.
3. Click Save.

Keep in mind:

• Acuity hides packages, gift certificates, and subscriptions that you don't set to Public.
• The store page is separate from any store you create in Squarespace Commerce. It only sells packages, gift certificates, and subscriptions in Acuity.
• You can link to the store page from your scheduler, or keep it separate.
• A direct link to the store page appears in the top-right corner.

Requiring terms and conditions

To require clients to agree to your terms and conditions before purchasing:

1. Open the Packages, gifts & subscriptions panel: I log in with an Acuity account | I log in with a Squarespace account.
2. Check Require clients to agree to your terms before placing an order.
3. Enter your terms and conditions in the field that appears and format the text. If your terms and conditions are listed on your site, you can add a link to that page.
4. Click Save.

Edit packages, gift certificates, and subscriptions

Note: Use caution when editing packages, gift certificates, and subscriptions, as changes affect every client whose purchased the package, gift certificate, or subscription. To make changes that affect one client, edit the client's code.

To change the settings:

1. Open the Packages, gifts & subscriptions panel: I log in with an Acuity account | I log in with a Squarespace account.
2. Click Edit for the package, gift certificate, or subscription you want to edit.
3. Make changes, then click Update package, Update gift certificate, or Update subscription.

Create and send a free package, gift certificate, or subscription code

You can create and send a free package, gift certificate, or subscription code directly to the client, so they don’t have to make a payment. To send a free code:

1. Open the Packages, gifts & subscriptions panel: I log in with an Acuity account | I log in with a Squarespace account.
2. Click Edit for the package, gift certificate, or subscription you want to send to the client.
3. Click Add code.
4. Optional: Use the drop-down menu to assign the code to a specific client account or email address.
5. Click Add code.

Share the code directly with the client, which they can use to pay for your services. Keep in mind that this process won’t trigger an automated email.

Delete packages, gift certificates, or subscriptions

To delete a package, gift certificate, or subscription:

Note: Use caution when deleting packages, gift certificates, and subscriptions, because this will affect every client with those codes. This action can't be undone.

1. Open the Packages, gifts & subscriptions panel: I log in with an Acuity account | I log in with a Squarespace account.
2. Click Edit next to the package, gift certificate, or subscription you want to delete. 
3. Scroll to the bottom of the page and click Delete. 
4. Type Delete in the text field, then click Ok.

Client information and intake forms

When clients purchase a booking code, they enter their name and email address. They have the option to enter their phone number and to leave a note for the business.

It's not possible to have clients fill out an intake form during the checkout process. Instead, clients fill out intake forms (if you've created them) when they book appointments, including when they redeem booking codes.

If you want clients to enter more information when they buy a package, gift certificate, or subscription, consider creating a form outside Acuity. Options include a Squarespace form block or a form from a third-party form app.

You can include a link to the form in the email that Acuity automatically sends when a client purchases a booking code. Information entered into these forms won't automatically appear in Acuity.