The problem
Behavior consultations are long, and an owner who doesn't turn up costs a 2-hour slot that could have been sold. If a trainer has 2 no-shows a month at $126£95€113A$182C$179 each, that's $253£190€226A$365C$357 plus about 20 minutes of messages to arrange each of 12 consultations, 4 hours a month.
What the AI does
Calendly's Standard plan adds reminders, automations and payment at booking through Stripe or PayPal. Create one event type for a behavior consultation with its length and price, and connect Stripe so owners pay when they book. Owners pick a slot that's free in your calendar, and Calendly sends reminders. Keep booking questions short (dog's age, breed, the main problem in a sentence) and send your full history form separately. Where a sudden change in behavior could have a medical cause, ask the owner to see their vet first.
A worked example
A behavior trainer in Sheffield does about 12 home consultations a month at $126£95€113A$182C$179 arranged by message. About 2 owners a month don't turn up or cancel on the day.
Before
2 no-shows at $126£95€113A$182C$179 ($253£190€226A$365C$357 unpaid) and 12 consultations arranged at 20 minutes each (4 hours)
After
Owners pay at booking and get reminders; arranging takes about 2 minutes each (24 minutes a month)
What it's worth
About $396£298€355A$572C$560 a month: $253£190€226A$365C$357 of consultation fees no longer lost, if both no-shows now forfeit their payment under your terms (an assumption, counted in full since a no-show adds no cost), plus 3.6 hours of arranging (4 hours minus 24 minutes) at an assumed $40£30€36A$58C$56 an hour, $144£108€129A$207C$203. Standard is $10 (about $11£8€10A$15C$15) a seat a month billed yearly, or $12 (about $12£9€11A$17C$17) monthly.
How to set it up
- Sign up for Calendly Standard and connect the calendar you actually use.
- Create a behavior consultation event with its length and your price, and connect Stripe or PayPal.
- Write your cancellation and refund terms in the event description, and turn on reminders.
- Keep the booking questions short, and send your detailed behavior history form once the booking is made.
- Put the link on your website and in your replies to behavior inquiries.
What goes wrong
- Payments and reminders aren't on the free plan, which also has only one event type.
- Stripe or PayPal fees come off each payment.
- Dogs with sudden behavior changes may have a medical cause; ask owners to see their vet first, and don't diagnose at booking.
- Pricing is per seat, so each trainer with their own calendar is another seat.