How to Set Up Google Calendar for Paid Appointment Bookings

Welcome to Sip and Bloom, my online space where we deep-dive into strategic insights for growing your digital presence and business. Today’s post dives into one of the most exciting (yet surprisingly underutilized) features of Google Calendar: paid appointment bookings.

Watch the video tutorial!

If you’re a coach, consultant, freelancer, or small business owner, this is your ticket to a smooth, automated scheduling system that directly integrates with Stripe for easy, upfront payments.

In this guide, I’ll take you through all the steps needed to create a fully functioning paid booking link in your Google Calendar. We’ll cover everything from understanding your Google Workspace plan requirements to customizing your booking page and adding advanced features like buffer times and cancellation policies.

In this guide, you’ll learn how to:

• Turn Google Calendar into a paid booking system for your main offers
• Connect Stripe so clients pay up front
• Add buffer times, limits, and cancellation policies
• Protect your energy with anti-burnout booking settings
• Share your booking link across your website, emails, and socials

By the end, you’ll have an effortless workflow that puts time back into your day — time you can spend actually engaging with clients or focusing on other elements of your business.

Let’s dive in!

1. Introduction to Paid Appointment Bookings in Google Calendar

Paid appointment bookings in Google Calendar is a relatively new feature that allows you to create a public-facing scheduling page where clients can book time with you — and pay instantly.

If you’ve been piecing together solutions with third-party apps or juggling an invoice system for 1:1 consultations, this built-in approach simplifies everything.

Instead of:

• Sending a link to your calendar tool,
• Waiting for clients to pick a slot,
• Then manually invoicing them on a separate payment platform,
• And chasing down the payment…

You can handle it all in one place. Google’s system automatically syncs your availability, processes payments via Stripe, and even adds buffer times to ensure you have breaks between calls.

What Your Clients See on the Booking Page

Your public booking page shows:

• The name of your session (e.g., “60-Min Strategy Session”)
• Your photo or logo and a short description
• Available dates and times pulled directly from your calendar
• The price and payment step if you require payment to book

This is the page you’ll be sharing on your website, in emails, and on social.

2. Why Use Google’s Paid Booking Links

If you sell consultations or any form of billable time, you know how crucial it is to streamline your workflow. Creating a frictionless booking experience can mean the difference between a prospective client actually paying for your service — or abandoning the process halfway through.

Here are a few reasons why integrating paid bookings is a no-brainer:

1. Professionalism and Trust: When clients see a polished, unified scheduling/payment experience, it builds credibility.
2. Time Savings: You no longer have to manually send invoices or track who has paid versus who hasn’t.
3. No More Missed Payments: Requiring payment up front eliminates the dreaded chase for payment post-consultation.
4. 24/7 Availability: Clients can book and pay on their own time, which can increase overall bookings.
5. Built-In Google Calendar Sync: This drastically reduces scheduling conflicts, as Google automatically prevents double-booking when you’re busy or away.

3. Key Requirements and Considerations

Before you start setting up your fancy new booking page, make sure you meet the prerequisites.

Google Workspace Plan

Paid appointment bookings are only available on Google Workspace’s Business Standard plan or higher.

If you’re on the Business Starter plan, you can still create a single appointment schedule, but it won’t have the paid bookings feature. Ensure you’re on the correct tier before proceeding, or upgrade your plan for full functionality.

Tip: If you’re not sure which plan you’re on, log into your Google Admin console (admin.google.com) and check the Billing section, or contact your Workspace admin or Google Workspace support.

Stripe Integration

Payments for these bookings are handled exclusively through Stripe. Your clients will need to use a debit or credit card for payment; other payment gateways (like PayPal) aren’t supported natively.

Tip: Connect Stripe before creating your appointment schedule. Go to Settings > General > Appointment Schedules in Google Calendar. There, you’ll be able to set up or connect a Stripe account.

Can You Use Google Calendar Paid Bookings Yet?

Quick requirements checklist before you dive into setup:

• Google Workspace Business Standard, Business Plus, or Enterprise
• Access to the Appointment schedules feature in Google Calendar
• Ability to connect a Stripe account (or create a new one)
• A clear offer + price for your session (e.g., 60-min strategy call for $150)
• Basic cancellation + reschedule expectations decided in advance

Once these boxes are checked, you’re ready to turn Google Calendar into a paid booking system.

4. Step-by-Step Setup Guide

Now that you know the basics, let’s walk through the entire setup process from start to finish.

Your Google Calendar Paid Bookings Roadmap

Here’s the flow we’re about to walk through:

1. Confirm your Google Workspace plan supports paid bookings.
2. Turn on appointment schedules in Google Calendar.
3. Connect Stripe in your Calendar settings.
4. Create an appointment schedule for your main offer.
5. Set duration, availability, buffers, and daily limits.
6. Add your cancellation policy and intake questions.
7. Test your booking link and payment flow.
8. Share the link on your website, email signature, and socials.

Pin this and use it as your quick reference while you set everything up.

4.1. Accessing Appointment Schedules

1. Go to Google Calendar: Open calendar.google.com.
2. Create a New Appointment Schedule: Click the Create button in the top left corner and select Appointment schedule from the dropdown.
3. Confirm Your Plan: If you don’t see “Appointment schedule” as an option, you might be on Business Starter or an older version of G Suite that doesn’t support this feature.

Where to Find “Appointment Schedule” in Google Calendar

From your Google Calendar:

• Click the Create button in the top left corner.
• Select Appointment schedule instead of Event.
• If you don’t see it, double-check that you’re on a supported Workspace plan.

This is the starting point for creating your paid booking page.

4.2. Creating Your Booking Link

1. Title Your Appointment: Under the appointment schedule details, type in the name of your service. For instance, “1:1 Strategy Session” or “Notion Workspace Consultation.” Use a clear, outcome-oriented name so clients immediately know what they’re booking.
2. Select Appointment Duration: If you typically need a full hour for your consultation, pick “60 minutes.” You can also choose 30 minutes, 45 minutes, or even 90 minutes — whatever suits your service best.
3. General Availability: Specify which days of the week and times you’d like to offer these appointments. Maybe you want them only on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 10 AM to 4 PM.

Pro-Tip: If you want to limit the number of bookings on a given day, skip ahead to 4.4 Advanced Booking Settings to learn how to put a cap on daily appointments.

Set the Basics for Your Offer

Inside the appointment schedule editor, you’ll:

• Name your session in a way that’s clear and client-friendly.
• Choose your default duration (30, 45, 60, 90 minutes, etc.).
• Set your weekly availability for this specific offer.

Think of this screen as the “foundation” of your paid booking system.

4.3. Adjusting Time Slots and Availability

• Customize Each Day: If your schedule changes daily, you can override the default times by editing each day’s availability.
• Holidays or Days Off: Block off dates like public holidays, family events, or personal downtime so clients can’t book them.
• Recurring vs. One-Off: Create repeating weekly schedules or set one-time availability — perfect for seasonal schedules.

4.4. Advanced Booking Settings

Under Scheduling options, you’ll see additional controls that let you:

1. Add Buffer Times: For instance, a 15-minute buffer between sessions to handle notes, bathroom breaks, or a quick coffee run.
2. Limit Bookings Per Day: If you only want to take a maximum of three calls per day, set that limit to three.
3. Set an Advance Notice Requirement: If you need at least 24 hours to prepare for appointments, block last-minute bookings by adjusting the “Minimum time before an appointment” setting.
4. Calendars: If you manage multiple calendars (personal, team, or shared projects), enable the “Check multiple calendars” setting. Google Calendar will cross-reference all selected calendars to avoid double-bookings across your entire schedule.
5. Co-hosts: For appointments that require another team member or collaborator, you can add them as a co-host so the event is blocked off on both calendars.

Why This Matters: If you don’t set these, you may end up with back-to-back calls all day — or get last-minute bookings with no time to prep. Use these advanced settings to keep your day manageable and stress-free.

Dial In Your Anti-Burnout Settings

The Scheduling options panel is where you:

• Add buffer time between sessions.
• Cap how many bookings you’ll take per day.
• Set minimum notice so no one books you last-minute.
• Tell Google to check multiple calendars for conflicts.

Spend a few extra minutes here and your future self will thank you.

Use Your Settings to Protect Your Energy

Your settings can do a lot of boundary work for you:

• Add buffers so you’re not sprinting between calls.
• Limit calls per day to keep capacity realistic.
• Require advance notice to avoid last-minute bookings.
• Block holidays, travel days, and focus days in advance.
• Check multiple calendars to avoid double-booking.

These tweaks are what turn a packed calendar into a sustainable one.

4.5. Customizing the Booking Page

Your public booking page is what clients see when they schedule with you, so it’s essential to add your personal touch:

1. Upload a Photo: Whether it’s a professional headshot or a brand logo, this adds an immediate sense of trust and familiarity.
2. Name on the Booking Page: By default, your Google account name might appear. Feel free to change it to something more descriptive, like “Jen — Notion Strategist & Systems Designer.”
3. Location or Meeting Format: Choose Google Meet as the default meeting method for remote consultations, or specify an address/instructions for in-person sessions.

Bonus: If you’re hosting in-person sessions, specify an address or clear instructions (“Your office address,” or “Meet at this local café.”) to avoid confusion.

4.6. Setting Up Payments and Cancellation Policies

1. Enable Payments: Within your appointment schedule settings, find the Payments section and check “Require payment when booking.”
2. Set Your Fee: Enter the price for your service (e.g., $100 for a 1-hour strategy session). Make sure your Stripe account is connected.
3. Establish Cancellation/Rescheduling Policies: Clearly outline your policy — do you allow rescheduling within 24 hours? One reschedule? Is payment non-refundable once booked? This appears on the booking page so clients know what to expect.

Pro-Tip: Keep your cancellation policy visible on your booking page or confirmation email. Clear communication reduces misunderstandings, fosters trust, and saves you from awkward refund disputes later.

Turn On Payments So Clients Pay When They Book

In the Payments section, you’ll:

• Toggle on Require payment when booking.
• Enter the price for this specific session.
• Confirm your Stripe account is connected and active.

From this point on, clients will pay at the time of booking instead of after the call.

4.7. Finalizing Your Setup

1. Add Custom Questions: Ask for any details you need before the call — for example, “What do you hope to accomplish in this session?” or “Share any links I should review beforehand.”
2. Preview the Page: Use the preview option to see how the booking page looks to clients. Test everything — schedule a test session and confirm that payment and email confirmations work.
3. Share the Link: Once you’re happy with the setup, copy the unique booking page link. You can embed it on your website, include it in your email signature, or share it in your social media bios.

Make Your Booking Link Impossible to Miss

Once your schedule is live, the goal is simple: make it effortless for clients to find your link.

• Add it to your email signature and Work With Me page.
• Drop it into your link-in-bio (Notion page, Beacons, Linktree, etc.).
• Include it in social bios and pinned posts.
• Use it in nurture + onboarding email sequences as your default next step.
• Attach it to invoice emails and canned DM responses.

The more places it lives, the more bookings you’ll get without extra effort.

Congrats! You now have a fully functional, professional booking and payment system integrated seamlessly with Google Calendar and Stripe.

5. Tips and Best Practices

1. Sync With Your Existing Calendar: Make sure your personal or business calendars are merged so that you never double-book. Google’s appointment schedule will automatically check for conflicts if you let it.
2. Test Different Durations: Maybe your clients only need 30 minutes. If fewer people book your full-hour session, experiment with shorter calls at a lower price point (or keep the hour but structure it in segments).
3. Offer Multiple Service Tiers: Create multiple appointment schedules for different services — like a 30-minute quick consultation and a 90-minute deep dive.
4. Email Reminders: Automate email reminders through Google Calendar or a third-party tool so clients receive a heads-up 24 hours before the meeting. This reduces no-shows and confusion.
5. Incorporate Buffer Days: If you need a day or two each week for focused work (no meetings!), block those off in your availability.
6. Regularly Review Pricing: As your expertise grows or demand increases, consider adjusting your rates. The integrated payment system makes it easy — just update your fee in the Payments section.

A Simple Pre-Call Ritual for Every Session

Paid bookings handle the logistics, but you still need a moment to ground yourself before each call.

• Open your client intake form or notes.
• Review their key challenges and any links they shared.
• Test your mic, camera, and internet connection.
• Silence notifications on your phone and computer.
• Grab water or tea and take a breath.
• Open your call outline or run-of-show.

Pin this checklist and run through it before every session so you can show up focused and present.

6. Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Can I use PayPal or another payment platform instead of Stripe?
A1: Currently, Google only supports Stripe for direct booking payments. You’d need a third-party workaround if you absolutely must use another platform.

Q2: What if a client wants to pay by invoice or offline?
A2: If you prefer invoice-based billing or offline payments (cash, check, bank transfers), you can still create a booking schedule without requiring payment.

Q3: How do I block personal events or keep some appointments private?
A3: Google respects your calendar’s busy/free status. If an event is marked “Busy,” no one can book that slot. If it’s “Free,” that’s considered open availability. Turn on “Check multiple calendars” in scheduling options if you use more than one calendar.

Q4: Do I need to confirm every appointment manually?
A4: No. Once a client books and pays, the time is blocked off in your calendar automatically. You’ll receive an email notification with appointment details.

Q5: Can I embed my booking page on my website?
A5: Most website platforms let you add a “Book now” button that links to your booking page, and some support embedding the page in an iframe. Either option works — choose whichever fits your site design best.

Q6: Is there an additional fee for using paid appointments in Google Calendar?
A6: Google doesn’t charge extra for this feature, but Stripe charges its normal payment processing fees. Check Stripe’s pricing for your country (usually around 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction in the U.S.).

7. Conclusion

Setting up paid bookings within Google Calendar is an incredibly powerful way to streamline your online consultations, coaching sessions, or other billable services. By integrating Stripe payments and customizing your availability, you transform your calendar from a simple scheduling tool into a full-fledged booking and payment hub.

• You no longer need separate services for scheduling and invoices.
• Your clients can see exactly when you’re free, book on the spot, and pay instantly.
• Your daily schedule automatically syncs, preventing conflicts and ensuring you’re never double-booked.

If you’re on the Business Standard tier of Google Workspace or higher, this is a no-brainer. And even if you’re not, consider upgrading if your business relies heavily on appointment bookings — it’s likely to pay for itself in ease of use and saved administrative time.

Your next step: set aside 30–45 minutes this week, follow the checklist above, and launch your first paid booking schedule. Once it’s live, you never have to manually send an invoice for a first-call booking again.

Thanks for reading! If you have any questions or want to share your experience with Google Calendar paid bookings, please leave a comment below. Let’s sip, bloom, and strategize our way to a more productive, profitable business!

About Me & How Biz Strtga Can Help

Hola — I am Jen, the Biz Strtga (strat·e·gista)! I help small business owners and freelancers build Notion workspaces that truly support their goals, with a special focus on service providers.

Through my brand Biz Strtga and my shop, Sip and Bloom, I support entrepreneurs and small teams who are ready to turn scattered workflows into a custom Notion ecosystem.

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Based in Los Angeles, I am available for Notion workshops, speaking, brand partnerships, and done-for-you builds. If you are ready to make Notion easier to use on your phone and across your whole business, reach out and let us design an ecosystem that actually supports you.