Could someone give me the basics of creating an on-line booking & availability ‘system’ for an accommodation provider? I have a potential client asking for this. I’ve used WebYep in the past to create a page for availability that my client could update themselves - that was relatively easy.
Am I right in thinking that in order for my client to have a booking system - taking money via a credit card for instance - they will need some arrangement with their bank (and a business account) in order to do this?
At this point in time I’m looking for an overview of the possibilities/ requirements / pitfalls / potential cost etc.
They would need to have a merchant account somewhere: maybe their bank, maybe a provider like Stripe or PayPal. Then you would need to configure some sort of cart software for the site. Mals is popular in Freeway, because you don’t need to set up anything much on your server.
One thing that you really have to think through, however, is inventory. If your client wants to sell on line, and wants the site to “know” when something is available or taken, then that either means double-work on the client’s part to keep the store up to date, or the site needs to manage inventory – to be the central source of authority about which days or weeks are available for each room. This can get fairly complicated, depending on your skill level and the complexity of the product being sold. I have worked on projects like this which went from four to five to six figures in budget. It’s that end of the price range, I’m afraid, to do it well and completely.
Walter
On Nov 11, 2013, at 10:46 AM, WildCottage wrote:
Hi Everyone
Could someone give me the basics of creating an on-line booking & availability ‘system’ for an accommodation provider? I have a potential client asking for this. I’ve used WebYep in the past to create a page for availability that my client could update themselves - that was relatively easy.
Am I right in thinking that in order for my client to have a booking system - taking money via a credit card for instance - they will need some arrangement with their bank (and a business account) in order to do this?
At this point in time I’m looking for an overview of the possibilities/ requirements / pitfalls / potential cost etc.
And I just want to add here – in any of these high-priced jobs, my fee was merely a rounding error in the money the site took in or the work that it saved the owners.
Walter
On Nov 11, 2013, at 10:54 AM, Walter Lee Davis wrote:
It’s that end of the price range, I’m afraid, to do it well and completely.
Many thanks for your input - I’m actively trying to put the client off the idea - we prefer the more personal touch of speaking to guests. But if it goes that way (selling availability on-line) I’ll have to advise her of the potential costs.