Create and manage services
About services
A service appointment is a scheduled time when a service provider, such as a mechanic, technician, or stylist, will perform a specific task or provide a service. This could range from routine maintenance (like oil changes or check-ups) to more complex repairs or consultations. You can build and maintain a service library where you can add details about the services you offer, such as price, duration, and more. You can also add variations and modifiers to your services. For example, as a hair stylist you can charge less for short vs. long hair services.
Before you begin
You can create services from your Square Dashboard or Square Appointments POS app.
When you create services, you can do the following:
Track the cost of providing the service. This includes both setting a service cost and deducting service cost from commissions. Available with a Square Appointments Premium subscription or Square Premium subscription.
Add a processing time during the service. Available with a Square Appointments Plus or Premium subscription or Square Plus or Premium subscription. Learn how to create and edit processing time with appointments.
Block extra time after an appointment. Available with a Square Appointments Plus or Premium subscription or Square Plus or Premium subscription.
You have three options for managing services:
Use variations to customize service duration and pricing from your Square Appointments POS app.
Assign a color to each service to view your calendar by service instead of by staff member from your Square Appointments POS app. If there are multiple services for an appointment, the appointment will show multiple colors on your calendar.
Enable bookable services from your Square Dashboard or Square Appointments POS app.
Create a service
- Sign in to Square Dashboard and go to Items & services (or Items & menus or Items & inventory) > Items > Service library.
- Click Create service.
- Enter the service details, including name, image, location availability, and taxes (if applicable). Optionally, click Generate in the Description field to have a description automatically written using generative AI.
- Select a service category, if applicable.
- Select the price type and enter the price.
- Toggle on Track service cost if you want to track the cost of providing the service. If toggled on, enter the cost type and service cost.
- Enter the duration of the service.
- If applicable, toggle on Add processing time. By enabling processing time, you can add a block of time during the service, which is bookable by customers online.
- If applicable, toggle on Block extra time after appointment to add extra time at the end of the service time.
- Configure the online booking, resources, and variations as needed.
- Click Advanced settings to add modifiers and custom attributes as needed.
- Click Save.
From the Square POS app with mode enabled or from the Square Appointments POS app:
- Open your point of sale app.
- Tap ≡ More > Items & Services > All Services.
- Tap Create Service.
- Enter the service details, including name, duration time, etc.
- If applicable, toggle on Block Extra Time to add extra time at the end of the service time.
- Tap Save.
Upload an existing list of services
You can upload a list of existing services directly into your Service Library by using a CSV file or by providing a link to your webpage that contains a list of your current services. Before you get started, be sure you have access to your Square Dashboard and either a CSV file of your services or a webpage URL. Your file should include a name, description, price, and duration for each service, as well as any other details you wish to provide. No special formatting is required.
You can download a template and add your service information if you do not have a CSV file.
Sign in to your Square Dashboardand click Items & Services > Items and then Service library.
Click Actions and select import services.
Read the brief description and click Next.
Select a method Upload a CSV file or import services from a website link.
Follow the prompts to share your list of services.
Review and edit the list of services as needed.
Click Save to begin importing your services to Square.
Add a variation to a service
From the Square POS app with mode enabled or from the Square Appointments POS app:
Select a service you’d like to add a variation to from the Service Library > click Add Variation.
Enter variation name, price details, and duration > Online Booking.
For each variation choose whether or not the variation will be bookable online and what team members can perform the service variation > Locations.
Choose which locations this service is available at > Tap Create and Add Another or select Done.
Click Save.
Add a color to a service
From the Square POS app with mode enabled or from the Square Appointments POS app:
Tap More > Items & Services from the menu.
Tap All Services.
Select one of your services.
Tap the color badge and select the color you want to assign to the service.
Tap Save.
Repeat for your other services.
Enable bookable services
- Sign in to Square Dashboard and go to Staff > Team.
- Select the staff member.
- Click the Appointments tab.
- Toggle on Bookable by customers online.
- Click Edit to specify offered services, if required.
- Adjust staff members’ hours, if required.
From the Square POS app with mode enabled or from the Square Appointments POS app:
- Tap ≡ More > Items & Services > All Services.
- Tap the service you would like to edit.
- Toggle ON Bookable by Customers Online.
- Tap Assigned Team Members.
- Select/deselect relevant staff members.
- Tap the back arrow, then tap Save.