The purpose of this article is to help you understand: 

  • How to set up different prices for different service categories
  • How to set up pricing parameter dependencies

Offer Different Pricing for Different Service Categories

Let's say you run a cleaning business and have the following service categories, each with different pricing: Regular cleaning, Deep cleaning, and Move in/out cleaning. How does one achieve this in BookingKoala?  The answer is by setting up pricing parameter dependencies.  

Dependencies are when the pricing or availability of a service relies on another factor, like the service category, frequency, etc.  In this case, the pricing parameters depend on the service category to display the correct pricing.  If our test cleaning company has different rates per each of its three service categories, this means there would be three separate sets of pricing parameters to correspond with each category.

For example, let's say this cleaning business uses the number of bedrooms and bathrooms as their pricing parameter variables.  This means there would be three rates for the 1 bedroom variable: one for regular cleaning, one for deep cleaning, and another for move-in/out cleaning.

 

Create Different Service Categories

If you haven't already, the first step is to create the service categories you need for your form.  Service categories are the broader categories for the services that your business offers.  If you offer multiple services, the customer will be able to browse through them all and select the service they are interested in to see pricing

You can add a new service category by going to:

Settings > Industries > [Industry Name] > Form [#] > Service Category

At the top of the "Service Category" page, click the blue "Add New" button.

Click here to learn how to add a new service category in greater detail.  

 

Enabling Service Category Dependencies

To set this up in BookingKoala, one must first ensure dependencies are enabled. 

Please go to:

Settings > Industries > [Industry Name] > Settings > Form Settings

Click "Options" then "Edit" to open the form.

Scroll down to the bottom of the page and check the box next to Service Category for the question, "Which option(s) should the variables show for?" 

Click the blue "Save" button at the bottom of the page.

 

Setting Up Service Category Dependant Pricing

The next step is to update and/or create pricing for each service category in the pricing parameters section.  To do this, please go to:

Settings > Industries > [Industry Name] > Form 1 > Pricing Parameters

We recommend editing your existing pricing first before creating new sets of pricing. Select "Options" then "Edit" to open an existing variable.

If you haven't created any variables yet, you can create your first variable by clicking the "Add New" button at the top of the Pricing Parameters page.

Click here to learn how to set up pricing parameters for Form 1 or click here to create pricing parameters for Form 4.  

Once inside the Create or Edit Variable page, go to the Dependencies tab.  

Scroll down to the question "Should the variables show based on the service category?" and select "Yes". Then, check the box(es) next to the categories you would like to use this variable/pricing parameter.  

In this example, the variable will just show for the Standard cleaning category.

Once you've made your selections, click "Save" at the bottom right corner of the page to update/save your variable.  

Once you are directed back to the general Pricing Parameters page, you will see that the variable you just edited now displays the service category(ies) you've set for the variable.

Repeat these steps until you have set up your first set(s) of pricing.

Then, use the "Options", and then "Duplicate" buttons to copy your topmost variable to begin creating a new set of pricing.

If you'd like, you can use the "Different on customer end" option to label which category will correspond with this new variable.  Enter the admin-end Name into the topmost field, then check the box next to "Different on customer end" and enter the label you want customers to see.   

In this example, the "1-999" [square feet] variable will correspond with the Deep cleaning category.

Scroll down the details section and adjust your pricing and timing as needed to correspond with the new category in which you are creating pricing.  

Then, click the Next button at the bottom of the page to go to the Dependencies tab.  

Then, check off the boxes next to the service category or categories this variable will belong to.

In this example, the variable will correspond with the Deep Cleaning category of pricing.

Finally, click the "Save" button at the bottom of the page.  When you are redirected back to the general pricing parameters page, you will see your new variable added to the bottom of the list.

Repeat these steps until you have created pricing for all of your service categories.