Booking apps are among the most requested apps for Canadian businesses: clinics, salons, gyms, studios and service companies all want customers to book on their own, without phone tag. But the cost depends on what the app needs to do. Here are three typical levels with realistic numbers, and what moves the price up or down.
Core features of a booking app
- Customer sign-up and profiles.
- Choosing a service, location and staff member.
- A calendar that shows open times and prevents double bookings.
- Reminders by push notification before the appointment.
- Deposits or full payment at booking.
- A dashboard for your team to manage appointments, services and prices.
Three levels and what each costs
Simple booking app: about $24,000 to $36,000 CAD
An iOS and Android app with sign-up, booking and reminders. A good fit for a single business that wants to start quickly. Expect about 8 to 12 weeks.
Full booking app: about $36,000 to $54,000 CAD
Adds online payments through providers such as Stripe, Moneris and Apple Pay, plus a dashboard for your team. The right fit for most clinics, salons and gyms. Expect about 10 to 14 weeks.
Advanced booking platform: from about $59,000 CAD
Adds a fully custom design, a web app for booking from a browser, and AI features such as suggesting the best time slot or answering customer questions. Built for multi-location businesses and brands that want a standout experience. Expect about 14 to 18 weeks.
These ranges come from our app cost estimator, where you can pick exactly the features you need. Prices are before taxes.
What raises or lowers the cost?
- Locations and staff: multiple schedules and staff permissions add work.
- Integrations: connecting to your POS, practice management or accounting software takes extra time.
- Design: a clean ready design is faster; a fully custom design reflects your brand exactly.
- Starting small: launching a first version and adding features over time lowers the upfront cost and tests the idea with real customers.
Running costs to plan for
- An Apple Developer account at US$99 per year, and a one-time US$25 Google Play registration.
- Hosting and servers, which grow with your number of users.
- SMS reminders, if you use them alongside push notifications.
- Payment provider fees on each transaction.
- Support and updates after launch.
Thinking about a booking app for your business? Learn more about our app development services in Ottawa, or book a free call and we’ll send you a written proposal with scope, timeline and price.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a booking app cost in Canada?
Simple booking apps start at about $24,000 CAD, full apps with payments and a team dashboard at about $36,000, and advanced platforms at about $59,000, before taxes.
How long does it take to build a booking app?
About 8 to 12 weeks for a simple app, 10 to 14 weeks for a full app and 14 to 18 weeks for an advanced platform.
Can customers pay a deposit when they book?
Yes. The app can connect to a payment provider such as Stripe, Moneris or Apple Pay to take a deposit or full payment at booking.
