Ask questions when clients book

Add intake questions to a booking form, choose where each answer is saved, and get a client's last name reliably.

A few good questions before a session help you walk in prepared. When you're done, your booking form will ask what you need, and you'll know where each answer ends up.

Before you start

• Time: 10 minutes.
• You need: the session type set up. See Create a session type.
• Keep it short. Two or three questions is plenty. Every required question is one more reason to leave the page.
• Want an answer saved on the contact? Create the custom field first. See Tags and custom fields, in plain terms.

Add a question

1. Go to Calendar > Services and click Edit on the session type.
2. Open the Questions tab. With none yet, it says "No custom questions yet".
3. Click Add Question.
4. Choose how to build it:
   • Use System/CRM Field: pick a field you already keep on contacts, such as Company or a custom field. Click Add next to it. Fields are grouped under SYSTEM CONTACT FIELDS, CUSTOM FIELDS (CONTACT) and APPOINTMENT FIELDS.
   • Create Custom Question: write your own question.
5. For a custom question, fill in:
   • Question Type: Short Text, Long Text, Dropdown, Checkbox, Multiple Choice, Number, Email, Phone or Date.
   • Question Label: the question clients see, for example "What would make this session a win for you?"
   • Placeholder Text and Help Text (optional).
   • Required field: on only if you truly can't do without it.
   • Save answer to: where the answer goes (see the table below).
6. Click Save Questions.

Where answers go

Name and email are already on every booking form. You don't need to add them.

Get a client's last name

The form has one built-in Name field, and it can't be split or renamed. Adding the system First Name, Last Name or Full Name fields as questions doesn't help, because the live form hides them. A custom question labeled "Last name" gets pushed back to the system field too. Here's what works:

1. Click Add Question > Create Custom Question.
2. Question Type: Short Text.
3. Question Label: Your last name. Placeholder Text: Your last name.
4. Turn Required field on.
5. Save answer to: Don't save to CRM.
6. If a "Suggested mapping" appears, don't click Apply.
7. Move the question to the top of your list, then click Save Questions.

One trade-off to know: the answer lives on the appointment, not in the contact's Last Name field. Also, if the email someone books with matches an existing contact, the booking attaches to that contact under the name already on file.

Add a texting consent checkbox

Once booking questions show again, add a consent question: Create Custom Question, type Checkbox, Save answer to your SMS consent contact field, and paste your approved consent wording into Question Label word for word. Put your Privacy and Terms links in Help Text. Leave it not required. The form shows the label, so the wording must be complete there. We're glad to help with the wording. See Collect text consent and handle opt-outs.

Check it worked

1. Open the booking link in a private window and book a test session with your own email.
2. Check each question appeared on the form.
3. Find the answers where you sent them: the contact page, or the appointment in Calendar > Appointments.
4. Cancel the test appointment.

If something's off

• A question doesn't appear on the form: that's the known issue above. Ask it by email for now.
• The answer isn't on the contact: the question saves to the appointment. Change Save answer to to a contact field or custom field.
• Clients can't submit the form: a required question has the wrong type (for example a phone number in a Number question). Check the type, or make it optional.
• Zoom isn't offered as a location: Zoom isn't offered yet, so use Custom Location with your meeting link. See Add a video call link to your sessions.