| Getting started | Booking SaaS: Sign up and configure | Custom booking system: Built after a requirements review, about 3–8 months | LINE booking or forms: Set up a form or official account and start |
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| Rule flexibility | Booking SaaS: Limited to the platform's options | Custom booking system: Capacity, packages, waitlists, cancellation and no-show rules designed around how you work | LINE booking or forms: Mostly simple time slots and fields |
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| Cost | Booking SaaS: Monthly or per-booking fees | Custom booking system: One-time build, with a separate maintenance agreement after launch | LINE booking or forms: Often free or low monthly fees, with messages billed by usage |
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| Data | Booking SaaS: On the platform, with export options set by the platform | Custom booking system: On your own servers and database | LINE booking or forms: Scattered across forms and chat history, tidied up by hand |
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| Check-in and payment | Booking SaaS: Depends on platform features | Custom booking system: QR check-in, online payments and refunds, synced with capacity in real time | LINE booking or forms: Mostly manual roll calls and reconciliation |
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| Membership, POS and payments | Booking SaaS: Depends on the platform's integrations | Custom booking system: Connects to your existing membership, POS and payments through APIs | LINE booking or forms: Mostly manual reconciliation |
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| Best for | Booking SaaS: Single locations with a standard process | Custom booking system: Complex rules, several locations or roles, and connections to existing systems | LINE booking or forms: Small events or a first trial |
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