How to Set Up a Google Calendar Booking Link in Under 5 Minutes

Note: You’ll need a desktop computer or laptop to set this up initially. You can’t configure new appointment schedules from the mobile app just yet.

Step 1: Open and Edit Your Default Schedule

When you open Google Calendar on your computer, look at the left-hand sidebar under Booking pages. Google Workspace automatically creates a default 30-minute schedule called “30 min with [Your Name]”.

1. Click the three dots next to this default schedule.
2. Select Edit.

Step 2: Customise the Basics & Duration

Don’t stick with the generic corporate title. Change it to something welcoming and clear for your clients, like “Consultation with [Your Name]”.

• Appointment duration: Leave it at 30 minutes or adjust it (e.g., 45 minutes or an hour) depending on how long your typical client sessions last.

Step 3: Define Your Availability

By default, Google sets your availability from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday to Friday. You can easily tweak this to protect your deep-work time or personal life:

• Specific Times: Click into any time slot to change it. If you want a specific start time like 8:15 AM, just type it straight in.
• Bulk Copy: Click the “Copy time to all” icon to quickly apply the same hours across every available day.
• Days Off: If you don’t take client meetings on a particular day (like Tuesdays), click the “Unavailable all day” icon to clear it.
• Split Shifts: Want to block out a lunch break? Use the “+” icon to break a single day into multiple segments (e.g., 8:15 AM – 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM).

Step 4: Fine-Tune with Buffer Time & Secondary Calendars

Scroll down on this first setup page to configure your control rules. This is where you prevent scheduling disasters:

• Scheduling Window: This controls how far in advance people can book (default is 60 days) and the minimum notice required. The default notice is 4 hours, but if you work across different time zones, increase this to 10 or 12 hours. You definitely don’t want to wake up to a 6:00 AM booking that was made while you were asleep!
• Buffer Time: Toggle this on to add a forced gap between appointments. A 15-minute buffer is usually plenty of time to grab a cuppa and review your notes before the next call.
• Secondary Calendars (Avoid Double Bookings): If you are on a Google Workspace Business Standard or Plus plan, check the box to check secondary or personal calendars for conflicts. Using the basic Business Starter plan? Simply log into your personal Google account and invite your business email address to your critical personal events so they block out your availability automatically.

Step 5: Booking Page Setup (Google Meet, Custom Forms & Email Verification)

Click Next to move to the final configuration screen where you manage the client’s experience.

• Location and Conferencing: Select how you want to meet. Google Meet is seamlessly integrated, but you can also choose In-person meeting, Phone call, or None/To be specified later.
• Booking Form: Customise the fields your client fills out. First name, surname, and email are mandatory. Click Add an item to include a custom question like, “What would you like to cover in this session?” to help you prepare.
• Email Verification: Keep this turned on. It requires users who aren’t logged into a Google account to verify their email before booking, keeping your calendar completely safe from spam and fake bookings.
• Confirmations and Reminders: Ensure the email reminder is active. Adding a reminder for 30 minutes before the meeting helps slash no-show rates dramatically.

Click Save, and your schedule is live!

Step 6: Copy and Share Your Booking Link

Before you fire it off to a client, click the three dots next to your new schedule, click Preview, and select See what others see to make sure it looks exactly how you want.

If you’re happy with it, click Share from that tab to copy the link, or simply click the little paperclip (Copy link) icon next to the schedule on your main calendar sidebar. Drop that link into your emails, your website, or your email signature, and you’re good to go.

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