For salons and barbershops
Take salon bookings in WhatsApp without losing the chair to no-shows
SiniSlot lets a Malaysian salon or barbershop take appointments through WhatsApp or a booking link. It checks which stylist is free, can require a deposit through the shop’s own connected Stripe account, sends a reminder before the appointment, and keeps every chair and stylist in one schedule. Customers book without installing an app.
Built for Malaysian shops · Card, FPX and GrabPay through Stripe · Customers need no new app
Last reviewed 2026-09-05
What booking by chat actually costs a shop
Most Malaysian salons already take bookings on WhatsApp. That works until the shop gets busy, and then the same problems repeat.
- Enquiries arrive while you are cutting, so replies are late and the customer books elsewhere.
- Two stylists get promised the same 3pm slot because the schedule lives in a chat thread.
- A walk-in is turned away for a booking that never shows, and the chair sits empty.
- Nobody remembers who confirmed what, so the day starts with a scroll through yesterday’s messages.
- Prices and service names get retyped every time, and mistakes turn into arguments at the counter.
Work out what an empty chair costs you
Before changing anything, it is worth putting a number on the problem. Fill in your own figures.
| Average service price | RM 45 |
|---|---|
| No-shows or late cancellations per week | 4 |
| Lost revenue per week | RM 180 |
| Lost revenue per month | RM 720 |
| Deposit that would have been collected at 30% | RM 13.50 per booking |
This is a worked example with the inputs shown, not a measured result and not a claim about what SiniSlot will achieve for your shop.
How a booking runs
One continuous journey, from the customer’s first message to a confirmed slot in your schedule.
- 01
Customer messages the shop
They tap your link or send a WhatsApp message. No app to install, no account to create.
- 02
They choose a service
Your service list with real prices, so a haircut and a colour treatment are never confused.
- 03
SiniSlot checks who is free
Availability is based on your opening hours, how long each service takes, and how many stylists can work at once.
- 04
They pick a time
Only genuinely open slots are offered, so double-booking the same chair is not possible.
- 05
A deposit is taken, if you require one
Optional. Paid through Stripe-hosted checkout on your own connected Stripe account. You can also take nothing upfront.
- 06
The slot is confirmed
SiniSlot waits for the payment provider to confirm before the booking is treated as paid, so a failed payment never blocks a chair.
- 07
Everyone has a record
The booking appears in your schedule. The customer gets a private receipt. A reminder goes out before the appointment.
What matters in a salon specifically
Booking software is not generic. These are the parts that decide whether it survives a Saturday.
Per-service duration
A trim is not a colour. Each service carries its own length so the schedule reflects real chair time.
More than one stylist
Set how many appointments can run at the same time, so two chairs can be booked for the same hour when you have the staff.
Staff accounts
Front desk can see and manage the day without reaching your billing, plan, or payment settings.
Optional deposits
Take nothing, a fixed amount, a percentage, or the full price. Useful for long colour appointments where a no-show costs hours.
Reminders before the appointment
A WhatsApp reminder goes out before the slot. Customers consent to it during booking; it is not marketing.
A catalog customers can read
A public page with your services, prices, photos and answers to common questions, so people stop asking "how much for highlights".
Cancellation that is recorded
A paid booking cannot be quietly cancelled. A refund has to be confirmed by the payment provider before the booking changes state.
E-Invoice tooling
Tooling to support LHDN MyInvois submission when your shop needs it. A booking receipt and an E-Invoice are separate things.
Setting up, realistically
You need four things before a customer can book. Most shops finish in under fifteen minutes.
- 01Claim your booking link, for example sinislot.shop/b/your-shop.
- 02Add your services with real prices and how long each one takes.
- 03Set your opening hours, and how many stylists can work at once.
- 04Preview the page as a customer, then send yourself a test booking before sharing it.
- 05Put the link in your Instagram bio and WhatsApp profile, and print the QR for the counter.
- 06Connect Stripe later, only if and when you decide to take deposits.
Which plan fits a salon
Plans differ by monthly booking volume, number of services, and whether you need staff accounts.
A single chair, testing the workflow
Free — 60 bookings a month, 2 services, no card required
One busy stylist who wants reminders and E-Invoice tooling
Mula — RM29 a month, 150 bookings, 5 services
A shop with staff sharing the schedule
Hebat — RM59 a month, 600 bookings, 20 services, 3 staff accounts
Multiple outlets or very high volume
Empayar — RM199 a month, unlimited bookings, services and staff
Stripe charges its own processing fee on customer payments, which is separate from the plan price. Check Stripe’s Malaysia pricing for current rates.
See all plansQuestions salons ask
Do my customers need to install an app?
No. They book through WhatsApp or open your booking link in a browser. There is nothing to download and no account to create.
Can I take bookings without asking for payment?
Yes. Deposits are optional. Many shops start with no payment at all, then add a deposit later for long appointments where a no-show is expensive.
Who holds the money when a customer pays a deposit?
Stripe does, on your own connected Stripe account. SiniSlot does not hold or process your customers’ funds. Stripe handles verification and pays out to your bank account.
Can two stylists be booked at the same time?
Yes. You set how many appointments can run concurrently, so the schedule matches how many people are actually working.
What happens if a customer does not show up?
The booking stays in your records with its payment state intact. If you took a deposit, refunding it is a deliberate action that has to be confirmed by the payment provider, so nothing changes silently.
Is a booking receipt the same as an LHDN E-Invoice?
No. A booking receipt confirms the customer paid. An LHDN E-Invoice is a separate tax document submitted through MyInvois. SiniSlot provides tooling to support that submission, but your business remains the taxpayer responsible for it.
Can I try it before signing up?
Yes. The sandbox opens a temporary account with sample bookings so you can use the real dashboard and the WhatsApp booking journey. It is deleted when you leave, and no card is involved.
Does it work in Bahasa Melayu?
Yes. The interface is available in English, Bahasa Melayu, Bahasa Indonesia and Simplified Chinese, and your customers can read the booking page in their own language.
Start with the free plan
Sixty bookings a month, no card required. Add deposits, staff accounts, or E-Invoice tooling only when the shop actually needs them.