Building your service menu: pricing, duration, and deposit tips per vertical

The service menu is the source of truth for everything the agent does. If a service isn't on the menu, the agent can't book it, can't quote it, and can't suggest it. Most operators get this 80% right on day one and then spend a few weeks tuning the last 20%. Here's how to compress that learning curve.

The four fields that matter

• Name: what the agent says out loud
• Duration: how much calendar time the agent blocks
• Price: what the agent quotes
• Deposit policy: what the agent takes upfront

Two optional fields that help: prep instructions (auto-texted before the visit) and aftercare instructions (auto-texted after).

Naming services

Use the name your clients use, not the industry term. If your clients call it a "fill," name it "Fill" — not "Classic Refill (2-week)". The agent says exactly what you write, so weird internal names lead to weird quotes.

If a service has variants (mini-fill vs. full fill, single tooth vs. multi-tooth), make them separate services rather than one with options. The agent handles a flat list much better than a tree of variants.

Pricing tips by vertical

• Lash: full set ($180-$225), full fill ($95-$135), mini-fill ($65-$85), removal ($25-$45). Most artists undercharge for full sets — your time per set is 2x a fill, charge for it.
• Hair: cut + style separate from chemical services. Highlights priced "starting at" with the agent escalating high-end requests. Don't underprice color — it's where the margin is.
• Nails: structured tiers (gel mani, dip, acrylic full set, acrylic fill, pedi). Add-ons (nail art, French tip) as separate small services.
• Med spa: injectables priced per unit ("$12/unit, typical full face 40 units") so the agent can quote a range, not a fixed price. Lasers and facials priced flat.
• Dental: book by procedure (cleaning, exam, x-ray, filling). Time + price set by procedure. Insurance is handled at the visit — the agent doesn't quote insurance-adjusted prices.
• HVAC: dispatch fee + hourly + part markup. Most operators show the dispatch fee in the booking confirmation; the rest is quoted at the visit.
• Vet: routine (annual exam, vaccines) priced flat; emergency / sick visits priced as "starting at" with explicit follow-up at the visit.

Duration tips

Pad your durations 10-15% over what feels right. The agent treats your duration as a firm block — if a fill takes you 70 minutes and you set 60, the agent will double-book and you'll run late on every Saturday. Better to set 75 and finish early. Clients prefer being done 10 minutes early; they hate being kept 15 late.

Common mistake: setting cleanup + transition time as part of the next slot. Better to give each service its natural duration including cleanup. The agent has a built-in buffer setting (Settings > Schedule > Buffer between bookings) that adds 5-15 minutes between every appointment automatically.

Deposit tips

Three patterns work:

• Flat per-service deposit: $25 for everything. Simple, predictable.
• Percentage of price: 20% of every service. Scales with value — good for med spa where services range $80-$800.
• Smart per-client + minimum per-service: combine smart risk scoring with a per-service floor (e.g. lash full sets always require $50 minimum). Most flexible.

If a service has a no-show that's catastrophic (lash full set, dental implant consultation), set the deposit higher — the agent's smart scoring will go above your floor for high-risk clients but never below it. See Smart deposit risk scoring for the full math.

Prep + aftercare instructions

Big lift for low effort: write a one-paragraph prep note per service. The agent texts it 24h before the visit.

• Lash: "Arrive with clean lashes, no mascara. No caffeine 30 min before. Use the bathroom — you'll be lying still for 90 min."
• Med spa botox: "Avoid blood thinners (ibuprofen, alcohol) 24h before. Come with a clean face."
• Dental cleaning: "No need to brush right before — just don't eat right before either. Bring your insurance card if it's new."
• HVAC service: "Please clear access to your unit. Restrain pets if any. Cash, check, or card OK at completion."