A good appointment confirmation text names the service, the day and date, the start time and length, the address or link, any prep, and how to reschedule. Keep it short, send it right after booking, and ask for a quick reply. Below are templates for salons, lash and nail techs, cleaners and tutors.
Why bother? In a Cochrane review of healthcare appointments, text message reminders improved attendance compared with no reminder (moderate-quality evidence from seven studies with 5,841 participants), and worked about as well as phone call reminders. It's healthcare research, but the habit is just as easy to use in a salon chair or a tutoring slot.
Who you are. Your name or business name, in case they haven't saved your number.
The service, so there's no mix-up about what was booked.
The day of the week and the date. "Thursday, May 14" catches mistakes that "the 14th" doesn't.
The start time and length, or the finish time.
Where: the address, parking, entry details or video link.
Prep, if there is any.
Price or deposit, if it isn't obvious.
One policy line and how to change the booking.
Swap the brackets for your details and adjust the tone to suit your clients.
"Hi [name], it's [your name] at [business]. You're booked for [service] on [day], [date] at [time], about [length]. I'm at [address]. Reply YES to confirm, or let me know by [deadline] if you need to change it."
"Hi [name]! Your [cut and color] with [stylist] is set for [day], [date] at [time]. Plan on about [2 hours]. Parking is [where]. Please give us [24] hours' notice if you need to move it."
"Hi [name], you're booked for a [full set] on [day], [date] at [time]. It takes about [length]. Before you come: [prep, such as arriving with no eye makeup]. Reply YES to confirm."
"Hi [name], you're confirmed for a [gel manicure] on [day], [date] at [time]. If you have [gel or acrylics] on that need removing, let me know so I can add time. See you then!"
"Hi [name], this confirms your [deep clean] on [day], [date], arriving between [time window]. It takes about [length]. How will we get in, and are there any pets we should know about? Please message me by [deadline] if anything changes."
"Hi [parent's name], [student]'s [subject] session is booked for [day], [date] at [time] for [length]. [Address or video link]. Please have [materials] ready. If you need to reschedule, let me know by [deadline]."
The confirmation goes out when they book, and a reminder goes out shortly before. For reminder timing, deposits and wording that gets clients to cancel early instead of not showing up, see our guide to reducing appointment no-shows. Two short reminders:
"Hi [name], a reminder that your [service] is [tomorrow] at [time]. Need to change it? Just reply with a time that works."
"Good morning [name]! Looking forward to seeing you today at [time] at [address]."
"No problem! I can do [day] at [time] or [day] at [time]. Which works better?"
"Hi [name], I'm so sorry, but I need to move your [service] on [day]. Could you do [option 1] or [option 2]? You'll get first pick of my openings this week."
"All set! Your [service] has moved from [old day and time] to [new day, date and time]. Your old time is canceled."
Naming both the old and the new time stops either of you from showing up at the wrong one.
Put one plain line in every confirmation, and keep the full policy where clients can find it. Pick the wording that matches what you actually do:
Simple notice: "Need to cancel or reschedule? Please give at least [24] hours' notice."
Deposit: "Your [amount] deposit holds this time and comes off your total. It's refundable with at least [24] hours' notice."
Late cancellation or no-show: "With less than [24] hours' notice, or if you miss the appointment, [the deposit is kept or a fee of amount applies]."
Late arrival: "If you're more than [15] minutes late, I may need to shorten your service or rebook so the next client isn't kept waiting."
A little grace: "Emergencies happen. Just message me as soon as you can."
Whatever you choose, apply it the same way to everyone and check the consumer rules where you work.
"Thanks for letting me know, [name]. As this is under [24] hours' notice, [policy outcome] under my booking policy. I'd love to rebook you. Would [option 1] or [option 2] work?"
Texting clients has rules, especially when messages are automated. This is general information, not legal advice.
Ask first. CTIA, the U.S. wireless industry association, classes appointment reminders as informational messages and says the client should agree to texts for that purpose when they give you their number. They can agree by text, on a form, on a website or verbally. If a client texts you first and you simply reply, CTIA treats that as conversational, with no extra permission expected.
Keep promotions out. CTIA says adding a call to action, such as a coupon code, to an informational text may make it promotional, which calls for written consent. FCC rules also require prior express written consent for autodialed texts that advertise or telemarket.
Honor STOP. The FCC's 2024 order says people can revoke consent to autodialed texts in any reasonable way, and that replying "stop," "quit," "end," "revoke," "opt out," "cancel" or "unsubscribe" counts. Requests must be honored within a reasonable time of no more than ten business days.
Watch the word "cancel." Because "cancel" is on that list, don't ask clients to "reply CANCEL" to cancel an appointment, since a one-word reply could read as an opt-out from all your texts. Ask them to reply with a new time or call you instead.
Right after the booking is made, while the details are fresh for both of you. Then send a separate reminder closer to the day.
It helps. A quick "Reply YES to confirm" shows they saw the details, and a missing reply tells you who to follow up with.
CTIA's guidelines say clients should agree to informational texts like reminders when they give you their number, and FCC rules require consent for autodialed texts. The simplest habit is to ask at booking: "Is it OK if I text confirmations and reminders to this number?"
Stop texting that number. The FCC allows one text that only confirms the opt-out and contains no marketing. Agree on another way to reach them, such as a phone call, for future bookings.
BookingSolved doesn't send texts and never contacts clients, so every confirmation still goes out from your own phone. It turns appointment requests from pasted text, screenshots or the Share Sheet into Apple Calendar bookings, flags missing or unclear details such as vague dates instead of guessing, and previews reschedules and cancellations, applying changes only after you approve. It also drafts editable replies in Friendly, Professional or Concise tones that you copy into your own messages.
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