Online booking for private detectives

People rarely call a private detective lightly. They might be a company worried about an employee, a lawyer who needs evidence gathered, or someone with a family or personal matter. Most want to talk it through before committing to anything, and they want to know when they'll be seen. Meanwhile, a large part of your working week is spent away from the office: surveillance, inquiries, travel. Calls go to voicemail and a hesitant client may not leave a message.

A booking page gives them a clear next step: pick a time for a first meeting. The investigation itself, its scope, its price and whether you can take it on legally, is discussed at that meeting, not online.

To book, a client gives their first name, last name, email and phone number, and can add a short note. Tell them in the service description not to put case details in that note: a name and a way to reach them is enough, and the rest can wait for the meeting. Book sends the client a confirmation email, so for sensitive personal matters it's worth suggesting they use an email address only they read.

Each kind of meeting is a service with its own description, and a price if you want to show one. You open slots for each at the length it takes, for example office consultations on the mornings you're in and video calls in the evening.

You get an email for each new booking. When a case takes you away at short notice, reschedule or cancel from your bookings list and let the client know. Your calendar syncs with Google, iPhone or Mac. Book doesn't store case files, write reports or take payments. It costs €5/month, everything included: unlimited bookings and services, no commission, no contract.