Reserve with Google: how to add a booking button to your Google profile

TL;DR: Reserve with Google lets customers book directly from your Google Business Profile through a booking provider that works with Google. You can also add your own booking link to the profile, with up to 10 links per category. Google says provider buttons appear on your profile within a week, that providers might charge you, and that performance data is not available for custom links. Choose based on cost, who keeps the customer data, and how your bookings already work.

Key takeaways

• Reserve with Google lets customers book appointments or tables directly from your Google Business Profile, through a booking provider that works with Google.
• You can also add your own booking link to the profile; Google allows up to 10 links per category, such as bookings or reservations.
• Google says provider booking buttons appear on your profile within a week, and that your provider might charge you for bookings made through Google.
• Google says performance data is not available for custom links, but you can check booking performance with Reserve with Google.
• Restaurants can also add a waitlist through an eligible Reserve with Google provider.

What is Reserve with Google?

Reserve with Google is the system that lets customers book with your business directly from your Google Business Profile on Search and Maps, through a booking provider that is connected to Google. A Book or Reserve button appears on your profile, and customers can choose a time without leaving Google.

Google’s help page on setting up bookings through a provider explains that when you manage bookings through a provider, you get web and app services that work with your customers’ Google Accounts, customers get reminders for their appointments, and they can easily use Google products such as Calendar. Everything in this guide comes from that page and Google’s page on local business links, checked on 15 October 2026.

For restaurants, salons, clinics, gyms and any appointment business, a booking button on Google turns a search into a booking in a few taps. It is one of the most useful things you can add to your profile.

How do you add a booking button to your Google profile?

There are two ways. You can connect a booking provider that works with Reserve with Google, so customers book inside Google. Or you can add your own booking link, such as the booking page on your website, so the button takes customers to your system. Both appear as booking options on your profile.

To connect a provider, Google’s steps are:

1. Go to your Business Profile while signed in.
2. Select Bookings.
3. Select Get started to sign up your preferred provider.
4. Select your provider.
5. Select Done.
6. Wait for the button. Google says providers show on your profile within a week.

If you do not already work with a provider, Google says you can find providers available in your country through Reserve with Google. Ask your current booking system first; it may already be a partner.

How do you add your own booking link instead?

Open your Business Profile, choose the booking option, select Add link, paste the address of your booking page and save. Google says you can add up to 10 links per category, such as appointments, reservations or orders, and set one as your preferred link so it appears first, marked as Business preferred.

Google’s steps for local business links are: go to your Business Profile; on Google Search select Booking, Food ordering or Pick-up and delivery, or on Google Maps select Edit profile and the type of link; select Add link, or Add another link if you have some already; enter the address; and select Save. To choose which link comes first, select the type, then Set preferred link, pick the link and save.

Google also notes that some links can appear on your profile automatically, provided by third-party partners or through automated data. If a provider you do not use appears, you can remove it from the Booking section, and Google says providers must remove third-party links within five days of a removal request.

Reserve with Google or your own link: which is better?

Choose a Reserve with Google provider if you want customers to book without leaving Google and your booking system is already a partner. Choose your own link if you want bookings, customer details and deposits handled in your own system, and want to avoid extra fees on bookings that come through Google.

	Reserve with Google provider	Your own booking link
Where customers book	Inside Google, through the provider	On your booking page
Setup	Select your provider in your profile	Paste your booking page link
Time to appear	Within a week, says Google	When you save it
Fees	Your provider might charge you, says Google	Your own booking system’s fees
Booking performance data	Available through Reserve with Google	Not available for custom links, says Google
Customer data and deposits	Held by the provider	Held in your own system

For many small businesses, a good booking page on their own website, linked from the profile, is the simplest and cheapest option. For businesses that already use a partner booking system, connecting it to Reserve with Google adds convenience for customers at little extra effort. You can also do both.

What does Reserve with Google cost?

Google’s help page does not list a Google fee for adding the booking button, but it warns that when people book through Google, your provider might charge you, and tells you to check with your provider. Ask about any fee per booking, monthly cost and contract before you connect.

Some booking systems charge a fee for each booking or cover that comes through a partner network, while others charge a fixed monthly fee. Our comparison of restaurant booking software shows how the main UK systems charge, including which include Google’s Reserve a table button in their plans.

A link to your own booking page costs nothing extra on the Google side. You pay only what your own booking system costs, and you keep every booking and customer record in one place.

Can restaurants add a waitlist on Google?

Yes. Google says the waitlist feature is only available for restaurant businesses, and that you must sign up with a third-party Reserve with Google provider to use it. Once set up, customers can join your waitlist from your profile, and you manage it through the provider.

Google’s steps are to go to your Business Profile, select Waitlists, select Get started and follow the instructions to set up a waitlist with an eligible provider. To remove the Join waitlist button, Google says you must unregister directly with the third-party provider. A waitlist suits busy walk-in restaurants and cafés that do not take every table by booking.

Which booking option suits your type of business?

The right option depends on how you take bookings today. Restaurants often use a table booking system that may connect to Google; salons and clinics usually book appointments by service and staff member; trades and services rarely take fixed bookings and are better served by a quote request link. Match the button to the way customers actually buy from you.

• Restaurants and cafés. A table booking system with reminders and, for busy nights, deposits. Add the waitlist option if you take lots of walk-ins and your provider supports it.
• Salons and barbers. Online booking by service and stylist, with real availability and reminders. Health and beauty businesses can also list their services on the profile.
• Clinics and therapists. Appointment booking with intake questions kept short, and clear cancellation terms.
• Gyms and classes. Class booking with capacity limits, so the button only offers spaces that exist.
• Trades and home services. A quote request link to a short form on your website usually works better than fixed time slots.

Whatever you choose, test it yourself on a phone from your own Google profile: search for your business, tap the button and make a real booking. Then cancel it the way a customer would. That five-minute test catches most problems before customers find them.

How do you build a booking page on your own website?

Use a booking system that runs on your own website, link it from your Google profile, social media and every page of your site, and keep the customer data in your own hands. A good booking page needs real availability, a short form, clear terms, instant confirmation and reminders. It does not need to be complicated.

Your own booking page has advantages that a third-party button cannot match. Every booking lands in one diary, you avoid fees per booking from a partner network, you control the design and the wording of your policies, and you build a list of customers you can remind, rebook and, where the rules allow, market to. Our guide to the essential website pages explains where booking fits on a small business website.

Once the page works, add it as your own booking link on Google, set it as the preferred link, and tag it so you can measure bookings from your profile.

How do you check your booking performance?

For bookings through a Reserve with Google provider, Google says you can check how well your bookings are doing with Reserve with Google. For your own booking link, Google says performance data is not available, so track bookings in your own system and tag the link so your analytics shows bookings that came from Google.

A simple tracking tag on your booking link, such as ?utm_source=google&utm_medium=business_profile, lets Google Analytics show how many visitors and bookings came from your profile. Use the same tag every time, and compare it month by month with your other sources.

Also check the Performance section of your Business Profile, which shows how many people found your profile and what they did next, such as calling, asking for directions or visiting your website.

What makes a good booking page behind the button?

Whichever route you choose, the experience after the tap decides whether people book. A good booking page loads quickly on a phone, shows real availability, asks only for the details you need, explains any deposit or cancellation policy clearly, and confirms the booking straight away by email or text.

• Fast on mobile. Most profile visitors are on phones.
• Real availability. No booking requests that you confirm later if you can avoid it.
• Few fields. Name, contact details and anything essential for the booking.
• Clear rules. Deposit, cancellation and no-show terms before the customer confirms.
• Instant confirmation. With the time, address and how to change the booking.
• Reminders. A reminder the day before cuts no-shows.

If you take deposits, show the policy before payment. Our guide to a fair restaurant deposit policy explains what UK consumer law expects.

Does a booking button help your Google ranking?

Google does not say that a booking button affects ranking. What it does is make it easier for people who already found you to act, which is the point of a Business Profile. A profile where customers can see your hours, read reviews and book in a few taps turns more of the same searches into customers.

Google’s page on improving your local ranking says businesses with complete and accurate information are more likely to show up in local search results. Booking links are part of a complete profile for any business that takes appointments or reservations, alongside categories, hours, photos and a description. Our guide to writing your Google Business Profile description covers another part that customers read before they book.

Think of the button as the last step in a chain: the right categories get you found, reviews and photos persuade, and the booking button closes. If any link in that chain is weak, fix that first.

Common problems and how to fix them

The most common problems are the button not appearing, an old provider showing that you no longer use, the wrong link appearing first, and bookings arriving in a system nobody checks. Each has a simple fix in your profile or with your provider.

• The button has not appeared. Google says provider buttons can take up to a week. Check your profile is verified and the provider has finished setup.
• An old provider still shows. Remove it in the Booking section; providers must act within five days of a removal request.
• The wrong link is first. Use Set preferred link to choose which appears as Business preferred.
• Bookings are missed. Make sure confirmations go to an inbox or app that staff check every day.
• Duplicate bookings. Avoid running two separate booking systems for the same diary.

Frequently asked questions

Is Reserve with Google free?

Google’s help page does not list a Google fee for adding the button, but it says your booking provider might charge you for bookings made through Google. Check with your provider. Adding your own booking link costs nothing extra on Google’s side.

How long does it take for the booking button to appear?

Google says booking providers show up on your Business Profile within a week. Your own booking link appears when you save it.

Can I have more than one booking link on Google?

Yes. Google says you can add up to 10 links per category, such as bookings or reservations, and set one as your preferred link so it appears first.

Which businesses can use Reserve with Google?

Any business that takes appointments or reservations through a supported provider, such as restaurants, salons, clinics and fitness businesses. Google’s waitlist feature is only available for restaurants.

Do I need Reserve with Google if I have a booking page?

Not necessarily. You can add your own booking page as a link on your profile. Reserve with Google is useful if your booking system is a partner and you want customers to book without leaving Google.

Can I remove a booking button I did not add?

Yes. Google says some third-party links can appear automatically. Go to your Business Profile, open Booking and select Remove provider. Google says providers must remove the link within five days of a removal request, and you can report a violation if they do not.

Should my booking link go to my homepage?

No. Link straight to the booking page, so customers land on available times rather than having to search your site. If you have more than one booking page, add each as a link and set the main one as preferred.

Will customers get reminders?

Google says that with a Reserve with Google provider, customers get reminders for their appointments and can add them to Google Calendar. With your own link, reminders come from your own booking system, so check it sends them.

Want bookings from Google set up properly?

A booking button on Google only works if the system behind it is simple and reliable. Our booking systems service sets up online booking on your own website and connects it to your Google profile, whether through Reserve with Google or your own link, and our restaurant booking plugin keeps every booking and customer record in your hands.

Related reading: how to choose and size Google Business Profile photos and the right to cancel an online booking.