How to Manage Multiple Locations for Your Service Business on Shopify

How to Manage Multiple Locations for Your Service Business on Shopify

Jul 3, 2025

Manage multi-store bookings easily without confusing customers

Sarah owns a thriving salon business. What started as a single location quickly expanded to three branches across the city. While the growth was exciting, managing appointments and staff across multiple locations became a logistical nightmare. Double bookings, staff confusion, and clients arriving at the wrong location were becoming common issues. Sarah realized that to streamline operations and avoid revenue loss, she needed a more efficient way to manage her multiple locations.

This is where Shopify can make a real difference. Shopify's robust tools, combined with the right booking app for multiple locations, can solve these operational headaches. In this article, we'll guide you on how to effectively manage your service business across multiple branches using Shopify, and how to choose the right tools to get the job done.

Sarah owns a thriving salon business. What started as a single location quickly expanded to three branches across the city. While the growth was exciting, managing appointments and staff across multiple locations became a logistical nightmare. Double bookings, staff confusion, and clients arriving at the wrong location were becoming common issues. Sarah realized that to streamline operations and avoid revenue loss, she needed a more efficient way to manage her multiple locations.

This is where Shopify can make a real difference. Shopify's robust tools, combined with the right booking app for multiple locations, can solve these operational headaches. In this article, we'll guide you on how to effectively manage your service business across multiple branches using Shopify, and how to choose the right tools to get the job done.

Table of Contents

Why Multi-Location Management Matters

When you're managing multiple locations, things can quickly become complicated without the right tools. Here's why multi-location management is crucial for service-based businesses like clinics, salons, or tour companies:

  • Double Bookings: Without a clear view of each location's availability, it’s easy to accidentally double-book staff or services.

  • Staff Confusion: Assigning staff to different locations without a unified system often results in confusion and scheduling conflicts.

  • Lack of Visibility: If there’s no central system, it's difficult to see availability across multiple locations, making it hard to optimize your schedule and staff.

  • Lost Revenue: Manual errors or booking mistakes can lead to lost revenue, whether it’s due to no-shows or dissatisfied customers who show up at the wrong location.

To stay competitive, you need a system that offers real-time availability, multi-location synchronization, and seamless staff scheduling. This is where Shopify, combined with the right apps, can help you streamline operations and enhance your customer experience.

Step-by-Step: How to Manage Multiple Locations on Shopify

Setting up your Shopify store to manage multiple locations requires a few essential steps. Follow this guide to optimize your service business:

1. Set Up Shopify Locations

In Shopify, you can create separate locations for each of your branches. These locations allow you to track inventory, appointments, and sales for each site independently. Begin by adding locations in your Shopify dashboard under Settings > Locations.

2. Install a Booking App with Multi-Location Support

To handle multi-location appointments, install a Shopify booking app that supports multiple locations. Apps like Cowlendar, Sesami, and BookThatApp offer multi-location support, allowing customers to select their preferred branch during the booking process.

3. Assign Services and Staff to Each Branch

Once your locations are set up, you can assign specific services (like haircuts, massages, or consultations) and staff members to each branch. This helps prevent double-bookings and ensures that each location is properly staffed for the services offered.

4. Set Unique Working Hours Per Location

Each location may have different working hours. Ensure that you set these individually for each branch. Shopify allows you to manage working hours per location, so clients can only book appointments during your designated hours.

5. Customize Your Booking Pages

Create customized booking pages for each location. This ensures that customers have a smooth booking experience, seeing only the services available at their selected location. Customize the pages to reflect the brand and style of each branch, if necessary.

6. Enable Google Calendar Sync and Automated Reminders

To keep everything synced and avoid scheduling conflicts, enable Google Calendar sync for each location. This will help you manage availability across locations and avoid double bookings. Also, make sure your booking app sends automated reminders via SMS or email to reduce no-shows.

7. Use POS for Walk-Ins at Each Site

For customers who prefer to book in person, Shopify’s POS system allows you to handle walk-ins at each location seamlessly. You can manage bookings and payments in person, and everything syncs with your Shopify account for smooth transactions.

8. Set Up Location-Specific Pages for SEO

For better local SEO, create specific landing pages for each of your locations. For example, if you have a tour company, create separate pages for each city or service area you operate in. This will help improve your search engine rankings for location-based searches and attract more local customers.

Best Shopify Booking Apps for Multi-Location Services

When it comes to choosing the right booking app for multiple locations, here are the top options available on the Shopify App Store:

1. Cowlendar (Top Recommendation)

  • ✅ Instant bookings without Shopify checkout

  • ✅ Group & event support, capacity management

  • ✅ Shopify POS integration

  • ✅ Google Calendar Sync

  • ✅ SMS/email reminders

  • ✅ Deposits, waitlists, upsells

  • ✅ Embedded, mobile-responsive widgets

  • ✅ Robust admin dashboard

2. Apntly (Appointly)

  • ✅ Intuitive appointment and class scheduling

  • ✅ Shopify POS compatible

  • ✅ Zoom integration

  • ✅ Google Calendar Sync

  • ✅ Customizable forms, deposits supported

  • ❌ Rentals & equipment booking unspecified

  • ❌ Onboarding experience unspecified

3. Appointo

  • ✅ Comprehensive booking management

  • ✅ Supports rentals, classes, and events

  • ✅ Shopify POS and Zoom integration

  • ✅ Robust deposits and upsells options

  • ✅ Customizable forms and admin dashboard

  • ❌ Onboarding experience unspecified

4. Easy Appointment Booking (Servicify)

  • ✅ Event-focused booking system

  • ✅ Rentals and classes supported

  • ✅ Shopify POS and Zoom integration

  • ✅ Deposits, upsells, and custom forms

  • ✅ Admin dashboard available

  • ❌ Onboarding experience unspecified

5. BookThatApp (BTA)

  • ✅ Versatile bookings including events, classes, rentals

  • ✅ Shopify POS and automated Zoom meetings

  • ✅ Deposits, customizable forms, robust admin portal

  • ✅ Google Calendar Sync

  • ❌ No upsells options specified

  • ❌ Onboarding experience unspecified

6. Sesami

  • ✅ Omnichannel booking system, including classes and rentals

  • ✅ Shopify POS, Zoom, and Google Calendar Sync

  • ✅ Deposits and custom forms available

  • ✅ Includes onboarding session

  • ❌ No upsell options specified


Feature

Cowlendar

Apntly

Appointo

Easy Appointment

BookThatApp (BTA)

Sesami

Instant Booking

✅

✅

✅

✅

✅

✅

Group / Event Booking

✅

✅

✅

✅

✅

✅

Rentals / Equipment

❌
Unspecified

❌
Unspecified

✅

✅

✅

✅

Shopify POS Integration

✅

✅

✅

✅

✅

✅

Google Calendar Sync

✅

✅

✅

✅

✅

✅

Zoom Integration

✅

✅

✅

✅

✅

✅

Email / SMS Reminders

✅

❌
Unspecified

✅

✅

✅

✅

Deposits Supported

✅

✅

✅

✅

✅

✅

Upsells Supported

✅

✅

✅

✅

❌
Unspecified

❌
Unspecified

Customizable Forms

✅

✅

✅

✅

✅

✅

Embedded Widget

✅

✅

✅

✅

✅

✅

Mobile-Responsive Design

✅

✅

✅

✅

✅

✅

Admin Dashboard

✅

✅

✅

✅

✅

✅

Onboarding Experience

✅

❌ Unspecified

❌ Unspecified

❌ Unspecified

❌ Unspecified

✅

Complexity / Entry Barrier

✅ Easy

✅ Easy

❌ High

✅ Easy

❌ High

✅ Medium


Marketing Your Services by Location

Once your multi-location booking system is set up, the next step is to market each location effectively. Here are some strategies to promote your services:

  1. Create Local SEO Landing Pages

Create separate SEO-optimized landing pages for each location. For example, if you run a tour company in different cities, create pages like “Book a Guided Tour in [City]” or “[City] Cooking Classes”. This helps attract local customers who are searching for location-specific services.

  1. Use Google Business & Shopify Pages

Set up a Google My Business listing for each location and link it to your Shopify store. This improves visibility in local searches and provides valuable location-specific information for customers.

  1. Target Local Keywords

Focus on local search terms like “[Location] tour services” or “salon in [City]” to improve your SEO rankings. Incorporate these keywords into your page content, blog posts, and metadata.

  1. Collect Location-Specific Reviews

Encourage customers to leave reviews on Google or on your Shopify store for each location. Positive reviews help build trust and drive new business.

  1. Local Ad Campaigns

Run local ad campaigns on Google Ads or Facebook to target customers in specific areas. This can help increase bookings and visibility for each location.

FAQ: Shopify & Multi-Location Appointments

Can I show different availability per location on Shopify?

Yes, Shopify’s booking apps allow you to set location-specific availability, ensuring that customers can only book appointments at the locations where services are offered.

What’s the best booking app for multiple Shopify locations?

Cowlendar is one of the best options for multi-location service businesses. It allows you to manage real-time availability across locations and integrates seamlessly with POS systems for in-person bookings.

Can I assign specific staff to each service at each branch?

Yes, with apps like Cowlendar and BookThatApp, you can assign specific staff members to each location, preventing scheduling conflicts and ensuring each branch is properly staffed.

How do I handle in-person bookings at each location?

With POS integration, Shopify allows you to manage walk-in bookings and payments at each branch, ensuring a smooth process for customers booking in person.

Can I show a dropdown for location in the booking widget?

Yes, most booking apps for Shopify, including Cowlendar, provide a location selector in the booking flow, allowing customers to choose their preferred location before booking.

Want to enable the switch-service feature?

Follow this guide to get started:
Switching between services inside the calendar widget

Managing multiple locations for your service business on Shopify doesn’t have to be overwhelming. With the right booking apps like Cowlendar, you can streamline staff scheduling, handle real-time availability, and promote each location effectively. This results in better coordination, improved customer satisfaction, and increased revenue.

👉 Try Cowlendar today to simplify your multi-location bookings on Shopify.
🔗 https://apps.shopify.com/cowlendar

Use Cowlendar for Free

Use Cowlendar for Free

Use Cowlendar for Free

Built for Shopify

Ready to Upgrade Your Booking Experience?

Ready to Upgrade Your Booking Experience?

Transform Your Product into a Service, All Within Minutes—Start for Free.

Use Cowlendar for Free

Use Cowlendar for Free

Use Cowlendar for Free