Adding variations to a specific service is the right way to streamline your daily operations and simplify your clients' booking experience. By grouping related options, you can create a cleaner, more intuitive menu that saves time for both you and your clients. Read this article to find out everything you need to know about their benefits, how they work, how to create them, and the answers to the most frequently asked questions.
What are service variations?
Service variations let you group different options under one main service.
For example, instead of creating three separate services (“Massage 15 minutes”, “Massage 30 minutes” and “Massage 45 minutes”), you can add one main service (“Massage”) with different time and price options as variations.
What are the benefits of using service variations?
Using service variations is beneficial for both you and your clients. With them, you can:
Group similar services to keep your list clean and organised.
Present your services more clearly to clients booking an appointment.
Simplify the booking experience for your clients.
Reduce administrative work and make updates faster.
How do I create services with variations?
To create services with variations:
Log in, on desktop or in the mobile app.
Click the gear icon at the bottom left to open 'Settings'.
Select 'Services' on the left-hand menu.
Click 'Create new' → 'Add service'.
You can also edit an existing service.
Click 'Add variation' on the 'General' tab.
Fill in the name, duration, price and, if you need it, buffer time for each variation.
Click 'Save' to confirm your changes.
Example:
Service 1: Haircut
Variation 1: short hair
Variation 2: medium hair
Variation 3: long hair
On your services list, a service with variations shows a layered icon next to its name – often called a 'lasagna-style' icon – together with the number of variations and the price 'from'.
Can I edit services with variations later?
Yes. You can edit, add or remove variations at any time.
Can I add variations to existing services?
Yes, you can edit an existing service and add variations to it. To do so:
Go to 'Settings' → 'Services'.
Choose the service you want to edit.
Click the options icon next to the price.
Click 'Edit'.
Add the variations as explained above.
Will existing bookings be affected if I add variations to an existing service?
No, this doesn't affect existing bookings – it only changes the experience for new ones.
If you edit the first variation, past and future appointments linked to it are updated (service name, price). To keep current bookings unchanged, create a new service instead.
How do service variations appear to my clients?
Online, your client sees one service for the whole group, and picks the specific variation they want to book.
Note: if you use the Treatwell Marketplace integration, each variation is shown there as its own separate service.
Do other settings apply to all variations?
Yes. Settings configured for the group – such as category, description and whether it's bookable online – are automatically applied to every variation.
How are service variations displayed in reports and exports?
Variations are displayed as individual services in the rest of the app, including reports and exports.
Can I adjust the required staff, rooms and equipment for a specific variation?
Yes – if a service has more than one variation, you can turn on 'The required employees, rooms, and tools are different per variation in this service' and set them separately for each one.
To learn how to use this advanced feature, take a look at this article.
If you have any other questions or need further assistance, contact our support team – we're happy to help.