Title: Mastering WP Booking Systems: Adding a Cleaning Fee with Ease

Introduction

In the world of online booking for accommodations, managing additional fees like cleaning charges is essential for maintaining both clarity and profitability. WP Booking systems, particularly plugins like WP Booking Calendar, offer versatile solutions for this. In this post, we’ll explore two effective methods to integrate a cleaning fee into your booking system: one using the form builder with a product field, and another through applying a strategic discount with a negative amount.

Method 1: Adding a Cleaning Fee Using Form Builder and a Product Field

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Install and Set Up WP Booking Calendar:

• Ensure you have the WP Booking Calendar plugin installed (Business Medium or higher versions to access this feature).
• Go to the WordPress admin panel, navigate to Booking > Settings > General, and configure your booking basics.

1. Configure Booking Form:

• Head to Booking > Settings > Fields.
• Here, you’ll see options to customize your booking form. Click on “Add New Field”.

1. Add a Product Field for Cleaning Fee:

• Choose “Product” as the field type since you’re adding a fee.
• Name this field something like “Cleaning Fee”.
• Set the price for this product field. For instance, if your cleaning fee is $50, input this value under the price setting.

1. Customize the Field:

• Decide if this fee should be optional or mandatory. If mandatory, you might set it as a checkbox with a pre-selected value or as a read-only field with a fixed price.
• You can add descriptions or conditional logic if needed. For example, the fee might only apply to certain property types or for stays exceeding a certain number of days.

1. Save and Test:

• After setting up the field, save your changes.
• Test the booking form from the front end to ensure the cleaning fee is added to the total.

Method 2: Adding a Cleaning Fee via Negative Discount

This method uses the concept of discounts in an unconventional way to add fees, which can be particularly useful if your system primarily deals with discounts but you need to add a fee.

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Access Discount Configuration:

• Navigate to WP Booking System > Discounts in your WordPress admin panel. This feature is available in versions that support pricing configurations.

1. Create a New Discount :

• Click on “Add New Discount”.
• Name your “Discount” something like “Cleaning Fee”.

1. Set Negative Discount:

• Instead of a positive discount, enter a negative value. For example, if your cleaning fee is $50, you would set a discount of -$50.
• Configure the conditions under which this discount applies (like specific accommodations or booking durations).

1. Apply Conditions:

• You can set this “discount” to automatically apply under certain conditions or make it an optional checkbox in the booking form, similar to how you would with a product field.

1. Save and Confirm:

• Save the coupon settings and test by making a booking to ensure the fee is added correctly to the total cost.

Why Use These Methods?

• Flexibility: Using product fields directly in the form allows for clear, upfront communication of additional fees.
• Simplicity: Negative discounts can be a clever workaround if your booking system excels in discount management but lacks direct fee implementations.

Conclusion

Integrating a cleaning fee into your WP Booking system can be done seamlessly with either method described above. The choice between using a form builder with a product field or applying a negative discount depends on your specific needs, the complexity of your booking setup, and how you want to present fees to your customers. Both approaches ensure that you maintain control over your pricing structure while providing a transparent booking experience. Remember, keeping your system updated and user-friendly can significantly enhance customer satisfaction and streamline your operational efficiency.

Happy booking!