Google Calendar vs Scheduling Software

One is free. One costs $50+/month. Do you need to pay?

Google Calendar (Free)

What it does:

• Shows your schedule


• Syncs across devices


• Shareable calendars


• Basic reminders

What it doesn't do:

• Customer self-booking


• Automated confirmations


• CRM features


• Invoicing

Scheduling Software (Jobber, HCP, etc.)

What it adds:

• Customer portal/self-booking


• Automated reminders (SMS)


• Quote-to-invoice workflow


• Route optimization


• Team management

Cost: $50-200/month

Who Needs What

Google Calendar is enough if:

• Solo operator


• <30 jobs/month


• You book by phone


• You invoice separately (QuickBooks, etc.)

Scheduling software worth it if:

• 2+ employees


• 40+ jobs/month


• Need self-service booking


• Want integrated invoicing

The Middle Ground: Fixly + Google Calendar

Fixly:

• Answers calls


• Books into Google Calendar


• Sends confirmations and reminders

Google Calendar:

• Your schedule hub


• Free

Total cost: $30-100/month (Fixly) vs $50-200/month (full software)

For many contractors, this is the sweet spot: automated booking without the bloated software cost.

Decision Framework

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