Booked, Paid, Confirmed: How One Solo Practitioner Eliminated No-Shows

YouCanBookMe has been so integral to my success.”

- Julie Svoboda, Founder of Reiki Says Relax

In Portland, Julie Svoboda built Reiki Says Relax around something deeply personal: healing. What began as her own journey into Reiki and energy work grew into a full-time practice helping clients release stress, restore balance, and reconnect with themselves. Over the past decade, she’s guided thousands of sessions—offering everything from in-person treatments to distance Reiki and classes.

As a solo practitioner, Julie doesn’t just hold space for her clients—she runs every part of the business herself. Scheduling, payments, reminders, follow-ups. And in a field where presence and calm are everything, protecting her time and energy isn’t optional—it’s essential.

But as demand grew, so did the pressure. No-shows, back-and-forth messages, and unpaid appointments weren’t just inconvenient—they disrupted her day and drained valuable energy. Julie needed a system that respected her time as much as she respected her clients.

That’s when she turned to YouCanBookMe—an online booking software that would go on to support nearly 6,000 bookings over nine years and become the quiet backbone of her practice.

Why YouCanBookMe: Julie's story

The challenge

Julie runs Reiki Says Relax entirely on her own. She’s the practitioner, the scheduler, the bookkeeper, the one answering messages between sessions. When you’re holding space for clients all day, every minute matters—and every interruption costs energy.

In the early days, appointments were arranged the traditional way: phone calls, texts, emails. It worked… until it didn’t. Messages slipped between sessions. Conversations stretched back and forth. And then there were the no-shows.

For a solo practitioner, a missed appointment isn’t just an inconvenience. It’s lost income and lost time that can’t be recovered.

For years I went through the frustration of having many no shows which disallows me from being able to help somebody else during that time. So it's always a loss."

Julie needed a way to bring calm not just to her clients—but to her calendar. She needed a system that respected her time, reduced no-shows, and removed the constant back-and-forth so she could focus fully on the healing work she loves.

The solution

Julie didn’t just need a calendar. She needed protection for her time, her income, and her energy.

So she brought in YouCanBookMe.

Instead of replying to late-night texts or chasing confirmations between sessions, clients could now see her availability and book instantly (as well as reschedule easily!)—no back-and-forth, no uncertainty. The system handled confirmations and reminders automatically, giving her day structure without adding stress.

But the real shift came with payments.

One of the features that I really appreciate about YouCanBookMe is that it allows me to integrate with Stripe. So for new clients, they pay when they book that first appointment.”

Requiring payment at the time of booking immediately created commitment. No separate invoices. No awkward follow-ups.

She also embedded her cancellation policy directly into the booking form, ensuring every client acknowledged the terms before confirming. Expectations were clear upfront—protecting both her time and her income.

What Julie built wasn’t just a booking link. It was a structured entry point into her practice—one that established boundaries, professionalism, and trust before a session ever began.

✨ Bring calm to your calendar

Set boundaries, take payments upfront, and stop chasing bookings. Let YouCanBookMe handle scheduling—so you can focus on your clients.

The outcome

Nearly 6,000 bookings later, YouCanBookMe has become woven into the fabric of Julie’s practice. What once felt frustrating and unpredictable is now steady and dependable.

I’ll be honest, I’m not very technologically savvy but YouCanBookMe was just so easy to navigate.”

For someone running every part of her business alone, simplicity mattered. The system didn’t add complexity—it removed it.

As her practice evolved, so did her setup. When she upgraded to access additional features, one in particular changed the rhythm of her days.

I started paying for the extra features and found them so important for my business. The ability to input a buffer in between sessions, such as a 30-minute leeway is so, so helpful. I cannot underscore how helpful it is to have.”

That buffer time isn’t just practical. It protects her energy between sessions, allowing her to show up fully present for every client.

For a solo practitioner who does everything herself, having a system that works quietly and reliably in the background has made all the difference. Scheduling no longer drains her—it supports her.

Deep dive into Julie's booking page

Julie’s booking page

Julie’s booking page mirrors the calming and intentional experience she creates in her Reiki sessions. A custom background image pairs perfectly with her logo, immediately reinforcing her brand and helping clients feel confident they’re booking in the right place.

From there, the process is clear and self-guided. Clients can choose between multiple appointment types, with each session length and price displayed upfront—removing uncertainty before they even reach the form.

The booking form itself is practical and purposeful. Clients confirm whether their session will be in person or online through a simple multiple-choice selection, can enter a coupon code if applicable, and have space to share additional notes about what they’re hoping to focus on. Clear checkbox acknowledgments outline cancellation and other booking policies, as well as expectations, ensuring transparency on both sides.

The result is a booking flow that feels aligned with her work: calm, structured, and respectful of everyone’s time—long before the session even begins.

✨ Bonus ✨ Learn from the pros—Julie's top business advice

Building a business from the heart isn’t always easy. Growth can feel slow. Doubt creeps in. Results don’t always show up overnight.

Julie’s advice? Don’t let that shake you.

Have patience and have faith when you’re doing anything from your heart… When your goal is ultimately to help people, not to make a dollar… just stay the course. That energy will reap benefits.”

For Julie, success didn’t come from chasing revenue. It came from focusing on service. Helping people feel better. Creating real transformation. Trusting that if the intention was right, the results would follow.

Her reminder is simple but powerful: if you’re building something meaningful, keep going. Lead with purpose. Stay patient. And let the impact compound over time.

Calm for her clients. Clarity for her calendar.

For Julie, Reiki Says Relax has always been about helping people feel lighter, calmer, and more aligned. But serving others at a high level requires structure behind the scenes.

With YouCanBookMe handling bookings, payments, reminders, and buffers, Julie no longer worries about missed appointments or last-minute stress. Clients book with clarity. They commit when they schedule. And her calendar flows in a way that protects her energy—not drains it.

YouCanBookMe has been so integral to my success.”

What began as a simple scheduling tool has become part of the foundation that supports her work every day.

If you’re building a heart-led business and want your systems to support—not sabotage—your growth, YouCanBookMe makes it easy to create a booking experience that feels calm, professional, and effortless.

Start your free account today and give your time the protection it deserves.