# What is Session

> A booking platform built for saunas and shared-capacity sessions - so the way you actually run your venue is the way the software works.

Instead of one-to-one appointments, you sell [spaces in a session](/docs/shared-capacity) - several people booking the same slot, up to the real capacity of the room. Session was built by a sauna operator, so the model matches how a sauna actually runs.

You get your own [booking page at your own address](/docs/booking-links), where customers browse, book and pay by card, and an admin dashboard where you and your team run sessions, payments, customers and reports.

<Screenshot
  shot="public-booking-page"
  alt="The public booking page showing a week of sessions with available spaces and prices."
  caption="The customer-facing booking page at your own address."
  mat="cream"
/>

## Built for sessions, not appointments

- Sell [spaces in a shared session](/docs/shared-capacity), with overbooking prevention built in.
- Offer [private hire](/docs/private-sessions) of the whole room and [group bookings](/docs/group-bookings), each capped to real capacity.
- Price [shorter and longer slots](/docs/part-session) that share the same space, such as 30 and 60 minutes on one session.
- Collect [digital waivers](/docs/waivers) at checkout, including per-guest signing for groups, and verify them at check-in.

## What you can do with Session

- **Schedule sessions** - [recurring schedules](/docs/repeat-schedules), [one-off events](/docs/one-off-schedules), [per-date overrides](/docs/instance-overrides), a [booking window and minimum notice](/docs/booking-window), and [waiting lists](/docs/waiting-lists) that notify customers when a space opens.
- **Take payments** - [card, Apple Pay and Google Pay](/docs/payment-methods) through your own Stripe account, with [price options](/docs/price-options), [add-ons](/docs/add-ons), [discount codes](/docs/vouchers) and in-app [refunds and reschedules](/docs/refunds).
- **Sell offers** - [memberships](/docs/membership) with included sessions and member rates, [bundles](/docs/bundles) and [gift vouchers](/docs/gift-vouchers).
- **Manage bookings** - your team can [manage](/docs/manage-bookings-admins) and [add bookings](/docs/add-a-booking) and [check people in](/docs/check-in); customers [manage their own](/docs/manage-bookings-customers), even without an account.
- **Run the business** - [reports](/docs/reports), [admin and staff roles](/docs/team), [CSV exports](/docs/csv-exports), [imports](/docs/import) and [integrations](/docs/integrations).

## Your booking page

Customers book and pay without an account, under your [logo and colours](/docs/branding). You can run [multiple locations](/docs/locations) from one account, print a [QR poster](/docs/share-your-booking-page#print-a-qr-poster), and let customers [install the page as an app](/docs/install-as-an-app).

## Pricing

Session is free to set up, with no subscription and no card needed to start. There's a 0.5% platform fee per paid booking, capped each month, plus Stripe's own card fee - see [what it costs](/docs/connect-stripe#what-it-costs). Card payments go straight into your own Stripe account. Community and non-profit saunas can ask about a partnership deal through the Community Sauna Network.

## How to get started

<Steps>
  <Step>[Set up your account](/docs/account-setup) and [connect Stripe](/docs/connect-stripe).</Step>
  <Step>Create your [schedule](/docs/repeat-schedules), set your [price options](/docs/price-options) and check your [cancellation policy](/docs/cancellation-policy).</Step>
  <Step>Work through the [going-live checklist](/docs/going-live) and share your [booking link](/docs/booking-links).</Step>
</Steps>

<Callout variant="tip">
Switching from another system? [Import bookings, customers and vouchers](/docs/import) from Acuity or any CSV, TSV or Excel export; moving from Periode has its own [guided switch](/docs/switching-to-session#from-periode).
</Callout>

## Common questions

1. **Who is Session for?** Operators of saunas or other venues where several people book the same slot. You run it as an admin, and your team can help as [staff](/docs/team).

2. **Do my customers need an account to book?** No. Guests can book, pay and [manage their booking](/docs/manage-bookings-customers) through a secure link in their confirmation email.

3. **Can I take payment in person?** Yes. [Record an offline payment](/docs/add-a-booking#record-an-offline-payment-or-apply-a-voucher) when a customer pays by card machine or cash.

4. **Does it work outside the UK?** Yes, with other countries, currencies and timezones - see [international settings](/docs/international).