Testing before you go live

Book once in your own name, from start to finish. That is the whole test, and it almost always turns something up.

What to watch for

• Do the times you are shown match what you meant to offer?
• Can you book for a party you would rather not have online — eight people, say?
• Does the confirmation email arrive, and is your phone number in it?
• Does the reservation appear in your roster where you expect it?

Try what should not be allowed

Book on a day you are closed, or outside your service hours. If you simply get a confirmation, a time is wrong on your product.

Clean up your test

Remove the test reservation afterwards. Leave it and it sits in your occupancy figures and holds a table.