Telegram is one of the fastest channels to start taking bookings β no app store, no forms, just a chat your clients already have open. In this guide you'll create a Telegram bot and connect it to RentABot so customers can book appointments in minutes.
What you'll need
- A Telegram account
- A RentABot account (a free 14-day trial works)
- About 10 minutes
Step 1 β Create your bot with BotFather
BotFather is Telegram's official tool for creating bots.
- Open Telegram and search for @BotFather (the one with the blue verified check).
- Start a chat and send the command
/newbot. - Choose a display name (e.g. "Bella Salon Booking").
- Choose a username that ends in
bot(e.g.bella_salon_bot). - BotFather replies with an API token that looks like
123456:ABC-DEF.... Copy it and keep it private β it's the key to your bot.
Step 2 β Connect the bot to RentABot
- Log in to RentABot and open Channels from the left menu.
- Find the Telegram card and click Connect.
- Paste the API token from BotFather and save.
- RentABot registers the webhook automatically and the channel status turns Active.
That's it β your bot is now linked. No server setup or code required.
Step 3 β Set up your booking basics
Before clients can book, tell RentABot what you offer and when you're available:
- Booking Types β add your services with a name, duration and price (e.g. "Haircut β 45 min").
- Resources β add staff, rooms or equipment if bookings depend on them.
- Availability β set your working hours, breaks and days off so the bot only offers slots you can actually fulfill.
Step 4 β Test the booking flow
- Open your bot in Telegram (
t.me/your_bot_username) and press Start. - Walk through booking a slot as a client would.
- Confirm the appointment appears in RentABot β and, if you've connected it, in your Google Calendar.
Tip: book a test slot outside your real working hours so you don't block a genuine appointment while trying things out.
Step 5 β Go live
- Share your bot link (
t.me/your_bot_username) in your Telegram bio, posts, website and other profiles. - Turn on automatic reminders so clients get a nudge before the appointment β the easiest way to cut no-shows.
Your Telegram booking bot is now live and working around the clock. Ready to set yours up? Start a free 14-day trial and connect Telegram in minutes.