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How I Created BookFast: A Booking System for Shi’s Nails Spa with M-PESA Integration

See how I built BookFast.co.ke — a service booking system for Shi’d Nails Spa with full M-PESA integration and real-time appointment management.

How I Created BookFast: A Booking System for Shi’s Nails Spa with M-PESA Integration

In this post, I’ll walk you through the process of building BookFast.co.ke, a custom service booking platform developed for Shi’d Nails Spa. The goal was simple but powerful: allow customers to book beauty services online and pay in advance using M-PESA.

Here’s how I brought it to life — from idea to launch.


🧩 The Problem

Shi’d Nails Spa needed a better way to:

  • Manage incoming appointments
  • Avoid overbookings and missed appointments
  • Collect payments ahead of time
  • Offer a smooth digital experience to mobile-first clients

They were using manual logs and WhatsApp — which often led to scheduling conflicts and delays in payments.


💡 The Solution: BookFast

I developed BookFast.co.ke, a Laravel-based booking system with a user-friendly frontend, admin dashboard, and integrated M-PESA payment flow.

The platform now handles:

  • Booking selection by service, date, and time
  • Instant M-PESA payments via Daraja STK Push
  • Real-time booking management for the spa’s team

🛠️ Key Features

1. Service Selection

Users browse a list of services (manicure, pedicure, facials, etc.), each with pricing and estimated duration.

2. Date & Time Scheduling

Available slots are shown dynamically. Once selected, they’re locked in to avoid double bookings.

3. M-PESA Payment Integration

Once a user confirms their booking:

  • An STK Push is sent to their phone via the M-PESA Daraja API
  • The system waits for confirmation before finalizing the booking

4. Admin Dashboard

The spa’s team can:

  • View and manage upcoming bookings
  • Update service offerings and prices
  • See payment history and filter by date

5. Mobile Responsiveness

Since the majority of users are on mobile, I used Tailwind CSS to ensure the UI is smooth and responsive.


⚙️ Tech Stack

  • Framework: Laravel
  • Frontend: Blade + Tailwind CSS
  • Payments: M-PESA Daraja API (STK Push)
  • Database: MySQL
  • Hosting: Cloud-based (HostPinnacle)

🔍 Results

  • Reduced manual scheduling by 90%
  • Increased prepayments and reduced no-shows
  • Improved customer experience, especially among mobile users
  • Shi’d Nails Spa now manages its entire appointment calendar online

✅ Final Thoughts

BookFast proved that even small service-based businesses can benefit from custom tech — especially when integrated with trusted local tools like M-PESA.

If you're running a salon, spa, clinic, or any service business, you can massively improve efficiency with a similar system.


Need a custom booking platform for your business? Let’s build one together. Contact me here or explore more projects on davidmboya.com.

Booking Website, Service Scheduling, M-PESA Integration, Laravel Booking App, Spa Management System, David Mboya, Calendar Booking, Kenya Tech Projects
2 min read
Sep 15, 2024
By David Mboya
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