Overview
Courses are structured, multi-session programs that allow you to offer group training and education services to multiple pets over a fixed schedule. They help you create recurring revenue, build stronger customer relationships, and efficiently deliver structured training programs.
What are Courses?
Courses represent structured learning programs that run over multiple sessions (lessons). Each course has a defined schedule, capacity, location, and instructor, making it easy to manage group training programs like puppy schools, obedience classes, and specialized workshops.
Key Benefits
Recurring Revenue - Create predictable income with multi-week programs
Efficient Scheduling - Schedule all lessons at once with automated recurrence
Group Management - Handle multiple pets in a single class
Capacity Control - Set and manage maximum enrollments per course
Progress Tracking - Monitor attendance and progress across sessions
Professional Organization - Maintain structured curricula and lesson plans
Course Structure
Understanding the course hierarchy is essential for effective management:
Course Templates
Course templates are reusable blueprints that define the structure of your courses. They include:
Course name (e.g., "Puppy School")
Capacity - Maximum number of pets per session
Recurrence pattern - How lessons repeat (weekly, bi-weekly, etc.)
Number of lessons - Total sessions in the course
Duration - Length of each session
Pricing - Cost per course enrollment
Service requirements - Which service pets must be eligible for
Think of templates as your course catalog - the standard programs you offer regularly.
Course Instances
Course instances are specific scheduled courses created from templates. They include:
Specific dates - When the course actually runs
Assigned instructor - Which team member teaches the course
Location - Where the course takes place
Enrolled pets - Which pets are registered
Status - Upcoming, In Progress, or Completed
Think of instances as your scheduled classes - actual courses with real dates and enrolled pets.
Sessions (Lessons)
Sessions are the individual class meetings within a course instance. Each session has:
Lesson number (e.g., Lesson 1, Lesson 2)
Date and time - When the lesson occurs
Duration - How long the lesson lasts
Status - Upcoming, In Progress, or Completed
Course Templates
Course templates serve as blueprints for your recurring programs. While template management is handled through your Services configuration, understanding how templates work is essential for effective course management.
Key Template Components
Course Information:
Name (e.g., "Puppy School 6-Week Program")
Description and objectives
Age/breed requirements
Capacity:
Maximum pets per class
Consider space and instructor capacity
Safety considerations
Schedule Pattern:
Recurrence rule (Weekly, Bi-weekly, Custom)
Duration of each session
Total number of lessons
Requirements:
Associated service eligibility
Age restrictions (if any)
Breed restrictions (if any)
Health requirements
Template Best Practices
Naming Conventions:
Use clear, descriptive names
Include duration in name (e.g., "6-Week Puppy School")
Mention skill level if applicable (e.g., "Advanced Obedience")
Capacity Planning:
Small classes: 4-6 pets for personalized attention
Medium classes: 8-10 pets for good balance
Large classes: 12+ pets for basic programs
Consider instructor experience and space constraints
Scheduling:
Choose consistent days/times for customer convenience
Allow time between sessions for cleanup
Consider customer availability patterns
Account for holidays and closures
Next Steps
Set Up Course Templates
Before creating courses, configure your course templates in services:
Navigate to Services to set up course templates
Set up Team Members for course instructors
Set up Resources for course locations
Review Service Configuration for pricing and duration
Create Your First Course
Go to Courses → "New" → "Publish New Course"
Follow the Publishing Courses guide for detailed steps
Set up enrollment process with Managing Enrollments
Quick Access Links
You can open course forms directly using these links:
Create New Course:
https://business.petboost.com/courses?action=create
Benefits:
Bookmark creation forms for quick access
Share direct links to specific course forms
Connect with external training management systems
Browser back/forward navigation works naturally
Manage Course Lifecycle
Track course progress with Course Lifecycle management
Monitor attendance and customer communication
Plan future course sessions based on demand
Related Features
Service Integration
Courses are built on service foundations:
Service Configuration - Set up course templates and eligibility
Service Pricing - Set pricing, duration, and requirements
Service Categories - Organize course types and levels
Team and Resource Management
Team Member Management - Assign instructors and manage capacity
Resource Management - Set up course locations and facilities
Team Member Availability - Check instructor availability
Customer Management
Customer Profiles - Manage enrolled pet owners
Pet Profiles - Track individual pet progress
Appointments - View course lessons as appointments
Settings and Configuration
Settings - Account configuration
Booking Settings - Course booking rules
Notifications - Course communication settings
Pro Automations - Automated course workflows
Documentation Sections
Publishing Courses - Create course instances from templates
Managing Enrollments - Enroll pets and manage class capacity
Course Lifecycle - Track progress and manage active courses
Course FAQ - Common questions and troubleshooting
Need help? Contact support or click the "Get Help" button in your dashboard to chat with our team.