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Settings FAQ

General Questions

How do I access my account settings?

Click on your business name in the top left sidebar and select "Account Settings", or navigate to Settings from any page.

Can I have different settings for different locations?

No, account settings apply to your entire business account. However, individual team members and resources can have location-specific configurations.

How do I change my account password?

You change a business login password with a reset email. There is no password field in Settings.

If you can still sign in, go to Team Members, open your profile, and select Send Password Reset. If you cannot sign in, use Forgot your password? on the business.petboost.com login screen.

Do not share one owner password with staff. Give each person their own login. Full steps: Change your account password.

Who can change account settings?

Only users with Admin or Owner Admin roles can access and modify account settings. Service Performers and Service Supporters cannot see or change any settings. If a team member tries to access Settings directly (e.g. by typing the URL), they are redirected to the Appointments page and see a brief Access restricted message saying their role does not have access.


Quick Command Centre (Command Palette)

What is the Quick Command Centre?

The Quick Command Centre is a universal search and navigation tool that lets you find anything in Petboost instantly without clicking through menus.

How do I open it?

There are two ways:

  • Keyboard shortcut: Press Cmd+K (Mac) or Ctrl+K (Windows/Linux)

  • Header button: Click the search icon in the top navigation bar

What can I search for?

The Command Centre searches across:

  • Pages - Navigate directly to any page in the app

  • Pets - Find pets by name

  • Services - Jump to any service

  • Team Members - Find staff profiles

  • Resources - Locate rooms, kennels, vehicles

  • Packages - Find package offerings

  • Settings - Jump to specific settings pages

  • Quick Actions - Contextual actions for the current page

  • Locations - Find business locations

How do source toggles work?

The toggle bar at the top of the Command Centre controls which categories are included in your search results. Pages and Quick Actions are always active. Toggle other sources on or off to narrow or widen your search. Your toggle preferences are remembered between sessions.

Can I ask questions in the Command Centre?

Yes. If your query looks like a natural language question (e.g. "How many appointments does Bella have next week?"), the Command Centre automatically offers to hand it to Grazi AI for a data-powered answer. Press Enter to ask Grazi.


Grazi AI (Support Assistant)

What is Grazi?

Grazi is Petboost's built-in AI support assistant. You can open Grazi from the sidebar to ask questions about your business, get help with features, or troubleshoot issues. Grazi can look up your appointments, customers, services, and settings to give data-powered answers.

Does Grazi save my conversations?

Yes. Grazi conversations are saved automatically. You can close the panel and come back later to resume where you left off, or browse past threads from the conversation history.

Can I escalate to a human if Grazi can't help?

Yes. If Grazi cannot fully resolve your question, click Speak with the team below the message box, write what you need, and click Send to the team to open a live chat with the Petboost support team. Your conversation context is included automatically so the team can see what you've already discussed.

Can I give feedback on Grazi's answers?

Yes. Each Grazi response has thumbs up and thumbs down buttons. Tapping either lets you rate the answer and optionally add a note. Your feedback is used to improve response quality over time.

Can I send screenshots or files to Grazi?

Yes. You can attach screenshots or documents to your Grazi conversation using the attachment button. This is useful when describing visual issues, sharing error messages, or providing context that is easier to show than describe.


Business Profile

Can I change my ABN after it's set?

No, the ABN is locked after initial setup for tax and legal compliance. This is an intentional safeguard because your ABN appears on invoices, receipts, and legal documents, and changing it retrospectively could create compliance issues with the ATO.

If you need to change it due to genuine business restructuring (e.g. moving from sole trader to a company), contact Petboost support. They will verify your new ABN and update it for you.

How do I change my ABN?

Your ABN cannot be changed through the Settings page. It is locked after your initial account setup to maintain tax and legal compliance across all historical invoices, receipts, and documents.

Why it's locked: Your ABN is printed on every invoice and receipt your business has issued. Changing it retroactively could cause discrepancies with ATO records and create problems for your accountant.

If your business has genuinely restructured (e.g. you've moved from a sole trader to a Pty Ltd, or your ABN has changed with the ATO), contact Petboost support with your new ABN and supporting documentation. The support team will update it for you after verification.

What business structure should I select?

Select the legal entity type registered with your government:

  • Company - Registered company (Pty Ltd, Ltd)

  • Sole Trader - Individual trading as themselves

  • Partnership - Two or more people in business together

  • Trust - Business operated through a trust structure

This affects invoicing and legal documentation.

Do I need an ACN?

Only if you're a registered company. ACN (Australian Company Number) is optional and only applies to companies.

How do I change which phone number customers see?

Your business phone number is displayed on your booking page and in customer communications. To change it:

  1. Go to Settings, then Business Details

  2. Update the Business Phone field (use the country code selector for international numbers)

  3. Select Publish Changes

The new number takes effect immediately across all customer-facing pages. Note that this is your main business contact number. Individual team members can have their own contact details in their team member profiles, but the number shown on your public booking page is always the Business Phone from your profile.

Can I change my business type to mobile?

"Mobile" is not a business-level setting. Instead, it is configured at the service level. Each individual service can be marked as a mobile service (where you travel to the pet owner) or a location-based service (where the pet owner comes to you).

To mark a service as mobile:

  1. Go to Services > [Service Name]

  2. Select Booking Settings and turn on Mobile service

  3. Save changes

You can have a mix of mobile and location-based services in the same business. For example, you might offer mobile grooming and in-salon grooming side by side. The mobile badge appears on your booking page for services marked as mobile.


Branding

How do I upload or change my business logo?

  1. Go to Settings > Branding

  2. Find the Logo Suite section

  3. Upload your Square Logo (used for profile pictures, icons, and thumbnails; best at 512x512px or larger, 1:1 aspect ratio)

  4. Upload your Horizontal Logo (used for headers, emails, and marketing materials; best at 1200x400px or similar wide rectangular format)

  5. Save changes

Both SVG and PNG formats are supported. SVG provides better scaling and quality; PNG ensures compatibility across all platforms. Upload both formats for best results.

Your logo appears on your booking page, customer emails, invoices, and the sticky booking bar. Changes take effect immediately.

What image sizes work best?

Square Logo: 512x512px or larger, 1:1 aspect ratio
​Horizontal Logo: 1200x400px or similar, wide rectangular
​Hero Image: 1200x900px or similar, 4:3 aspect ratio recommended

Always use high-resolution images that scale well.

Why is my button color "Unsuitable"?

The color doesn't meet WCAG accessibility standards for contrast ratio. It may be hard to read for users with visual impairments. Click "Magic Match Closest" to find a similar accessible color.

Can I upload my own fonts?

Yes, provide the font URL (typically Google Fonts) and exact font family name. The font must be web-accessible.

How do I see my branding changes?

Visit your public booking page to see how customers view your branding. Copy the short link from Settings > Quick Copy Links > Booking Page Link (https://pbbook.now/{your-business-name}). Changes apply immediately.

How do I connect Google Ads, Meta, or GA4 to bookings?

Go to Settings > Branding, turn on Advanced options at the foot of the tab, then find Conversion tracking. Paste your Google Ads Conversion ID and label, Meta Pixel ID, and/or GA4 measurement ID, then select Publish Changes. Leave a field blank to turn that platform off.

Petboost fires funnel events on the booking form and a purchase conversion when the owner submits. Events run on app.petboost.com, not on your own website.

See Conversion tracking for the step-by-step click path in Google Ads, Meta Events Manager, and Google Analytics.

Why does my Google Tag Manager ID not track bookings?

A Google Tag Manager container ID starts with GTM-. You can publish it in the field, but Petboost does not load it. Copy the platform IDs instead: a Google Ads ID that starts with AW-, a Meta Pixel ID that is digits only, and a GA4 measurement ID that starts with G-.


Business Hours & Availability

What happens if I change my business hours?

Changing your business hours affects future online booking availability only. Existing confirmed appointments are not moved, cancelled, or affected in any way.

What happens:

  • Online booking: Customers will see the updated available time slots going forward. Times outside your new hours will no longer appear as bookable.

  • Existing appointments: All appointments already on your calendar remain exactly where they are, even if they now fall outside your updated hours.

  • Team members: If a team member's working hours extend beyond your business hours, their availability for online booking is clipped to your business hours. They can still have manual appointments created outside business hours.

Important: Business hours and team member working hours are separate settings. Business hours define when your business is open. Team member working hours define when each individual is available within those business hours. See the question below for more detail.

What's the difference between Business Hours and Team Member Working Hours?

These are two separate layers of availability:

Business Hours (set in Settings) define when your business is open for online booking. These are the outer boundaries. No customer can book outside business hours through self-service booking.

Team Member Working Hours (set in Team Members > [Name] > Working Hours) define when each individual team member is available within your business hours. A team member's working hours must fall within your business hours to appear in online booking.

Example: Your business hours are 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Sarah works 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM. James works 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Customers booking Sarah will only see slots between 7:00 AM and 3:00 PM. Customers booking James will only see slots between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM. Neither can be booked outside business hours.

Tip: If you want a team member to work different hours on different days (e.g. Monday 7-3, Tuesday 9-5), configure this in their individual working hours, not in business hours.

How do I set up public holiday closures?

Petboost has a dedicated Public Holidays feature that lets you load Australian public holidays from Google Calendar and apply them as blocked time in bulk.

From the main Public Holidays page:

  1. Navigate to Public Holidays from the sidebar

  2. Select your Australian state or territory (ACT, NSW, NT, QLD, SA, TAS, VIC, or WA)

  3. Click Fetch Public Holidays to load the official holiday list

  4. Enable or disable individual holidays using the toggles (or use Enable All / Disable All)

  5. Select which team members and resources should receive the blocked time

  6. Click Apply

From a team member's profile:

  1. Open the team member's profile and go to the Leaves tab

  2. Click Magic Load Public Holidays on the Public Holidays card

  3. Select the holidays they will observe

  4. Click Apply

Important notes:

  • Holidays are not applied automatically. You must fetch and apply them each time.

  • Applying holidays blocks new bookings but does not cancel or move existing appointments. Check your calendar after applying and reschedule any conflicts manually.

  • Re-applying the same holiday for the same entity creates a duplicate blocked time entry.


Booking Configuration

Should I enable or disable online booking?

Enable for most situations - it reduces workload and allows 24/7 bookings.

Disable only if:

  • You're temporarily not accepting new bookings

  • You need full manual control over every booking

  • You're during a maintenance or transition period

Should I require a card on file?

Yes, strongly recommended. Requiring a card:

  • Reduces no-shows by 60-80%

  • Enables Automatic Actions

  • Validates payment method before appointment

  • Prevents booking fraud

What's the best booking notice period?

4-24 hours for most businesses:

  • 4 hours: Same-day bookings with prep time

  • 24 hours: Standard (most common)

  • 48+ hours: Complex services requiring preparation

Should I use instant confirmation or manual approval?

Instant confirmation for 95% of bookings. Only use manual approval if you truly need to review each booking (VIP services, complex requirements, capacity constraints).

How do I customise my online booking page?

Your online booking page pulls its appearance from your Branding settings and its behaviour from your Booking Configuration settings. Here is what you can control:

Visual appearance (Settings > Branding):

  • Business logo (square and horizontal)

  • Hero image (the large banner at the top)

  • Video on your booking page (auto-plays in the hero section)

  • Primary and secondary brand colours

  • Button colours (with accessibility validation)

  • Custom font

Booking behaviour (Settings > Booking Settings):

  • Whether online booking is enabled or disabled

  • Whether a card on file is required (on Settings > Pricing & Payments)

  • Instant confirmation vs manual approval

  • Whether customers can choose their team member or are auto-assigned

  • Booking notice period (minimum advance notice)

  • Booking interval (time slot increments)

  • Padding before and after appointments

  • Multi-pet scheduling rules (Best Fit, All Pets Together, or Clustered Start)

Service display (Services):

  • Service names, descriptions, images, and pricing

  • Which services are available for self-service booking

  • Weight eligibility ranges (for the Quick Estimate filter on your booking page)

  • Service categories and badges (mobile, vaccination required, etc.)

Policies (Settings > Policies & Paperwork):

  • Cancellation notice period and fee percentage

  • Terms and conditions document

  • Liability waiver document

  • Vaccination certificate requirements

Your booking page at pbbook.now/{your-business-name} (redirects to petboost.com.au/{your-business-name}-{id}/) combines all of these into a complete public-facing page. See the Your Booking Page guide for full details.


Payments & Payment Toggles

Is there a way to turn off the payment stuff while keeping online booking and reminders?

Yes. Petboost gives you granular control over payment-related features. You do not need to disable online booking or reminders to turn off payment processing.

What you can control independently:

Feature

Where to configure

Can be disabled separately?

Online booking

Settings > Booking Settings

Yes

SMS & email reminders

Settings > Notifications

Yes

Card on file requirement

Settings > Pricing & Payments (and per-service)

Yes

Pre-Hold Funds

Settings > Pricing & Payments (and per-service)

Yes

Auto-Pay

Settings > Automatic Actions (and per-service)

Yes

Auto-Start

Settings > Automatic Actions

Yes

Auto-Complete

Settings > Automatic Actions

Yes

Auto-Finalise

Settings > Automatic Actions

Yes

To keep online booking and reminders but disable all payment automation:

  1. Go to Settings > Pricing & Payments, turn on Allow booking without card and turn off Pre-hold funds

  2. Go to Settings > Automatic Actions and turn off Auto-pay invoices and Auto-finalise appointments

  3. Leave Notifications enabled as normal

This means customers can book online and receive reminders, but no cards are pre-authorised or auto-charged. You collect payment manually (in person, bank transfer, cash, or by sending a payment link).

Important: Disabling card on file increases no-show risk. Consider keeping card on file required but disabling auto-charging if you want payment security without automatic charges.

Should customers or business pay processing fees?

From 1 October 2026, card surcharging is banned in Australia on eftpos, Visa and Mastercard debit, prepaid and credit cards. Most businesses build their processing costs into their service prices with Build Fees Into Pricing in Pricing Assistant, so the customer sees one price with no surcharge line. See Build fees into your prices.

What are Stripe's fees?

Typically 1.7% + $0.30 per transaction in Australia. Your rate may vary based on transaction volume. Check your Stripe dashboard for exact rates.

Is a card reader worth it?

Consider if:

  • You have walk-in customers

  • Customers prefer in-person payment

  • You do front-desk checkout

  • You want fully connected payments

Skip if:

  • All bookings are online with card on file

  • Very low transaction volumes

  • No Wi-Fi at payment location

  • Mobile services without reliable internet

Can I use my existing card terminal?

Not connected to Petboost. Petboost connects to Stripe card readers only. New readers are the Stripe Reader S700, and a WisePOS E you already own keeps working with Petboost. You can keep another EFTPOS machine and record those payments as Other EFTPOS on the appointment.

Can I use my bank-supplied EFTPOS terminal instead of Stripe to avoid transaction fees?

Yes! While Petboost integrates with Stripe for card processing, you can absolutely keep using your existing terminal (Smart Pay, Square, bank EFTPOS, etc.). Here's how:

  1. Set up Stripe anyway: Required to activate Business Pro features (online booking, Card on File, no-show protection)

  2. Use your terminal for in-person payments: Process payment as normal on your device

  3. Record in Petboost: Select Other EFTPOS as the payment method when marking the invoice as paid

Petboost does not charge a fee for External Payment Machine payments.

Trade-offs to consider:

Stripe

External Payment Machine

Booking fee

{{BOOKING_FEE_RATE}} (Pro), {{FLEX_BOOKING_FEE}} (Flex) or {{BUSINESS_MAX_BOOKING_FEE_RATE}} (Max) per transaction

None

Stripe processing

1.7% + $0.30 (per transaction)

Your bank's rate

Accounting

Auto-syncs to Xero Bank Feeds

Manual reconciliation

Automation

Pre-hold funds, no-show protection

None

Counts toward fee waiver

Yes

No

Important: From 1 October 2026, card surcharging is banned in Australia on eftpos, Visa and Mastercard debit, prepaid and credit cards. See Build fees into your prices.

The subscription waiver: Process enough card payments via Stripe in a calendar month and next month's subscription is waived ($7,500 for Pro, $13,500 for Flex, $20,000 for Max). Each month counts separately (not cumulative). External Payment Machine transactions don't count toward this threshold.

Can I use Stripe for online bookings but my existing terminal for in-person payments?

Yes, this "hybrid approach" is fully supported. You can mix Stripe and External Payment Machine on a per-appointment basis.

Typical setup:

  • Online bookings: Customers save Card on File, auto-charged via Stripe after service

  • Walk-in or in-person: Use your existing terminal, record as Other EFTPOS

  • Customers who will not save a card: Turn on Book Without Card on the customer's Settings & Overrides tab, then record their payment as Other EFTPOS, Cash or Bank Transfer

Stripe connection is required to activate Business Pro, Flex, or Max (for online booking, packages, automations), but once connected, you choose which payment method to use for each transaction.

What's the difference in bookkeeping between Stripe and External Payment Machine?

With Stripe for all payments:

  • Every payment matches to an appointment in Petboost

  • Connect Stripe to Xero Bank Feeds: automatic data flow

  • One clean source for your accountant

  • End of quarter: minimal reconciliation

With External Payment Machine (or hybrid):

  • Stripe payments to Xero Bank Feeds (automatic)

  • External payments to your bank statement (manual)

  • Two data sources to reconcile each quarter

  • More time spent matching payments to appointments

Recommendation: If clean bookkeeping is a priority, Stripe for everything is the path of least resistance. If your bank rate is significantly lower than Stripe's and you're comfortable with manual reconciliation, a hybrid approach can work.

What if bank transfer payments don't arrive?

Follow up with customer:

  1. Verify they have correct account details

  2. Check they actually sent payment

  3. Allow 1-3 business days for transfer

  4. Send payment reminders

  5. Mark as paid only after confirming receipt in your account

We currently use Square Appointments. How does Petboost compare?

Petboost is purpose-built for pet services (grooming, daycare, training, walking, boarding) with features Square doesn't offer:

  • Resource capacity management - set precise limits for play areas, grooming stations, kennels (critical for daycare compliance)

  • Lifecycle automation - automate as much or as little as you want: booking confirmations, reminders, pre-hold funds, auto-completion, and auto-payment

  • Self-service package system - customers buy 5-packs, 10-packs, 20-packs online with automatic credit deduction

  • Pet-centric profiles - grooming preferences with reference photos, vaccination tracking, health records

  • Dual booking modes - Magic Schedule (AI-powered availability) + Quick Force (emergency override)

While Petboost uses Stripe processing (1.7% + $0.30) plus a booking fee (1.4% on Pro and Flex, 1.2% on Max), the time savings from automation, cleaner bookkeeping, and no-show reduction typically result in higher net income despite slightly higher transaction fees.

How does Petboost prevent no-shows and missed payments?

Petboost offers multiple layers of no-show protection:

  1. Card on file requirement - customers must add a valid payment card to book (reduces no-shows by 60-80%)

  2. Pre-authorisation holds - system holds funds 72 hours before appointments (not just checking the card exists)

  3. Automatic cancellation fees - configured percentages applied when customers cancel past the notice period

  4. No-show charges - automatically charge customers who don't show up

  5. Automatic Actions - pre-hold funds before service, auto-charge after completion

Clients report dramatic reductions in no-shows compared to systems that allow booking without payment methods.


Automatic Actions

Are Automatic Actions included in my plan?

Automatic Actions are included in Business Pro, Business Flex, and Business Max plans. Calendar Lite does not include them, so on Lite you start, complete, finalise and charge appointments by hand. Appointment reminder emails and vaccination reminders still send on paid Calendar Lite. They stay off during the 14-day trial.

Check your subscription in Billing if you don't see these settings.

Should I enable all five automations?

Yes, for maximum time savings. Start with one at a time and work up to all five.

Full automation workflow:
Pre-Hold Funds > Auto-Start > Auto-Complete > Auto-Finalise > Auto-Pay

How do I set up automated payment collection?

Automated payment collection uses the Automatic Actions chain (available on Business Pro, Flex, and Max plans). Here is how to set it up:

Step 1: Connect Stripe
Go to Settings > Pricing & Payments and connect your Stripe account if you haven't already.

Step 2: Require Card on File
Go to Settings > Pricing & Payments and leave Allow booking without card off. Customers then need a valid payment card before they can book online.

Step 3: Enable the automation chain
Turn on Pre-hold funds in Settings > Pricing & Payments. Then go to Settings > Automatic Actions and enable the rest:

  1. Pre-Hold Funds - Validates the card and holds funds 72 hours before the appointment

  2. Auto-Start - Starts the appointment at the scheduled time

  3. Auto-Complete - Completes the appointment at the scheduled end time

  4. Auto-Finalise - Generates the invoice 30 minutes after the scheduled end time

  5. Auto-Pay - Charges the card on file at the next automatic check after the invoice is finalised. Checks run every 15 minutes

Step 4: Enable per-service
Go to Services > [Service Name] > Automatic Actions and verify Auto-Pay is toggled on, then Services > [Service Name] > Pricing & Payments and verify Pre-Hold Funds is toggled on, for each service you want to auto-charge. These settings are per-service, not just global. If Auto-Pay is on globally but off for a specific service, that service will not auto-charge.

Once configured: The entire payment lifecycle is hands-free. Cards are validated before the appointment, and payment is collected automatically after service. Until the appointment is Paid, you can edit the invoice, select Void Invoice in Manage, or take payment another way.

How do I turn off just auto-charging but keep everything else?

You can disable auto-charging while keeping the rest of the automation chain running. There are two ways to do this depending on what you need:

Option A: Disable Auto-Pay globally

  1. Go to Settings > Automatic Actions

  2. Disable Auto-Pay only

  3. Keep Pre-Hold Funds, Auto-Start, Auto-Complete, and Auto-Finalise enabled

Result: Appointments still auto-start, auto-complete, and auto-finalise (generating the invoice), but you must manually process payment. Pre-hold funds still validates cards 72 hours before, giving you no-show protection without automatic charging.

Option B: Disable Auto-Pay for specific services only

  1. Keep Auto-Pay enabled globally in Settings > Automatic Actions

  2. Go to Services > [Service Name] > Automatic Actions

  3. Toggle Auto-Pay off for the specific services you don't want to auto-charge

Result: Most services auto-charge as normal, but the services you've disabled require manual payment processing. This is useful if you have some services with variable pricing that need review before charging.

Tip: Keeping Pre-Hold Funds enabled even without Auto-Pay is recommended. It validates cards and reserves funds without actually charging, so you still get no-show protection.

What if pre-hold funds fails?

Petboost texts the customer and tries the hold again every 4 hours, up to 5 attempts, until the appointment starts. The appointment still goes ahead.

Can I cancel an auto-payment?

Yes, until the charge runs. Auto-Pay charges at the next 15-minute check after the invoice is finalised. Before then, edit the invoice, select Void Invoice in Manage, or turn off Auto-Pay Invoices for that customer on their Settings & Overrides tab.

Do auto-payments always work?

Payments can fail if:

  • Card is expired or cancelled

  • Insufficient funds

  • Card issuer blocks transaction

  • Technical issues

Customers are notified and can update payment method.


Notifications

Are SMS notifications expensive?

SMS notifications are included in your plan at no extra charge:

  • Business Pro: 500 SMS/month included

  • Business Flex: 700 SMS/month included

  • Business Max: 1,000 SMS/month included

  • Calendar Lite: Email notifications only (no SMS)

If you exceed your monthly allocation, SMS Power-Up Packs are available for purchase. Most businesses never hit these limits.

Can customers opt out of notifications?

Yes, customers can reply "STOP" to SMS or click unsubscribe in emails. They'll still receive critical appointment information.

What's the best reminder timing?

24 hours works for most businesses. Adjust based on:

  • Service prep requirements

  • Customer travel distance

  • Historical no-show patterns

Do I get notified when customers book online?

Yes. Under Booking Created on Settings > Notifications, Email you: new booking copy emails your business address a confirmation addressed to your team when a customer books, reschedules, updates or cancels online, and Text you: new booking alert texts your business number when an appointment is created.

What notification settings can I control?

Petboost gives you control over multiple notification channels and triggers:

Booking messages (Settings > Notifications):

  • Text the customer: booking confirmation and Text the customer: booking changes (on/off). Cancellation texts follow Text the customer: booking changes

  • Email the customer: booking updates (on/off). Booking confirmation, change and cancellation emails follow it

Reminders (Settings > Notifications):

  • Email reminders before appointments (on/off)

  • SMS reminders before appointments (on/off)

  • Reminder timing (configurable: hours or days before appointment)

  • Reminders for frequent Daily and Weekly Recurring appointments (on/off)

Custom messages (Settings > Notifications):

  • Pre-appointment banner message (e.g. "Please arrive 10 minutes early")

  • Confirmation Message added to SMS reminders when Confirmation Reply is on (needs a dedicated number)

Abandoned booking alerts (Settings > Notifications):

  • Receive an email when a customer starts booking but doesn't complete it (on/off)

What you cannot currently customise:

  • The core notification content (appointment details, times, service names) is standardised for consistency

  • Per-service notification rules (notifications follow your global settings)

  • Notification language or translations

For full details, see the Notifications guide.


Policies & Paperwork

Do I need a lawyer for my terms and conditions?

Strongly recommended. Proper legal documents protect your business from liability. Many lawyers offer pet business packages.

Can I change my cancellation policy later?

Yes. Petboost applies the policy saved on the booked service when the appointment is cancelled, so a change also reaches appointments already booked. Each service keeps its own copy of the policy. When you publish a change to the business default, turn on Also update services. Every service listed is ticked; untick any that should keep its own policy.

How do I set up a cancellation policy?

  1. Go to Settings > Policies & Paperwork

  2. Under Change & Cancellation Policy, set:

    • Allow changes and cancellations: On (recommended, lets customers self-serve)

    • Cancellation Fee Percentage: Choose 0-100% in 5% increments (50% is industry standard)

    • Change & Cancellation Notice Period: Set how far in advance customers must notify you (24 hours is most common)

  3. Save changes

How it works in practice:

  • If a customer cancels before the notice period (e.g. more than 24 hours ahead), no fee is charged

  • If a customer cancels after the notice period (e.g. less than 24 hours ahead), the cancellation fee percentage is applied to the appointment cost and charged to their card on file

  • If the card charge fails, the fee shows as "Failed" and can be retried from the appointment details

  • You can manually waive fees on a case-by-case basis for emergencies

Tip: Communicate your cancellation policy clearly. Add a note to your pre-appointment banner message (Settings > Notifications) reminding customers of the notice period.

What's a fair cancellation fee?

50% is industry standard. Consider:

  • 0-25%: Customer-friendly but may not cover costs

  • 50%: Balanced approach

  • 75-100%: Strict policy for high-demand or high-cost services

Must I require vaccination certificates?

Yes, for any service where pets interact. Titer test results are also accepted as proof of immunity.

Recommended for:

  • Boarding

  • Daycare

  • Group training classes

Optional for:

  • One-on-one grooming

  • Mobile services at customer's home

How do I set up vaccination requirements?

  1. Go to Settings > Policies & Paperwork

  2. Under Health & Safety Requirements, turn on Require vaccination certificate

  3. Save changes

When enabled:

  • Customers must upload vaccination records before they can complete a booking

  • Petboost checks each certificate's label and dates, not the document itself. To check each certificate yourself, turn on Require vaccine review & approval

  • Services on your booking page display a "Vaccination Required" badge

  • Customers without current vaccination records cannot book online until they upload them

What to require: Core vaccines (Rabies, Distemper, Parvovirus for dogs), plus Bordetella (Kennel Cough) for boarding and daycare. Records must be current and signed by a licensed veterinarian.

Tip: If you offer a mix of services where some require vaccinations and others don't (e.g. boarding requires it but mobile grooming doesn't), you can set the requirement globally and turn it off for individual services on each service's Policies & Paperwork page.

Can I require a digital agreement before booking?

Yes. Petboost supports legally binding digital agreements that customers must accept before completing their first booking.

To set this up:

  1. Go to Settings > Policies & Paperwork

  2. Upload your Terms & Conditions document (PDF format)

  3. Upload your Waiver document (PDF format)

  4. Both documents are presented to customers with a consent checkbox during their first booking

What happens when a customer books for the first time:

  1. They must review your terms, conditions, and waiver

  2. They check the agreement checkbox ("I have read and agree to the Terms & Conditions and Waiver")

  3. The agreement is automatically stored with a timestamp, IP address, and document version

  4. You can view their agreement history in their customer profile

Legal enforceability: Digital agreements with timestamps are legally binding. The "clickwrap" format (requiring an active checkbox click) holds up in court. Petboost captures date, time, IP address, and the exact version of the documents agreed to.

Tip: Have a lawyer review your terms and waiver. Many lawyers offer pet business document packages. Update your documents annually or whenever your policies change. Changes only affect new customers; existing agreements remain on file.

Are digital agreements legally binding?

Yes, digital agreements with timestamps are legally enforceable. Our system captures all necessary proof (date, time, IP address, document version).


Invoices & Receipts

Can I customise what appears on invoices?

Invoice content is standardised to ensure clarity and legal compliance, but you can customise key elements:

Automatically included:

  • Your business name and logo

  • ABN/ACN (if configured)

  • Customer name and contact details

  • Pet name(s)

  • Service details and pricing

  • Date and invoice number

  • Payment method and status

Customisable elements:

  • Business logo - Upload via Settings > Branding

  • Business address - Configure in Settings, then Business Details

  • Footer notes - Add custom text (e.g., "Thank you for choosing [Business Name]!")

  • Payment terms - Displayed on unpaid invoices

Not currently customisable:

  • Invoice layout/template design

  • Line item order

  • Currency format (follows your country settings)

For specific invoice requirements, contact support to discuss your needs.


Roles & Permissions

How do I manage user permissions for my staff?

Petboost uses a role-based access system with four roles. Each team member is assigned one role that controls what they can see and do.

The four roles:

Role

Who it's for

What they can access

Owner Admin

Business owner, primary account holder

Everything, including settings, billing, reports, and exports

Admin

Business managers, co-owners

Full business operations and settings (same as Owner Admin)

Service Performer

Groomers, trainers, walkers, daycare staff

Appointments, customers, services, team members, and their own schedule. Cannot access Settings, Reports, or export data

Service Supporter

Reception, assistants, trainees

Basic appointment and customer access only. Cannot access Services, Packages, Team Members, Resources, Settings, or Reports

To change a team member's role:

  1. Go to Settings > Roles & Permissions

  2. Find the team member and click Manage on their card

  3. Change the Role dropdown under Personal Details

  4. Save changes

Role changes take effect immediately. The team member may need to refresh their browser.

Key restrictions to be aware of:

  • Service Performers cannot see revenue cards on Mission Control, cannot export customer data, and cannot access Reporting & Intelligence

  • Service Supporters have the most restricted access. Navigation links for pages they can't access are hidden entirely

  • Only Admin and Owner Admin roles can change settings, manage payments, or export data

For the full permission breakdown by role, see the Roles & Permissions guide.


Payouts

Where is my money? I can't see recent payments in my bank account.

Settings > Stripe Payouts shows where your money is. It is in one of three places:

  1. Still Processing: inside Stripe's processing period for your account

  2. On its way to your bank: a payout Stripe has sent, typically 1-2 business days

  3. Available to Payout: ready for the next scheduled payout

How long until payments reach my bank?

Stripe uses a rolling processing period (not batched). Settings > Stripe Payouts shows how many days it is for your account. After processing, the payout is initiated based on your schedule (daily, weekly, or monthly).

Typical timeline for daily payouts:

  • Payment received Monday > Processing Tuesday-Wednesday > Arrives Wednesday or Thursday

Weekend and holiday payments may take longer as banks don't process transfers on non-business days.

What's the daily cutoff time?

Payments successfully processed before the daily cutoff time are included in the next day's processing batch. Payments captured after the cutoff go to the following day's batch.

The exact cutoff time for your account is displayed in your local timezone in Settings > Stripe Payouts, under Daily Cutoff Time. This time varies by country (typically around 5pm local time).

Why didn't I receive a payout on Monday?

If your payout was scheduled for Saturday or Sunday, it automatically moves to Monday (next business day). Same applies to public holidays.

Settings > Stripe Payouts shows you the actual expected arrival date, accounting for weekends and holidays.

Can I change my payout schedule?

Yes. On Settings > Stripe Payouts, select Change in Stripe on the Where Stripe pays you card. You can choose:

  • Daily - Recommended for most businesses

  • Weekly - Set a specific day of the week

  • Monthly - Set a specific date each month

How do I change my bank account for payouts?

Select Change in Stripe on the Where Stripe pays you card in Settings > Stripe Payouts. This opens your Stripe Dashboard where you can add or change bank accounts. Stripe may require verification for new accounts.

Why is my payout smaller than the total payments?

Your payout is the net amount after deductions:

  • Stripe processing (1.7% + $0.30 per transaction)

  • Booking fee (1.4% for Pro and Flex, 1.2% for Max)

  • Any refunds you processed

If you expand a payout in Settings > Stripe Payouts, the summary shows card sales, Stripe fees, Petboost fees, and the net transferred.

Can I see which appointments each payout contains?

If you expand a payout in Settings > Stripe Payouts, each transaction shows:

  • Pet name and owner name

  • Service provided

  • Stripe fee, Petboost fee, and net

  • Links to open the appointment or view in Stripe

How do I reconcile payouts with my accounting?

  1. Settings > Stripe Payouts - Expand the payout that matches the bank deposit. The summary is card sales, fees, and net transferred.

  2. Billing > Invoices & Payment - Switch the view to Monthly, Quarterly, or EOFY, expand the period, and read Card sales this period. Select Download FY Statement (or the matching month or quarter button) for the same breakdown, split into appointments, package sales, quick sales, and membership payments. Those figures will not match one deposit. See How do I get a sales report or statement for the financial year?.

  3. Stripe Bank Feeds to Xero - Connect Stripe in Xero so deposits appear automatically.

Reporting & Intelligence sales totals use appointment and sale dates, not payout arrival dates, so they will not match a bank deposit. Petboost is not accounting software. Billing and Reporting figures only cover payments recorded in Petboost. Actual earnings can vary for any payments collected outside Petboost, such as cash, bank transfer, or another payment machine.


Troubleshooting

My settings aren't saving

Check:

  • Internet connection is stable

  • You have Admin permissions

  • Required fields are filled in correctly

  • Try refreshing the page and saving again

I can't upload my logo

Verify:

  • File is PNG or SVG format

  • File size is under 5MB

  • Image dimensions are reasonable (not 10000x10000px)

  • File isn't corrupted

Customers say they're not receiving notifications

Check:

  • Customer's email and phone number are correct in their profile

  • Customer hasn't opted out of notifications

  • Check spam/junk folders for emails

  • Verify SMS notifications are enabled in settings

Booking page shows old branding

Try:

  • Hard refresh the page (Ctrl+F5 or Cmd+Shift+R)

  • Clear browser cache

  • Wait a few minutes for changes to propagate

  • View in incognito/private window

Auto-payments aren't processing

Verify step-by-step:

  1. Plan check: You're on Business Pro, Flex, or Max (Calendar Lite doesn't include Automatic Actions)

  2. Global settings: Automatic Actions are enabled in Settings > Automatic Actions

  3. Auto-Finalise: Must be enabled (required before auto-pay can run)

  4. Auto-Pay: Must be enabled globally

Most common cause: Auto-Pay is per-service, not just global!

  1. Per-service check: Navigate to Services > [Service Name] > Automatic Actions and verify:

    • Auto-Pay is toggled ON for this specific service

    Then check Services > [Service Name] > Pricing & Payments and verify:

    • Pre-Hold Funds is toggled ON if you want cards validated before appointments

Example scenario: You have Auto-Pay ON globally, but it's OFF for "Full Day Daycare". All Full Day Daycare appointments will NOT auto-charge, even though other services will.

  1. Customer card: Customer has a valid, non-expired card on file

  2. Stripe connected: Verify Stripe account is connected in Settings > Pricing & Payments

Still not working? Check the appointment's status. Auto-Pay only runs 30 minutes after the invoice is finalised. If the appointment is still "Completed" but not "Finalised", Auto-Finalise may also be disabled for that service.


Best Practices

Initial Setup Checklist

When first configuring settings:

  1. Complete business profile (name, ABN, contact info)

  2. Upload all branding (logos, hero image, colours)

  3. Configure booking settings (online booking, payment requirements)

  4. Set up Automatic Actions (all five enabled recommended)

  5. Configure notifications (SMS and email reminders)

  6. Upload legal documents (terms, conditions, waiver)

  7. Set cancellation policy (24-hour notice, 50% fee)

  8. Configure payment settings (decide fee allocation)

  9. Set up public holiday closures for the year ahead

  10. Configure roles and permissions for your team

  11. Test full booking workflow as a customer

Regular Maintenance

Monthly:

  • Review and update hero image seasonally

  • Check legal documents are current

  • Review cancellation policy effectiveness

  • Verify bank transfer details are correct

Quarterly:

  • Audit automation effectiveness

  • Review notification timing and content

  • Update custom messages

  • Check accessibility of brand colours

Annually:

  • Legal document review with lawyer

  • Comprehensive branding refresh

  • Policy review and updates

  • An Account Health Check (the card at the bottom of Settings)

  • Load and apply public holidays for the coming year


Kiosk Mode

How do I get a walk-in client to sign my terms and conditions?

Use Kiosk Mode. Open the account menu (business name or logo at the top of the sidebar), tap Kiosk Mode under Quick Copy Links, then Enter kiosk mode. The client enters their mobile and taps Review {your business} terms & your details.

The Paperwork tab on a customer profile stores agreements that have already been accepted. It does not capture a new signature on your device.

How do I chase a customer who has not agreed to my terms?

They see your terms first thing when they log in. To text them now, open Mission Control > Attention Required > Terms Not Agreed and tap Send SMS request. Use Bulk SMS Mode to send to more than one customer. Each send is logged on Timeline & Notes. If they are at the desk, use Kiosk Mode. See Chase unsigned terms for upcoming bookings.

How do I leave kiosk mode?

Tap Staff exit in the bottom corner and enter 7139. That signs the device out. Sign in again to return to your account.

Can clients check in or book from the kiosk?

Yes. They enter their mobile, then check in for today's visit, book if they have no appointment today, or review your terms.


Related Features

For additional configuration:

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