Overview
On Services you create Initial, Regular, Stay, and Add-on. Puppy school, scentwork, and other group programmes are courses. Create those on Courses, not with Add New → New Service.
Service types at a glance
Type | Purpose | Billing | Standalone? | Example |
Initial | First-visit gatekeeping | Per service | Yes | Daycare Assessment, Grooming Consultation |
Regular | Core appointments | Per service | Yes | Full Groom, Group Walk, 1:1 Training |
Stay | Multi-day boarding | Per night/day | Yes | Overnight Boarding, Extended Daycare |
Add-on | Optional extras | Added to parent | No | Nail Trim, Teeth Brushing, Medication Admin |
Course | Group programmes. Create on Courses, not here | Per enrolment | Yes | 6-week puppy school |
Package | Prepaid bundles | Upfront | Yes | 10-Walk Pack, 5-Groom Bundle |
Initial Services
What Are Initial Services?
Initial Services are first-visit appointments that gate access to Regular or Stay services. Until a pet completes their Initial service, they cannot book the linked services.
When to Use Initial Services
Use Case | Example | Why |
Daycare assessment | "Daycare Assessment" (2-4 hours) | Evaluate temperament before group play |
Grooming consultation | "Grooming Consultation" (30 min) | Assess coat condition, discuss styling |
Training evaluation | "Training Consultation" (60 min) | Determine training needs and level |
Boarding trial | "Boarding Trial Night" (1 night) | Test overnight before extended stays |
Puppy first visit | "Puppy First Groom" (45 min) | Gentle introduction to grooming |
How Initial Service Linking Works
Create the Initial service (e.g., "Daycare Assessment")
Create the Regular service (e.g., "Full Day Daycare")
Link them: On the Regular service, open Who Can Book > Service Prerequisite and use Require Prerequisite Service to pick your Initial
Automatic enforcement: New pets must complete the Initial before booking the Regular
Key Features
Per-pet tracking: Eligibility tracked per pet, not per customer
Staff override: Staff can bypass the requirement for special cases
Online booking ready: Initial services can be self-service
Clear customer communication: Booking portal shows what's required
Configuration Tips
Charge for consultations: Your expertise has value
Set realistic durations: Assessments need proper time
Consider free trials: Some businesses offer free assessments for customer acquisition
Link strategically: Not every Regular service needs an Initial requirement
Vertical-Specific Examples
Dog Grooming:
Grooming Consultation → Full Groom
Puppy First Groom → All grooming services
Dog Daycare:
Daycare Assessment → Full Day Daycare, Half Day Daycare
Trial Half-Day → Full Day Daycare
Dog Training:
Training Consultation → Private Training Session
Behaviour Assessment → Behaviour Modification Program
Pet Boarding:
Boarding Trial Night → Extended Boarding Stay
Facility Tour & Meet → All boarding services
Regular Services
What Are Regular Services?
Regular Services are your core appointment types: grooming, training sessions, daycare days, walks. They are standalone services that customers book repeatedly.
When to Use Regular Services
Use Case | Example | Duration |
Grooming | Full Groom, Bath & Brush, Puppy Groom | 45 min - 3 hours |
Daycare | Full Day Daycare, Half Day Daycare | 4-10 hours |
Training | Private Session, Follow-Up Session | 30-90 min |
Walking | Solo Walk, Group Walk, Adventure Hike | 20-90 min |
Key Features
Feature | Description |
Flexible pricing | Fixed price, variable ("from $X"), or tiered by size |
Multi-pet discounts | Automatic percentage discounts for 2+ pets |
Timing shown to customers | Show a range such as "90-120 min" in place of the exact duration |
Fixed Start Time | One set start time a day. For several set times, use sessions with Fixed start times |
Recurring patterns | Weekly, fortnightly, or custom recurrence |
Initial linking | Require first-visit service before booking |
Configuration Options
Pricing:
Fixed price: $100 for all bookings
Variable price: "from $100" with adjustment at completion
Size-tiered: Separate services for Small/Medium/Large
Duration:
Fixed: 90 minutes exactly
Shown to customers: "90-120 minutes" with Timing shown to customers. The booking uses the Service Duration
Buffer time: 15 minutes before/after for setup/cleanup
Availability:
All day: Book anytime during working hours
Fixed times: one start time a day with Fixed Start Time, or set times through sessions with Fixed start times
Team-specific: Only certain team members offer this service
Eligibility:
Breed restrictions: Certain breeds only
Weight limits: Under 25kg, over 25kg
Age requirements: Puppies under 6 months, senior dogs
Initial requirement: Must complete Initial first
Best Practices by Vertical
Grooming:
Full Groom (Small) - from $130 - 1h 15mFull Groom (Medium) - from $145 - 1h 30mFull Groom (Large) - from $180 - 2hFull Groom (X-Large) - from $245 - 2h 30m
Use variable pricing for coat condition flexibility
Create size variants for different durations
Add 15-30 min buffer for cleanup
Daycare:
Full Day Daycare - $65 - Full DayHalf Day Daycare - $40 - Half DayPuppy Socialisation - $55 - 3 hours
Use fixed pricing for predictability
For one drop-off time, use Fixed Start Time. For a drop-off range, set A window under Times customers see (previously Service Windows). To hide the clock and show Morning / Afternoon, select A message instead of a time. See How do I show Morning or Afternoon instead of clock times?.
Link to Daycare Assessment Initial service
Training:
Private Training Session - $100 - 60 minFollow-Up Session - $75 - 45 minBehaviour Consultation - $150 - 90 min
Fixed pricing builds trust
Offer package bundles for commitment
Link to Training Consultation Initial service
Walking:
Solo Walk (30 min) - $25 - 30 minGroup Walk (60 min) - $35 - 60 minAdventure Hike - $55 - 90 min
Simple, clear pricing
Consider multi-pet discounts
Regular recurrence patterns are key
Stay Services
What Are Stay Services?
Stay Services are purpose-built for multi-day boarding. Unlike Regular Services (single appointments), Stay Services handle overnight stays with check-in/check-out and nightly pricing.
Why Stay Services Exist
Regular appointments do not handle boarding well:
Aspect | Regular Service | Stay Service |
Duration | Hours (single day) | Days and nights (multi-day) |
Pricing | Per service | Number of nights or Duration-based |
Time handling | Start time + duration | Check-in & Check-out Windows |
Capacity | Single time slot | All nights of the stay |
Key features
Feature | Description |
Pricing Mode | Number of nights (hotel) or Duration-based (24-hour periods) |
Check-in & Check-out Windows | From / Until per side. Same values lock the pet owner picker |
Spillover pricing | On Duration-based only: leftover hours after full 24-hour periods |
Multi-night capacity | Checks availability for the whole stay |
Stay add-ons | Attach extras: meds, playtime, departure groom |
Windows do not add an early or late fee. Extra $ is Duration-based spillover, an invoice line, or an add-on.
Pricing
On Pricing & Payments, set Pricing Mode:
Number of nights - enter Rate per night (and Daycare rate (same-day stays) if you take day stays)
Duration-based - 24-hour periods, optional per-day tiers and spillover
See Stay pricing.
Check-in and check-out windows
Open Duration & Timing → Check-in & Check-out Windows. Pet owners can only pick inside the band. Staff New Stay stays editable.
Capacity Management
Multi-Night Capacity Checks:
When a pet books a 5-night stay, Petboost checks kennel capacity for ALL 5 nights. If any single night is full, the booking cannot proceed.
This prevents overbooking on busy nights (e.g., holidays) even when other nights have availability.
Stay Add-Ons
Attach extras specific to boarding:
Medication administration (per-day fee)
Extra playtime session (per-day or per-stay)
Grooming on departure day (per-stay)
Photo/video updates (per-stay)
Special diet meal (per-day)
Best Practices
Standard Boarding:
Overnight Boarding - $55/night (Number of nights)- Check-in window: 14:00-17:00- Check-out window: 10:00-12:00
Extended Daycare (overnight):
Extended Daycare Stay - $65/night- Includes daycare access- Check-in: 7am-6pm (flexible)- Check-out: 7am-6pm (flexible)
Luxury Boarding:
VIP Suite - $85/night- Private suite- Two playtime sessions included- Webcam access- Bedtime treat included
Add-On Services
What Are Add-On Services?
Add-On Services are revenue boosters that attach to Regular, Stay, or Initial services. They cannot be booked alone; they always accompany a "parent" service.
When to Use Add-Ons
Use Case | Example | Typical Price |
Grooming extras | Nail Trim, Teeth Brushing, Blueberry Facial | $10-25 |
Daycare extras | Extra Playtime, Training Session, Photo Updates | $10-30 |
Boarding extras | Medication Admin, Special Diet, Bedtime Treat | $5-35/day |
Convenience | Pet Taxi Pickup, Early Drop-off, Express Service | $15-50 |
How Add-Ons Work
Customer selects a main service (Full Groom)
Relevant add-ons appear in booking flow
Customer taps to add (Nail Trim, Teeth Brushing)
Price updates automatically
The appointment shows the add-ons icon on the calendar
Staff sees exactly what was requested
Key Features
Feature | Description |
Uber Eats-style upselling | Add-ons shown during booking flow |
Add-on Pairing | Show an add-on only with the services you pick |
Visual staff reminders | Add-ons icon on calendar cards; each add-on named on Mission Control cards |
Clear price breakdown | Itemised on invoice and receipt |
Per-pet control | Add for all pets or specific pets |
Configuration Options
Pricing:
Fixed price: $15 for Nail Trim
Variable price: "from $10" for adjustable extras
Per-day (for stays): $5/day for medication admin
Duration: add-ons have no time slot and do not lengthen the appointment.
Linking:
All services: the default
Specific services: Only Show With Certain Services under Add-on Pairing (online booking only)
Best Practices
High-Value Add-Ons:
Blueberry Facial - $20De-Shedding Treatment - $35Flea & Tick Treatment - $25
Convenience Add-Ons:
Pet Taxi Pickup - $15Pet Taxi Dropoff - $15Early Drop-off - $10Late Pickup - $10
Care Add-Ons (for boarding):
Medication Administration - $5/daySpecial Diet Meal - $5/dayExtra Playtime - $15/sessionCuddle Time - $10/sessionPhoto Updates - $5/stay
Revenue Impact
10-30% revenue increase from upselling (Accenture)
Checkout upsell ("second chance") captures additional conversions
Zero effort from staff; customers self-serve
Course templates (group programmes)
What are course templates?
A course template is the blueprint for a multi-lesson group programme: puppy school, scentwork, obedience. You create it on Courses, not on Services.
Do not create a Regular or Lesson service for a group class. The template creates the lesson service. Staff enrol from Courses → New → Enrol pet(s) or Manage → Enrol Pet. The Appointments New Appointment form does not list courses.
Key concepts
Concept | Description |
Course template | The programme design (6-week puppy basics) |
Course instance | A published run with real dates |
Enrolment | A pet added to that published run |
Lesson | One session inside the course |
Attendance | Which pets attended each lesson |
When to use courses
Puppy school
Group obedience (beginner, intermediate, advanced)
Specialty programmes (agility, scentwork, therapy dog)
Any fixed group programme with a class list
Use a Regular service for a single appointment, including 1:1 training. Use recurring appointments to repeat that one service for one pet. See Courses versus services.
Course lifecycle
Go to Courses and select New then New Course Template.
Select New then Publish New Course and set the start date.
Enrol pets with New then Enrol pet(s), or Manage then Enrol Pet.
Track capacity and mark attendance on each lesson.
Packages (Prepaid Bundles)
What Are Packages?
Packages are prepaid bundles of services sold at a volume discount. Customers buy upfront, credits are deducted automatically at checkout.
Key Features
Feature | Description |
Self-service purchase | Customers buy 24/7 through booking portal |
Coffee-card tracking | Visual stamp display of used/remaining credits |
Auto credit deduction | Credits applied automatically at checkout |
Multi-pet sharing | Eligible family pets on one owner account can use the same credits |
Transaction history | Full audit trail of all package activity |
Common Package Types
Dog Walking:
10-Walk Pack - $225 (save $25)20-Walk Pack - $420 (save $80)
Daycare:
10-Day Pack - $550 (save $100)20-Day Pack - $1,000 (save $300)
Grooming:
5-Groom Pack - $600 (save $50)10-Groom Pack - $1,150 (save $150)
Training:
6-Session Pack - $480 (save $120)10-Session Pack - $750 (save $250)
Revenue Impact
30-50% higher customer lifetime value
Prepaid cash flow before services delivered
Package customers book more frequently
Reduced churn; commitment already made
Service Type Decision Guide
Which Type Should I Use?
Scenario | Use This Type |
First-time visit assessment | Initial |
Standard single appointment | Regular |
Multi-day overnight boarding | Stay |
Extra that enhances a main service | Add-on |
Puppy school, scentwork, or group class | Courses (create a course template; do not add a Regular service) |
Prepaid bundle with volume discount | Package |
Common Mistakes
Mistake | Better Approach |
Using Regular for overnight stays | Use Stay for proper capacity and pricing |
Creating boarding as "long appointment" | Use Stay for check-in/check-out handling |
Making nail trim only a Regular, or only an Add-on | Use both: keep an Add-on for extras during a groom, and create a separate Regular if clients should also book a standalone drop-in. Service type cannot be changed after you create the service. |
Creating a Regular service or a recurring appointment for a group class | Go to Courses, create a New Course Template, then Publish New Course. Enrol from Courses, not New Appointment. |
Selling individual sessions when bundles make sense | Create Packages for prepaid credits |
Integration Between Types
How Types Work Together
Initial Service (Daycare Assessment) ↓ gates access toRegular Service (Full Day Daycare) ← enhanced byAdd-on Services (Medication Admin, Extra Playtime) ← bundled intoPackage (10-Day Daycare Pack)
Course Template (6-Week Puppy School) ↓ createsCourse Instance (Fridays starting May 31) ↓ includesLessons (Week 1, Week 2, ... Week 6) ← tracksAttendance (which puppies attended)
Stay Service (Overnight Boarding) ← requiresInitial Service (Boarding Trial Night) ← enhanced byAdd-on Services (Meds, Grooming on Departure)
Related Guides
Getting Started with Services - Create your first service
Pricing Guide - All pricing models including stays
Add-ons Guide - Deep dive into upselling
Courses Overview - Group programme management
Packages Guide - Prepaid bundles
FAQ - Common questions answered