Create a booking

Create the appointment once and Barkway uses it to keep the diary, pricing and invoice in sync.

Create the booking

1. Click New Booking

   From Dashboard or Bookings, choose New Booking.

2. Choose the pet

   Pick the pet you are booking in. If the pet or client is new, use the New Pet or New Client shortcuts in the Who step.

3. Pick the date and time

   Choose when the appointment should start. Barkway checks business opening hours, the groomer's working hours when set, and existing bookings as you go. Times outside working hours show as Off in the availability grid.

4. Assign the groomer

   Barkway selects you by default. If your workspace has more than one groomer, choose the person taking the appointment.

5. Select services

   Choose one core service and any add-ons. Barkway updates the total and duration from your service setup.

   

6. Add a discount if needed

   Enter a fixed amount, such as 10, or a percentage, such as 10%.

7. Record a deposit if needed

   If deposits are enabled, Barkway shows the required deposit from your settings. See Take a deposit.

8. Save the booking

   Choose Create Booking. The appointment is added to your schedule and its invoice is created.

Automatic booking contracts

When you create a client booking, Barkway attaches all enabled default contract templates with saved content. Review the defaults in the booking form and use Additional contract for an optional non-default template. Leaving that choice blank does not remove the defaults. No contracts attach automatically if contracts are disabled or no eligible defaults exist.

Clients can review and sign the attached documents in the portal after the booking is created. Signing does not block creation or confirmation. See Manage contracts.

If the time clashes

If the appointment overlaps another booking, falls outside opening hours, or is outside the groomer's working hours, Barkway suggests the next available time. Accept the suggestion or choose a different slot.

Smart Scheduler

The Smart Scheduler helps place appointments without creating awkward gaps or unnecessarily late finishes. It considers opening hours, each groomer's working hours when set, buffer time between grooms, your preferred booking window and the rest of the diary.

To change scheduling behaviour, go to Settings → Bookings and adjust the scheduler type (Smart or Normal), appointment buffer and preferred booking window.

Invoice behaviour

Barkway creates an invoice when you save the booking. If you edit the booking later, Barkway refreshes the invoice so the services and prices stay aligned with the appointment.

Client notifications

Creating a staff booking does not automatically send a confirmation message. Accepting a portal request has its own Request accepted notification setting. Barkway sends reminders and thank-you messages only when you enable them under Settings → Communication. See Configure client notifications.