Enable the client portal

The client portal lets clients view bookings, manage booking requests and pets, pay eligible invoices, review and sign documents, and update their profile. Returning clients sign in with an email link. New clients can enter through your public booking request page without you first creating or inviting them.

Step 1: Turn the portal on

Go to Settings → Portal.
Turn on Enable client portal globally and save.
Check your business details and branding before sharing the portal.

Turning off the global portal setting blocks clients from using portal pages.

Step 2: Control access per client

From the client area, you can turn off portal access for an individual client or revoke their active sessions. Revoking sessions signs the client out; they can sign in again with a fresh email link if access remains enabled. Disabling access prevents sign-in until you enable it again.

For an existing client, check that their saved email address is correct. Saving an email address does not send an invitation automatically.

Step 3: Enable booking requests and services

In Settings → Portal, turn on Allow clients to request bookings and save.
Go to Services and open a service to edit it.
Under Client Booking Requests, turn on Available for client booking requests and save.
Check business opening hours, service durations and groomer working hours when set.

Clients choose exactly one core service and can add optional add-ons. For standalone extras such as nail clips, set up a suitable core option. See Set up your services and pricing.

A booking request needs your acceptance before it becomes a confirmed appointment. See Review booking requests.

In Settings → Portal, use Open or share your client portal to copy the returning-client portal link. It uses your workspace address plus /portal/, for example https://yourbusiness.barkway.app/portal/.

Returning clients enter the email on their client record and request a one-time sign-in link. They do not need a password. Magic Link Expiry (minutes) controls how long that login link works.

To let completely new clients request an appointment, enable Allow new clients to request bookings and use Share your booking request page. That link ends in /portal/request. Follow Public booking requests for setup, sharing, verification and the 30-minute slot hold.

Step 5: Add payments and documents where needed

Set up card payments to let clients pay eligible invoices. Deposits and saved cards explains the separate setting for collecting a deposit before an online request is submitted.

Booking contracts appear as Documents in the portal. All eligible default contracts attach when a booking is created, including when you accept a request. Signing is separate from request submission and appointment confirmation.

Check the client experience

Open your portal link in a private browser window.
For returning-client sign-in, use a test client record with an email you control and request a sign-in link.
Check the business branding and the client's bookings, invoices, documents and pets.
If public requests are enabled, open the public booking link while signed out and check the available services and form. A new client does not need to be added manually first.
If you submit a test request, follow verification and any required deposit step, then check Bookings → Requests. Only acceptance creates a confirmed booking.

Troubleshooting

Client cannot sign in: check the email on their record and that their portal access is enabled. Ask them to check spam or request a fresh link. New clients should use the public booking request link.
Client cannot request a booking: check Allow clients to request bookings, client-bookable services, business opening hours and each groomer's working hours when set. New public requests also need Allow new clients to request bookings.
Branding looks wrong: review Settings → Branding and preview your portal theme.
Link does not work: copy the correct link from your own portal settings and check that the portal is enabled.

See What clients see for the full portal overview.