The Complete Boarding Facility Setup Checklist
Double-booking a kennel during peak season is every boarding facility's nightmare. Most software shows you a daily count, not which specific kennels are occupied on which specific nights.
This guide walks you through setting up Petboost step-by-step for boarding operations.
Quick Setup Checklist
Kennels (Resources) Setup:
- Create each kennel as a resource (capacity: 1)
- Organize by type (Standard, Deluxe, Suite)
- Set working hours (often 24/7)
- Assign boarding services to kennels
Services Setup:
- Create Boarding service (Type: Stay)
- Configure 24-hour billing periods
- Set up tiered pricing (stay longer, save more)
- Create add-ons (extra walks, grooming)
Compliance Setup:
- Enable vaccination requirements (Bordetella, etc.)
- Configure expiry reminders
- Set up document upload capability
Automation Setup:
- Enable Pre-Hold Funds
- Enable Auto-Start/Complete
- Configure care note templates
Self-Service Setup:
- Enable self-service booking
- Set notice period (48-72 hours recommended)
- Share booking link
1. Stay Appointments for Multi-Night Bookings
The Problem
Regular appointments have a start time and an end time. But boarding doesn't work that way. A dog comes in Friday afternoon, stays Friday night, Saturday night, Sunday night, and leaves Monday morning. That's three nights, four calendar days. Most booking software can't model this properly.
How Petboost Solves It
Stay appointment type — Purpose-built for multi-night stays.
24-hour period billing — Automatic calculation of billable nights.
Calendar visualisation — How stays appear across multiple days.
Extensions and early pickups — Adjusting mid-stay is straightforward.
Pro tip: The calendar view for stays is beautiful. You can see exactly which kennels are occupied across the entire month. Peak season planning becomes possible weeks or months in advance.
The Outcome
Stay appointments mean your software finally understands multi-night bookings the way you do. Three nights is three nights, not some hacked workaround.
2. Per-Kennel Capacity: Zero Double-Bookings
The Problem
You have 15 kennels. During school holidays, every single one matters. And the fear is always the same: Did someone already book that kennel? Is there overlap? Will I have to call a client and deliver bad news?
How Petboost Solves It
Automatic conflict detection — System prevents overlapping bookings.
Calendar by resource — See exactly what's booked where.
Visual occupancy grid — Months of visibility at a glance.
Gap filling — See one-night gaps that could be sold.
100% occupancy visibility, months ahead — Know exactly where your gaps are and where you're full.
Pro tip: Create different kennel types: Standard, Deluxe, Suite. Clients can choose when booking. Premium kennels at premium prices, and the system tracks capacity for each tier separately.
The Outcome
Per-kennel capacity means double-booking is literally impossible. The system knows what you have, and it won't let you overcommit.
3. Smart Tiered Pricing: Stay Longer, Save More
The Problem
Pricing boarding is tricky. You want to reward longer stays, but manually calculating tiered rates is a headache. And if your software can't do it, you're either losing money on long stays or discouraging them entirely.
How Petboost Solves It
Tiered pricing setup — Different rates for different stay lengths.
Automatic tier detection — System knows a 7-night stay is different from a 2-night.
Visual pricing breakdown — Clients see exactly what they're paying for.
Peak season pricing — Higher rates during holidays.
Multi-pet discounts — Second dog from same family at reduced rate.
Pro tip: The "stay longer, save more" psychology is powerful. When clients see that nights 8-14 are discounted, they might extend a week stay to two weeks. You've just doubled your booking with one pricing tier.
The Outcome
Smart pricing means longer stays are rewarded automatically. Better for client retention, better for your revenue per booking.
4. Vaccination Compliance: Built In, Not Bolted On
The Problem
Boarding facilities live and die by vaccination compliance. One kennel cough outbreak can shut you down, destroy your reputation, and cost you months of recovery. Most software treats vaccinations as an afterthought.
How Petboost Solves It
Required vaccinations per service — Bordetella mandatory for boarding.
Booking blocks — Non-compliant pets can't book.
Client-side reminders — Automated emails before expiry.
Document uploads — Vaccination records stored in pet profile.
Pro tip: Clients can upload their vaccination records directly to their pet's profile. No more chasing PDFs via email or photos via text. It's all in one place, attached to the pet.
The Outcome
Vaccination compliance isn't optional and it isn't manual. Every dog in your facility is verified automatically.
5. Flexible Handover Times
The Problem
Most boarding software treats arrival and departure as all-day events. But you need specifics. What time is the dog arriving? What time are they leaving? Without precision, you're guessing staffing, meal schedules, and kennel turnover.
How Petboost Solves It
Check-in time slots — Defined arrival windows.
Checkout time slots — Defined departure windows.
Buffer time between bookings — Cleaning and turnover.
Early/late fee options — Premium for outside-hours handovers.
Pro tip: Offer "early drop-off" as an add-on service with an extra fee. Clients who need to drop at 6am pay for the premium, and it's automatically added to their invoice.
The Outcome
Exact times, not vague days. You know when every dog is arriving, when they're leaving, and you can staff accordingly.
6. Care Notes, Photos, and Professional Updates
The Problem
Pet owners trust you with their family member. They're anxious, especially for first-time boarders. And right now, how do they know their pet is okay? Radio silence until pickup.
How Petboost Solves It
Daily care notes — Staff notes captured per day.
Photo documentation — Images attached to the stay.
Activity logs — Feeding, medication, walks logged.
Client-visible updates — What owners see in their portal.
Pro tip: A photo a day keeps anxiety away. Clients talk about this. They share the photos. They tell their friends. It's marketing that happens naturally when you provide great service.
The Outcome
Care notes and photos transform the boarding experience. Clients feel connected, you look professional, and pickup day becomes a celebration.
Step-by-Step: Create Your Kennels
Navigate to: Resources → Add New → New Resource
For each kennel:
- Resource Name: "Kennel 1" (or "Suite A")
- Resource Type: Location
- Capacity: 1
- Working Hours: 24/7 Available
Example Kennel Structure
KENNELS:
├── Standard Kennel 1-10 (Capacity: 1 each)
├── Deluxe Suite 1-5 (Capacity: 1 each)
└── Family Suite 1-2 (Capacity: 2-3)
7. Lifecycle Automation
✅ Pre-Hold Funds: Required
✅ Auto-Start: Enabled
✅ Auto-Complete: Enabled
✅ Auto-Finalise: Enabled
✅ Auto-Pay: Enabled
Key Stats for Pet Boarding
| Metric | Impact |
|---|---|
| Occupancy visibility | 100% months ahead |
| Double-bookings | Zero |
| Vaccination compliance | Automatic |
Your First Week Checklist
Day 1-2: Create kennels as resources Day 3-4: Create Stay service with tiered pricing Day 5-7: Enable self-service, test booking
Start Your Free Trial
Ready to set up your boarding facility? Start your free trial at petboost.app/quick. No credit card required.
