Initial setup, step by step

When you log into Bookinda for the first time, you have two paths: explore the app with demo data first, or jump straight into the setup wizard. Both end up in the same place: a working salon configuration. Pick whichever feels right.

Path A: Try first with demo data

If you want to play around before committing real numbers, install the demo set. You pick an industry and Bookinda creates fake services, customers, bookings, and reviews so you can click through everything safely.

Pick your industry

The demo data is industry-specific. The choices are:

• 💇 Hair salon
• 💅 Nail studio
• 🧖 Spa & Wellness
• ✂️ Barber shop
• 💄 Beauty salon
• 💆 Massage studio

The category you pick changes the demo services that get installed, not the underlying app behaviour. Pick the one closest to your business so the examples make sense.

What gets installed

A few minutes after you click Install, you'll have:

• A handful of typical services with realistic prices and durations
• 2-3 sample staff members
• 30-50 customer profiles
• 50+ past and upcoming appointments
• A few reviews

You can poke at all of it: open the calendar, drag bookings around, run a report, see how the POS works. Nothing here ends up on your bills.

Clear the demo when you're ready

When you've seen enough and want to start with your real data, go to Onboarding → Demo Mode and click Clear demo data and start setup. Bookinda removes everything that was generated and drops you into the setup wizard.

Path B: Jump into the setup wizard

If you'd rather skip the demo, click Start setup from the welcome screen. The wizard walks you through four steps. You can skip three of them and finish them later.

Step 1: Staff (required)

Add at least your own profile, plus any colleagues who will take bookings. Each staff member needs:

• Name
• Role (Owner, Manager, Reception, Staff)
• Email (optional but recommended so they can log in)

You can invite the rest of the team later from the Team menu.

Step 2: Working hours (skippable)

Set when the salon is open. The wizard pre-fills weekdays 9-18, Saturday 9-14, Sunday closed. Adjust to whatever your real schedule is. You can change this any time from Settings → Profile → Business Hours.

Step 3: Online booking (skippable)

Decide whether customers can book online from your salon's public page. Three quick toggles:

• Allow online bookings
• Require deposit
• Auto-confirm or manual approval

You can fine-tune everything later under Settings → Online Booking.

Step 4: Notifications (skippable)

Pick which events trigger emails and SMS to customers: booking confirmation, day-before reminder, cancellation, review request. Toggle on what you want, off what you don't.

Finish

That's it. The wizard saves and drops you into the dashboard. You'll still want to do these things in your first week:

1. Add your real services with correct prices and durations.
2. Invite your team if you didn't already.
3. Import existing customers (CSV) if you're moving from another tool. See AI Import.
4. Take your first real booking.

Which path should you pick?

• Demo first if you've never used a salon software before and want to feel out the workflow without making mistakes.
• Setup wizard first if you already know how booking software works and want a clean salon ready to take real bookings today.

Either way, none of this is permanent. You can re-run the setup, clear demo data, or change every setting later. The wizard just shortens the boring first hour.