Getting Started: First Booking in PetDrivr

This is the fastest path from new account to confirmed booking. Start with guided setup, then use the dashboard checklist to finish anything you skipped.

Step 1: Use Guided Setup

After you confirm your signup email, PetDrivr opens Guided setup. Choose the closest match for how you work and PetDrivr fills in starter profile and rate defaults.

Choose your main transport type: ground transport, flight nanny, breeder delivery, rescue, local pet taxi, or mixed services.
Choose how you usually price jobs: starter defaults, per mile, flat route price, or hourly/local.
Add your business name, display name, phone number, and service area.
Edit starter booking terms or click helper buttons to add deposit, cancellation, pickup timing, and payment notes.
Choose what you want to set up first: booking link, calculator, profile, or route.

Step 2: Complete Your Profile

Go to Settings → Profile to refine the business basics, credentials, service types, photos, and contact details that guided setup started for you.

Set your display/business name and phone.
Set your profile URL slug.
Add a clear profile photo, a short bio, credentials, service area, accepted pet types, and transport details clients care about.
Add up to 6 gallery photos of your vehicle, crates, setup, or other business details that help pet owners trust you.
Choose your accepted pet types so your public profile shows helpful chips such as Dogs, Cats, and Birds & more.
Click View public profile to see exactly what pet owners will see.

Step 3: Set Your Rate Profile

Go to Calculator and review how you price trips: per mile, by time, or flat rate.

Start with Simple mode and enter the basic rate you use most often.
Use Advanced mode for stop fees, large-pet surcharges, fuel surcharge, or minimum charge.
If you used guided setup, your starter rates may already be filled in. Adjust them before sharing quotes.
Save your rates so PetDrivr can suggest prices on bookings and routes.

Step 4: Post Your First Route

Go to Routes → + Post a route and publish a real route you expect to run.

Add city/state origin, destination, travel date(s), and slots.
Add a pickup or drop-off radius if you serve nearby clients, such as within 30 miles.
Use Contact for quote as default.
Leave it visible in search unless you only want to share the direct link.

Step 5: Share Your Route

From your route card, click Share. Copy the post text and paste it into Facebook groups, DMs, text, or Instagram.

Keep the default quote-first copy.
Add custom price text only if you want to.
Always include your PetDrivr link.

Step 6: Handle Booking Intake

When a client submits your form, review the basic trip, pet, and owner details in Bookings.

Check pickup/dropoff, dates, pet basics, and owner contact information.
Keep the first request simple. PetDrivr asks for optional preparation details after confirmation.
Use internal notes for follow-up details.
Send a quote, confirm directly, or decline the request.
If you send a quote, the client can accept it from their private status page. You confirm the booking after they accept.

Step 7: Add a Booking Manually

For phone calls, log the lead while you are talking. Go to Bookings and open Got a call? Log it fast.

Enter the client name, phone, route, and date in the quick strip so the request does not get lost.
Log every booking through PetDrivr, even phone calls, so automated confirmation, reminder, and review emails fire for every client.
After the call, open the booking and finish the pet details, price, and notes.
Use Bookings → + New booking when you want the full operator form immediately. Search for an existing client first when they are already in your database.
PetDrivr creates the booking, links the client, and keeps the pet profile for future bookings.

Step 8: Build Your Client Database

Use Clients to keep records clean and reusable.

Add clients manually with + Add client.
Import existing clients via Import CSV.
Create new bookings directly from a client record.

Step 9: Confirm and Track

Move bookings through statuses and keep calendar accurate.

Pending → Quoted → Accepted → Confirmed → In transit → Complete.
After confirmation, PetDrivr emails the owner a short trip-prep form for optional crate, medication, special-care, and travel-note details.
Use Calendar view for upcoming trips.
Archive old routes and keep active corridors fresh.