> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.mountmonitor.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Bookings

> How the public booking form works, including existing client matching

The public booking form is the intake page clients use to send work to your shop. It is **not** the Client Portal.

Clients open a link such as `app.mountmonitor.com/book/your-shop`. After they submit, the booking lands on your jobs board as **pending** for staff review.

## Set up your booking page

<Steps>
  <Step title="Build your price list first">
    Open **Settings**, then **Price List**. The mounts and services on the booking form come from this list.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Open Bookings settings">
    Go to **Settings**, then **Bookings**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Set your booking URL">
    Enter **Your Booking URL Slug** (lowercase letters, numbers, and hyphens). Save with **Generate** or **Update**. Your public link is `app.mountmonitor.com/book/` plus that slug.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Share the link or QR code">
    Use **Copy URL** or **Download QR**. Clients can scan it in the shop, or you can put the link on your website or social pages.
  </Step>
</Steps>

Optional booking page settings:

* **Hide pricing** hides prices and totals from clients on the form
* **Request address** shows or hides the address section
* **Disclaimer Text** appears at the bottom of the form
* Wildlife Resource Document collection, if you enable it, asks for WRD details on the form

<Note>
  Prices on the form are estimates. Clients are not charged when they submit. See [Deposits](/deposits).
</Note>

## What happens after a client submits

1. MountMonitor creates a pending job from the form.
2. You get a notification for the new booking.
3. The booking appears on your jobs board as **pending**.
4. Open the job and choose **Review Booking**. Check the client, items, and pricing, then accept or reject it.

You cannot take a payment on a pending booking. Accept it first, then collect money on the job.

## How existing clients are matched

MountMonitor tries to attach the booking to a client you already have.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Match on full name">
    The form name is compared in lowercase (first name, then last name) to clients already in your shop.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Confirm with email or phone">
    If a name matches, MountMonitor also needs the same email **or** the same phone number. If neither contact detail matches, it treats this as a different person with the same name.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Create a new client if needed">
    When there is no name match, or the name matches but email and phone do not, MountMonitor creates a new client from the form.
  </Step>
</Steps>

Ask returning clients to use the same name, email, and phone you already have on file. A different spelling or a new phone number can create a second client record.

## Booking form vs Client Portal

| Public booking form                        | Client Portal                                     |
| ------------------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------- |
| New intake from a shared link or QR code   | Existing clients checking jobs they already have  |
| Creates a **pending** job for staff review | Shows job status, invoices, and portal payments   |
| Does not charge the client today           | Clients can pay later when payments are connected |

## Related guides

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Deposits" icon="coins" href="/deposits">
    Why a booking can show a deposit without charging the card
  </Card>

  <Card title="Payments" icon="credit-card" href="/payments">
    How to collect money after you accept the booking
  </Card>
</CardGroup>