Question 1

First Steps After Creating Your Account

Accepted Answer

Welcome to HoodServe HoodServe is an all-in-one CRM and operations platform built for service businesses — cleaning, lawn care, handyman, personal care, and more. This guide walks you through the first things to set up so you can start running your business from day one. Y Read the full guide at https://hoodserve.com/docs/owner-getting-started

Question 2

Welcome to Your Employee Portal

Accepted Answer

What is the Employee Portal? The Employee Portal is your personal dashboard inside HoodServe. It gives you everything you need to do your job: your schedule, bookings, responsibilities, referral program, and payroll info — all in one place, from any device. H Read the full guide at https://hoodserve.com/docs/employee-portal-overview

Question 3

Gift Cards — Sell & Manage Them

Accepted Answer

What Are Gift Cards in HoodServe? Gift cards let you sell your services as a redeemable gift. A client pays upfront, receives a branded digital card with a unique code, and a friend or family member uses that code to book any eligible service. Read the full guide at https://hoodserve.com/docs/owner-gift-cards

Question 4

Coupons — Create Discounts & Promotions

Accepted Answer

What Are Coupons? Coupons are discount codes your clients can apply when paying an invoice through their client portal. They can be a percentage off the total, a flat dollar amount off, or a display-only promotional card (like "Free Add-On") that you honor manually. Read the full guide at https://hoodserve.com/docs/owner-coupons

Question 5

Setting Up Your Public Website

Accepted Answer

Your Website Is Included Every HoodServe account includes a fully functional public website for your business — no separate hosting or WordPress needed. It's automatically branded with your business name, colors, and logo. Accessing Website Settings Go to Website in the sidebar. T Read the full guide at https://hoodserve.com/docs/owner-website-setup

Question 6

Setting Up Referral Programs

Accepted Answer

Two Referral Programs, One Settings Page HoodServe has two separate referral programs — one for clients and one for employees. Both are managed from Settings → Referrals. Client Referral Program Clients get a personal referral link they can share with friends and neighbors. Whe Read the full guide at https://hoodserve.com/docs/owner-referral-programs

Question 7

Welcome to Your Client Portal

Accepted Answer

What is the Client Portal? The Client Portal is your personal online account with your service provider. From one place you can view upcoming appointments, pay invoices, sign estimates, share your referral link, manage your documents, and more — no phone calls needed. H Read the full guide at https://hoodserve.com/docs/client-portal-overview

Question 8

Viewing Your Bookings & Appointments

Accepted Answer

Where to Find Your Bookings Go to the Bookings section of your portal to see all your scheduled and past appointments. Read the full guide at https://hoodserve.com/docs/client-portal-bookings

Question 9

Invoices & Paying Online

Accepted Answer

Where to Find Your Invoices Go to Invoices in your portal. You'll see a list of all invoices — open (unpaid), paid, and overdue. I Read the full guide at https://hoodserve.com/docs/client-portal-invoices-payments

Question 10

Estimates & Quotes

Accepted Answer

What Is an Estimate? An estimate (also called a quote) is a price proposal your service provider sends before any work begins. It details what services will be performed and what they will cost. You review and approve it — once approved, it can convert into a booking or contract. W Read the full guide at https://hoodserve.com/docs/client-portal-estimates

Question 11

Contracts & Service Agreements

Accepted Answer

What Is a Contract? Some service providers require a signed agreement before beginning work — especially for recurring services, commercial accounts, or large projects. Your portal lets you review and digitally sign contracts without printing anything. W Read the full guide at https://hoodserve.com/docs/client-portal-contracts

Question 12

Referring Friends & Earning Rewards

Accepted Answer

How the Client Referral Program Works Love your service? Share it — and get rewarded for it. When someone uses your referral link to book their first service, you earn a reward (discount, credit, or free service — depending on what your provider offers). Finding Your Referral Link Log in to your client portal. Go  Read the full guide at https://hoodserve.com/docs/client-portal-referrals

Question 13

Documents & Files

Accepted Answer

What Are Portal Documents? Your service provider may share files with you through the portal — service reports, warranties, certificates of insurance, photos from completed work, or any other document relevant to your account. Accessing Your Documents Log in to your client portal. Go to Documents in the sidebar. Y Read the full guide at https://hoodserve.com/docs/client-portal-documents

Question 14

Gift Cards

Accepted Answer

Buying a Gift Card Gift cards are a great way to give someone the gift of a clean home, fresh lawn, or any service your provider offers. You can buy gift cards from the provider's public website — look for a "Gift Cards" link in the navigation or footer. H Read the full guide at https://hoodserve.com/docs/client-portal-gift-cards

Question 15

Account Settings & Password

Accepted Answer

What Can You Update? Your client portal account is managed by your service provider. If you need to update your contact details (address, phone, email), contact them directly — they can update your account from their admin panel. Changing Your Password Password changes are handled by your provider. C Read the full guide at https://hoodserve.com/docs/client-portal-account-settings

Question 16

Getting Help as a Client

Accepted Answer

Who to Contact for What IssueContact Reschedule or cancel a bookingYour service provider Invoice discrepancy or billing questionYour service provider Can't log in / forgot passwordYour service provider Contract questionYour service provider Referral reward not appliedYour service provider Portal is down or showing an e Read the full guide at https://hoodserve.com/docs/client-portal-getting-help

Question 17

Settings: What to Configure First

Accepted Answer

Getting to Settings Go to Settings in the sidebar. Settings are organized into tabs — work through each one when you first set up your account. B Read the full guide at https://hoodserve.com/docs/owner-settings-setup

Question 18

Running a Multi-Location Business

Accepted Answer

When to Use Locations Use the Locations feature if you: Operate from multiple physical offices or branches Have employees assigned to specific service areas Want to show multiple location cards on your public website Run a mobile/on-site business with multiple service zones Adding a Location Go to Locations in the side Read the full guide at https://hoodserve.com/docs/owner-multi-location

Question 19

Notifications & Automated Emails

Accepted Answer

How HoodServe Communicates HoodServe sends automated emails and in-app bell notifications to you, your team, and your clients when important events happen. You control exactly which notifications are active. Read the full guide at https://hoodserve.com/docs/owner-notifications

Question 20

Building Your Services Catalog

Accepted Answer

Why Your Services Catalog Matters Your services catalog is the foundation of HoodServe. Services you define here appear on your public website, populate invoice line items, drive booking forms, and filter employee assignments. Setting it up correctly from the start saves time everywhere else. Read the full guide at https://hoodserve.com/docs/owner-services-catalog

Question 21

Your Schedule & Bookings

Accepted Answer

Viewing Your Schedule Go to Schedule in the sidebar to see all bookings assigned to you. Read the full guide at https://hoodserve.com/docs/employee-schedule-bookings

Question 22

Completing Jobs & Responsibilities

Accepted Answer

Marking a Booking as Complete After finishing a job, your manager will mark the booking as completed from their admin panel. You don't need to do anything — the status update will reflect on your schedule automatically. R Read the full guide at https://hoodserve.com/docs/employee-completing-jobs

Question 23

Employee Referral Program

Accepted Answer

Earn Bonuses by Referring New Clients If your company has the Referral Program enabled, you can earn cash bonuses every time someone you refer books their first service. It's free money for sharing a link you believe in. Finding Your Referral Link Log in to the employee portal. Go to Referrals in the sidebar. Read the full guide at https://hoodserve.com/docs/employee-referral-program

Question 24

Timesheets & Hours

Accepted Answer

What Are Timesheets? Timesheets let you (and your employer) track the hours you work. Your manager uses this data to calculate your pay accurately. Viewing Your Timesheets Go to Timesheets in the sidebar. You'll see a list of your recorded clock-in and clock-out entries. Read the full guide at https://hoodserve.com/docs/employee-timesheets

Question 25

Your Profile & Account Settings

Accepted Answer

What Can You Update? Your manager controls most of your account settings, but some things can be updated from your employee profile (ask your manager to update them if the option isn't available directly to you): Profile photo — shown on the company's public website Team section Bio / description — a short paragraph ab Read the full guide at https://hoodserve.com/docs/employee-profile-settings

Question 26

Installing the HoodServe Employee App

Accepted Answer

No App Store Required HoodServe is a Progressive Web App (PWA) — it installs directly from your browser with no App Store or Play Store download needed. It works on iPhone, Android, and desktop computers. I Read the full guide at https://hoodserve.com/docs/employee-install-app

Question 27

Understanding Your Pay & Bonuses

Accepted Answer

How Pay Works in HoodServe Your employer manages payroll through the admin panel. You don't process or submit pay yourself — but your portal gives you visibility into what's been recorded so there are no surprises on payday. W Read the full guide at https://hoodserve.com/docs/employee-understanding-pay

Question 28

Inventory & Work Orders

Accepted Answer

What Are Work Orders? A work order is a formal record of a job that requires specific materials or parts — common in handyman, HVAC, plumbing, or equipment repair businesses. Your manager creates work orders and assigns them to you. V Read the full guide at https://hoodserve.com/docs/employee-inventory-work-orders

Question 29

Getting Help & Support

Accepted Answer

Who to Contact for What IssueContact Wrong booking time or addressYour manager Missing timesheet entryYour manager Password resetYour manager Referral bonus not showingYour manager App not installingTry a different browser; contact HoodServe support Portal is down or showing an errorHoodServe platform support Contactin Read the full guide at https://hoodserve.com/docs/employee-getting-help

Question 30

Managing Your Clients

Accepted Answer

Adding a Client Go to Clients → New Client. Enter their name, email, phone, and service address. Optionally assign them to a location (if you operate from multiple locations). Click Save. A welcome email with portal login credentials is sent automatically. C Read the full guide at https://hoodserve.com/docs/owner-managing-clients

Question 31

Managing Leads & Website Inquiries

Accepted Answer

Where Do Leads Come From? When someone fills out the booking form or estimate request form on your public website, HoodServe captures it as a Lead. You get notified immediately (bell notification + email) so you can follow up fast. Viewing Your Leads Go to Leads in the sidebar. Read the full guide at https://hoodserve.com/docs/owner-managing-leads

Question 32

Creating & Managing Bookings

Accepted Answer

Creating a Booking Go to Bookings → New Booking. Select the client (or create a new one inline). Choose the service and optionally a service variant. Set the date and time. Assign an employee (optional — you can leave it unassigned and fill it in later). Select a location if you operate from multiple branches. Add Read the full guide at https://hoodserve.com/docs/owner-bookings-scheduling

Question 33

Invoicing & Getting Paid

Accepted Answer

Creating an Invoice Go to Invoices → New Invoice. Select the client. Add line items — services, quantities, and prices. Pull from your services catalog or enter manually. Set the due date. Add any notes visible to the client (e.g., payment instructions, thank-you message). Opt Read the full guide at https://hoodserve.com/docs/owner-invoicing-payments

Question 34

Sending Estimates & Contracts

Accepted Answer

What Is an Estimate? An estimate is a price quote you send to a potential client before any work begins. The client reviews it in their portal and either approves or declines it. Once approved, you can convert it into a booking and eventually an invoice. Creating an Estimate Go to Estimates → New Estimate. S Read the full guide at https://hoodserve.com/docs/owner-estimates-contracts

Question 35

Managing Your Team

Accepted Answer

Adding an Employee Go to Employees → New Employee. Enter their name, email, phone, and role. Set their employment type (Full-time, Part-time, Contractor). Optionally assign them to a location (for multi-location businesses). Add an optional bio and profile photo — these appear on your public website's Team section. Cli Read the full guide at https://hoodserve.com/docs/owner-managing-employees

Question 36

Payroll & Tips

Accepted Answer

How Payroll Works in HoodServe HoodServe is not a full payroll processor (like Gusto or ADP) — it is a payroll data tracker. It records hours, tips, and referral bonuses so you have accurate numbers to bring to your payroll process, whether you pay manually, via bank transfer, or through an external payroll service. V Read the full guide at https://hoodserve.com/docs/owner-payroll-tips

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HoodServe Support