Introduction & Overview
Goodstay is a modern, all-in-one management platform purpose-built for independent pet boarding facilities and kennels. Whether you run a small 10-run operation or a large multi-staff facility with daycare, grooming, and overnight boarding, Goodstay puts every tool you need into a single, easy-to-navigate system.
What Goodstay Manages
| Area | What You Can Do |
|---|---|
| Boarding & Daycare | Create reservations, check pets in and out, manage runs/suites |
| Pet Profiles | Track every pet's details, photos, vaccinations, and history |
| Owners | Maintain a full client database with contact details and notes |
| Invoicing | Generate, send, and accept payment on professional invoices |
| Staff | Invite team members, assign roles, track shifts and tasks |
| Health & Safety | Enforce vaccine requirements, track medications, send pre-check forms |
| Communications | Two-way messaging with clients, automated emails, report cards |
| Online Presence | Public landing page and online booking form at your own subdomain |
| Customer Portal | Self-service portal for clients to view reservations, invoices, and pets |
| Reports | Revenue, occupancy, customer, seasonal, and daycare analytics |
How the App Is Structured
Goodstay runs on a subdomain model. When you register your facility, you choose a unique URL handle (e.g., mypethotel), and your full management workspace lives at mypethotel.goodstay.com. Your public landing page and online booking form also live on that same subdomain, so clients and staff all use the same domain.
Staff access the management area (dashboard, reservations, etc.) by signing in at your subdomain.
Pet owners access the self-service Customer Portal atmypethotel.goodstay.com/portal/sign_in.
Creating Your Account
- Visit the Goodstay marketing site (e.g.,
goodstay.com). - Click Get Started or the sign-up button.
- You will be taken to the Registration page where you provide:
- Your name and email address
- A password (minimum 12 characters recommended)
- Your facility name — this becomes pre-filled as your subdomain handle
- Your desired subdomain (e.g.,
mypethotel) — this is checked for availability in real time as you type. Only lowercase letters, numbers, and hyphens are allowed. - An optional invite code if you've been given one (used for partner promotions and special offers).
- Submit the form. You are immediately signed in and taken to the Setup Wizard. Every new account starts with a 14-day free trial — no credit card required.
Your subdomain cannot be changed after registration, so choose it carefully. It becomes the address for everything: your management console, client portal, and public booking page.
Signing In
- Go to
yoursubdomain.goodstay.com. - Click Sign In.
- Enter your email and password, then click Sign In.
If you forget your password, click Forgot password? and enter your email. A password reset link will be sent to your inbox.
Signing Out
Click your name or avatar in the top navigation bar and select Sign Out.
Facility Setup Wizard
When you first create your account, Goodstay walks you through a three-step Setup Wizard to get your facility ready as quickly as possible:
- Step 1 — Facility Details: Basic information about your business
- Step 2 — First Space: Your first run, suite, or daycare group
- Step 3 — First Pet Owner (optional): Your first client record
You can skip any step and come back to complete it later from the Facility Settings page. However, you must at least add a space before you can create reservations.
Step 1 — Facility Details
Fill in:
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Facility Name | The legal or operating name of your business |
| Your main business email (shown to clients) | |
| Phone | Your main contact phone number |
| Address | Street address of your facility |
| City, State, ZIP | Physical location |
| Time Zone | Critical — all reservation dates and times display in this zone |
| Default Tax Rate | Sales tax percentage applied to invoices (e.g., 8.5 for 8.5%). Set to 0 if you don't charge tax. |
Click Next to proceed to Step 2.
Step 2 — First Space
Add your first boarding run, suite, or daycare group:
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Space Name | A short unique name, e.g., "Run 1", "Luxury Suite", "Daycare Yard A" |
| Type | Standard, Large, Suite, Puppy, or Daycare |
| Daily Rate | Your base nightly rate for boarding (or per-visit for daycare) |
| Capacity | How many pets can use this space simultaneously |
| Status | Available, Occupied, Cleaning, or Maintenance |
Space types explained:
- Standard — a regular boarding kennel run
- Large — a larger run for big or multiple dogs
- Suite — a premium room or suite (higher rate)
- Puppy — a smaller puppy-specific run
- Daycare — a group space that holds many dogs at once (capacity-based)
Step 3 — First Pet Owner (Optional)
Enter a client's information to create their first record:
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| First & Last Name | Client's full name |
| Their email address (used for invoices, the portal, and notifications) | |
| Phone | Their contact number |
| Address | Optional mailing address |
Click Complete Setup. You are taken to your Dashboard.
Install Goodstay as an App (PWA)
Goodstay is a Progressive Web App, so you can install it on your phone, tablet, or computer for fast one-tap access — no app store required.
- iOS (Safari): Tap the Share button → Add to Home Screen.
- Android (Chrome): Tap the menu (⋮) → Install app (or tap the install banner that appears at the bottom of the screen).
- Desktop (Chrome / Edge): Click the install icon (⊕) in the address bar, or use the menu → Install Goodstay.
Once installed, the app opens directly to the dashboard, runs in its own window without browser chrome, and shows a friendly offline page if your connection drops mid-session. Your clients can install the Customer Portal the same way.