--- title: "BusyPaws Software Pricing, Alternatives & More 2026 | Capterra" description: "With the help of Capterra, learn about BusyPaws Software - reviews, pricing plans, popular comparisons to other Pet Sitting products and more." source_url: "https://www.capterra.com/p/231681/BusyPaws/" page_type: "product" language: "en" --- # BusyPaws Software Review 2026: Features, Integrations, Pros & Cons Last updated on September 17, 2026 Provider data verified by our Software Research team, and reviews moderated by our Reviews Verification team. [Description](#description)[Use cases](#use-cases)[Alternatives](#alternatives)[FAQs](#faqs)[Features](#features)[Pricing](#pricing)[Integrations](#integrations)[Support](#support)[Reviews](#reviews) BusyPaws ## What is BusyPaws? Delight your clients with a modern booking process designed for your business, and enable your staff to spend more time with your clients and their pets by automating tasks like messaging and payments. More than one million pet parents have engaged with pet care businesses operating on BusyPaws. Reliable and repeatable engagement provided by an unobtrusive platform. Manage clients, staff, bookings, invoicing, payments and more for your Boarding/Kennel, Daycare, Training or Grooming services. ## What is BusyPaws used for? [Kennel](https://www.capterra.com/kennel-software/)[Pet Grooming](https://www.capterra.com/pet-grooming-software/)[Pet Sitting](https://www.capterra.com/pet-sitting-software/) Overall rating Based on 80 user reviews Reviews sentiment Positive 94% Neutral 5% Negative 1% Starting price $79 Flat Rate, Per Month Free trial available Free version not included Capterra Shortlist charts the highest-rated and most popular products... Our "Best of" badge program showcases products with the highest ratings... Our "Best of" badge program showcases products with the highest ratings... Rating Breakdown 4.7 +− Features4.5 Value for Money4.5 Ease of Use4.3 Customer Service4.7 Rating Breakdown 4.7 Features4.5 Value for Money4.5 Ease of Use4.3 Customer Service4.7 ## BusyPaws Reviewers Verdict Updated September 2026 AI summary - BusyPaws is a good fit for dog training businesses and pet care teams needing client scheduling and communication tools. - Positive feedback centers around its user-friendly booking system, accessible interface, customizable features, and suitability for dog-related services. - It helps teams save time by simplifying client booking, follow-ups, and day-to-day management tasks. - Reviewers note pain points like occasional bugs, update-related disruptions, and requests for more advanced integrations or report customization. - It fits small to mid-sized pet service providers seeking convenience and customization, but those needing deep integrations or extensive reporting may want to evaluate further. ## BusyPaws alternatives Highest Rated [5.0 (62)](https://www.capterra.com/p/150536/Pet-Manager/reviews/) Starting price $50.00 Per User, Per Month Pricing Options Free Trial Free Version User Rating 100% of reviewers rated it above 4 stars [4.6 (77)](https://www.capterra.com/p/143168/Kennel-Booker/reviews/) Starting price $94.99 Per User, Per Month Pricing Options Free Trial Free Version User Rating 94% of reviewers rated it above 4 stars [4.8 (61)](https://www.capterra.com/p/203713/Paw-Partner/reviews/) Starting price $44.99 Per User, Per Month Pricing Options Free Trial Free Version User Rating 98% of reviewers rated it above 4 stars [4.5 (223)](https://www.capterra.com/p/136469/Gingr/reviews/) Starting price $95.00 Per User, Per Month Pricing Options Free Trial Free Version User Rating 90% of reviewers rated it above 4 stars [View all alternatives](https://www.capterra.com/p/231681/BusyPaws/alternatives/) ## FAQs about BusyPaws Overview ### What problems does BusyPaws solve? BusyPaws solves scattered client and pet records, time-consuming manual booking, paperwork-heavy intake, and juggling multiple tools for payments, waivers, vaccine tracking, classes, and follow-ups. Dog trainers, boarding and daycare operators, groomers, and solo pet professionals use it to cut admin hours, streamline self-service booking, and keep operations organized. Answer based on 64 reviews Overview ### Which roles and teams benefit most from BusyPaws? BusyPaws is most used by dog trainers, behavior consultants, and training businesses that need to manage client communication, session scheduling, and pet progress records. Owners, directors, and CEOs rely on it to streamline operations, oversee staff workloads, and keep daycare, grooming, and training services organized in one system. Answer based on 80 reviews Overview ### What company size and industries is BusyPaws built for? BusyPaws is built for small pet care businesses, with 100% of reviewers from small businesses and Consumer Services and Professional Training & Coaching each representing 32%. It also serves Veterinary practices at 15%, aligning with dog trainers, daycare, grooming, kennels, and related pet care operations, especially kennel use. Answer based on 80 reviews Features and Usability ### What are the key features of BusyPaws? BusyPaws includes core features for client management, online booking, and calendar scheduling, plus a client portal with forms, electronic signatures, and payments. Differentiating features include pet profiles with vaccine records and notes, two-way Google Calendar sync, class and dog training scheduling, customization options, and mobile access for managing bookings. Answer based on 40 reviews Integrations ### Which third-party tools and platforms does BusyPaws integrate with? BusyPaws integrates with 8 third-party tools and platforms, including Google Calendar for scheduling, Mailchimp for email marketing, Stripe and Stripe Billing for payments, QuickBooks Online and QuickBooks Enterprise for accounting, and website tools such as Wix, Weebly, and Square Online. Answer based on 25 reviews Getting Started and Support ### How easy is it to onboard and train a team on BusyPaws? BusyPaws offers live online sessions, video tutorials, and documentation, which gives teams several ways to learn. Most tech-savvy users and frontline staff get up to speed fairly quickly, while admins and less technical users often need more time because setup is detailed. Reviewers consistently mention responsive support during the learning curve. Answer based on 24 reviews Getting Started and Support ### What customer support options does BusyPaws offer, and how do users rate the experience? BusyPaws offers email/help desk, chat, phone support, an FAQ/forum, and a knowledge base. Users often describe support as fast, patient, and helpful, with clear articles and hands-on troubleshooting. Some, however, report frustration when chat falls short, onboarding feels limited, or direct human help is harder to access on some plans. Answer based on 40 reviews Features and Usability ### How well does BusyPaws handle client booking? BusyPaws makes online client booking simple and flexible for many pet care businesses. Dog trainers, groomers, and daycare operators like self-service scheduling, booking links, reminders, and portal access, though some businesses want tighter booking limits, better calendar blocking, and a smoother mobile experience for clients and staff. Answer based on 19 reviews Features and Usability ### Is BusyPaws easy to use? BusyPaws feels easy to use for many small pet service businesses, especially after initial setup. Owners often find booking, payments, forms, and client records straightforward, but some say advanced setup, memberships, scheduling rules, and mobile tasks can feel less intuitive, especially for less tech-comfortable teams or older clients. Answer based on 19 reviews ## Features AI summary Based on 449 Pet Sitting reviews Capterra data shows that buyers of kennel software rank the following features as their top priorities: - **Booking Management** (**68%** of reviewers rated this feature as critical) - **Client Management** (**60%**) - **Online Booking** (**62%**) BusyPaws supports all three of the features reviewers consider most important: **Booking Management**, **Client Management**, and **Online Booking**. Together, these capabilities help businesses manage reservations, keep customer information organized, and accept bookings through digital channels, allowing teams to run daily operations more efficiently and deliver a smoother client experience. Booking Management 4.7 (56) 76.79% of 56 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important Create, update, and manage bookings, itineraries, and reservations Client Management 4.5 (62) 69.35% of 62 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important Manage contact details and communication with clients Online Booking 4.6 (61) 75.41% of 61 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important Book meetings and appointments through a website or digital platform Mobile Access 3.9 (31) 67.74% of 31 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important Access software remotely via mobile devices Appointment Management 4.7 (54) 64.81% of 54 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important Manage various aspects of appointments including booking, rescheduling, canceling Calendar Management 4.4 (47) 85.11% of 47 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important Track and manage schedules and meetings via an integrated calendar BusyPaws 73 features ### All Features - Activity Dashboard: Dashboard to view the status of ongoing processes, identify current incidents and track past activities - Activity Tracking: Track and document all activities across devices, networks, and other systems - Alerts/Notifications: Alerts or notifications of various types such as pop-up messages, sounds, banners, or badges - Animal Database: A repository of information about animals in an organization's care - Appointment Management: Manage various aspects of appointments including booking, rescheduling, canceling - Appointment Scheduling: Schedule appointments via a calendar - Automated Scheduling: Automatically create schedules based on business needs or employee availability and qualifications - Automatic Backup: Data is backed up automatically to prevent data loss - Availability Management: Monitor and analyze the availability of resources to help plan and streamline the service delivery to clients - Billing & Invoicing: Create, manage, and send invoices or bills to customers - Booking Management: Create, update, and manage bookings, itineraries, and reservations - Calendar Management: Track and manage schedules and meetings via an integrated calendar - Calendar Sync: Synchronize with other calendars to view mutual availability and schedules - Client Management: Manage contact details and communication with clients - Client Portal: Private online space that lets businesses securely share documents and provide information access to clients - Confirmations/Reminders: Automated reminders and confirmations for booked appointments and events via text or email - Credit Card Management: Financial system that helps create and manage physical/digital credit cards and track transaction activities - Credit Card Processing: Accept and process credit card transactions - Customer Accounts: Record customer information, purchase history, and other notes - Customer Database: A collection of customer information such as contact details, demographics, previous interactions, etc. - Customer History: Access previous interactions or concerns to maintain customer relationships - Customer Management: Store and organize information about customers and previous interactions - Customizable Branding: Add customized logos and colors to align with company branding - Customizable Templates: Pre-designed layouts that can be customized to match preferences and requirements - Customization: Create labels for products that contain required information such as colors, sizes, dates, etc. - Discount Management: Track products that are for sale at a reduced price or part of coupon promotions - Document Storage: Store and organize documents in a centralized system - Drag & Drop: Assemble applications and processes by dragging over and arranging pre-built components - Electronic Forms: Digital forms that are shared and accessed online - Electronic Payments: Electronically collect payments for goods or services - Electronic Signature: Digitally sign online documents - Email Alerts: Receive and/or send email notifications for urgent updates, requests, or other information - Email Marketing: Create and send email blasts/campaigns - Email Reminders: Reminders sent via email - Employee Management: Track employee schedules, availability, and performance across projects and tasks - Employee Time Clock: Tracks the time an employee has worked - Event Calendar: A list of events with their respective dates - Facility Scheduling: Schedule facilities, such as athletic fields, venues, and convention centers based on their availability - Inventory Management: Track and manage inventory levels to maintain proper supply - Invoice Management: Captures invoice data and maintains comprehensive records for auditing and reporting purposes - Mobile Access: Access software remotely via mobile devices - Mobile Grooming: Mobile pet grooming business that can work from different locations - Multi-Location: Manage and support multiple locations - Multiple User Accounts: Allow multiple users with individual logins and varying permissions to use the same account, software, portal, or service - Onboarding: Process of familiarizing new clients, stakeholders or employees with the company, a new location, or a service - Online Booking: Book meetings and appointments through a website or digital platform - Payment Processing: Accept, record, and reconcile financial transactions - Payroll Management: Manage employee salary processes, data, taxes, and records administration efficiently - Personalization: Adjust communications based on previous interactions or personal preferences - Pet Birthday Tracking: Saves and tracks pet birthdays - Pet Grooming: For pet grooming businesses - Point of Sale (POS): Accept and process customer payments for products or services using hardware and software - Real-Time Reporting: Active reporting of data and metrics - Receipt Management: Upload, track, and submit receipts in a central database - Records Management: Ability to record, store, update, and retrieve information - Recurring Appointments: Schedule repeating appointments based on a duration of time - Recurring Tasks: Set the frequency of a task's occurrence - Reminders: Timed notification for any upcoming task, deadline, appointment, or activity - Reporting & Statistics: Collection, analysis, and representation of numerical data and generation of reports to understand various patterns - Reporting/Analytics: View and track pertinent metrics to find patterns and gain insights from data - Sales Reports: Reports specific to sales analysis for trends and strategies - Scheduling: Plan availability and assign specific time slots for tasks and resources - Search/Filter: Search and filter data across systems to locate required information by entering keywords or certain criteria - Service Catalog: Database containing accurate and up-to-date information on all operational services - SMS Messaging: Send messages via SMS - SMS Reminders: Reminders sent via SMS/text message - Staff Management: Schedule shifts for staff/employees, track hours worked, and manage staff payroll - Task Management: Create, manage and track all task activities and progression - Task Scheduling: Track and manage the scheduling of tasks - Third-Party Integrations: Set up connections to third-party platforms to improve business processes - User Management: Manage user accounts, profiles, roles, permissions, and other details across applications, devices or networks - Vaccine Management: Manage vaccine administration from the time the vaccine arrives at the clinic until it is administered - Wait List Management: Record, update and manage waiting lists --- Get Advice We can help you find the software with the features you need. Features 4.5 (80) 4.5 Based on 80 reviews ## Pricing Value for money 4.5 (75) Free Trial [View pricing plan details](https://www.capterra.com/p/231681/BusyPaws/pricing/) Solo/Startup $79.00 Flat Rate,Per Month Team $150.00 Flat Rate,Per Month Business $299.00 Flat Rate,Per Month Value for money 4.5 (75) 4.5 Based on 75 reviews ## Integrations [ QuickBooks Online](https://www.capterra.com/p/190778/QuickBooks-Online/)[ Google Calendar](https://www.capterra.com/p/213340/Google-Calendar/)[ Stripe](https://www.capterra.com/p/123889/Stripe/)[ Stripe Billing](https://www.capterra.com/p/178774/Stripe-Billing/) Connect with a Capterra advisor for a free 15-minute consultation Get a personalized software list aligned to your business needs with guidance from our expert advisors. Our team has helped 1 million+ businesses like yours find options that fit their needs. ## Support, customer service and training options Customer Service 4.7 (75) Support - Email/Help Desk - FAQs/Forum - Knowledge Base - Phone Support - 24/7 (Live rep) - Chat Training - In Person - Live Online - Webinars - Documentation - Videos Deployment - Web - Android - iPhone/iPad Typical users - Freelancers - Small businesses - Mid size businesses - Enterprises Customer Service 4.7 (75) 4.7 Based on 75 reviews ## User reviews Overall rating 4.7 Based on 80 reviews Filter by rating 5(62) 4(13) 3(4) 2(1) 1(0) Mentioned topic Sorted by most recent FC Finn C. Dog Trainer Professional Training & Coaching ### "Simple and Effective to use" 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 5.0 5.0 Features 4.0 4.0 Customer Service 5.0 5.0 Likelihood to Recommend 10/10 August 21, 2026 I have really enjoyed using busy paws and I keep finding new ways to use this program to help keep my team and myself organized. Pros It's pretty straight forward and easy to use compared to other systems I have used. It has been easy to teach my staff how to use it. Cons I am not really sure. Everything that I have had an issue with I am able to bring it to the developers and they work on adding them to the system. Review source Vendor Referred - Incentive Offered: This reviewer was invited by the software vendor to submit an honest review and offered a nominal incentive as a thank you. PH Paola H. owner Professional Training & Coaching ### "Great addition to our business" 4.0 Overall Rating 4.0 4.0 Ease of Use 4.0 4.0 Features 4.0 4.0 Customer Service 5.0 5.0 Likelihood to Recommend 9/10 April 3, 2026 Busy paws has been life changing as our dog training business grows. Allowing us to be more efficient with booking and client communication. Pros Busy paws has reduced our admin workload, always a good thing. The class set up is easy. Love love love the merge function for pets and clients. Cons There are always things with any software that I would like to see change. Being able to allocate emails to instructors so they can answer would be great. Would like to be able to change the calendar from a M-S to a S-S. Review source Vendor Referred - Incentive Offered: This reviewer was invited by the software vendor to submit an honest review and offered a nominal incentive as a thank you. KC Katrina C. Owner and Head Trainer Veterinary ### "Integral piece of our business model" 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 5.0 5.0 Features 4.0 4.0 Customer Service 5.0 5.0 Likelihood to Recommend 10/10 February 23, 2026 Customer service is top notch and the product is excellent. Whenever we run into a problem (which is not often) someone is always on the other end willing to help! Pros BusyPaws is an integral part of our business. Being able to seamlessly book people into classes and handle payment with very little hands on effort after set up is an incredible feature. Cons I wish BusyPaws had an API so I could link data Bidirectionally — we use this software to its maximum capability and this is not likely to be an issue for most users. Alternatives considered [Jane](https://www.capterra.com/p/178984/Jane-App/) [Acuity Scheduling](https://www.capterra.com/p/191978/Acuity-Scheduling/) [Gingr](https://www.capterra.com/p/136469/Gingr/) Reasons for choosing BusyPaws More features, Canadian, wild card option for credits. Being able to handle our really unique use case Review source Vendor Referred - Incentive Offered: This reviewer was invited by the software vendor to submit an honest review and offered a nominal incentive as a thank you. BF Brenda F. Owner Consumer Services ### "Easy to use and setup, very ascetically pleasing!" 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 5.0 5.0 Features 5.0 5.0 Customer Service 5.0 5.0 Likelihood to Recommend 10/10 January 22, 2026 Very easy to use and it really “runs my business for me”. The client portal is easy to use for your clients to book directly. Pros So easy to use and set up on your own. The software is very ascetic and flows well. Calendar view is very nice and can choose to view by day, week and month. Payment processing is very easy. The client portal is very easy to use for clients and designed very well. I switched to Gingr for a month only because I was going to set up cameras to use on the app, but switched back to Busy Paws because it was way more user friendly than Gingr. I would highly recommend this software for your boarding and daycare business. The price of this software is very fair for what you get. Cons There is a “work around” for pricing, depending on your pricing policies, however, they do have an upgrade for “dynamic pricing” but I really cant afford it right now. Switched from [Gingr](https://www.capterra.com/p/136469/Gingr/) Gingr is not user friendly in my opinion. Alternatives considered [Gingr](https://www.capterra.com/p/136469/Gingr/) Reasons for choosing BusyPaws Ease of use, esctetics of product and price Review source Vendor Referred - Incentive Offered: This reviewer was invited by the software vendor to submit an honest review and offered a nominal incentive as a thank you. TB Tina B. Owner Veterinary ### "Pretty Good overall however.." 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 5.0 5.0 Features 4.0 4.0 Customer Service 5.0 5.0 Likelihood to Recommend 8/10 December 9, 2025 Good so far other than small inconveniences in organization and layout. Good pricing overall and have not had issues with tech support yet. Pros I love the program, its easy to use and looks good. Good value, and the online booking is straightforward. the customization options are very fun which is enjoyable. The customer service has been quick and resolved promptly when I needed it. Cons I wish there were more ways to customize the services lists as they show up to clients. I have been having issues because it automatically alphabetically everything. Switched from [Workday HCM](https://www.capterra.com/p/66908/Workday-HCM/) I worked in the veterinary field as a tech, then I started my own business. Alternatives considered [Google Workspace](https://www.capterra.com/p/247901/Google-Workspace/) Reasons for choosing BusyPaws I liked the way it was set up and its features specifically Review source Vendor Referred - Incentive Offered: This reviewer was invited by the software vendor to submit an honest review and offered a nominal incentive as a thank you. JW Jen W. Dog Trainer Professional Training & Coaching ### "Loving Busy Paws" 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 5.0 5.0 Features 5.0 5.0 Customer Service 5.0 5.0 Likelihood to Recommend 10/10 November 4, 2025 Overall, I am loving this experience. This is my first time running an online portal and my first ever brick and mortar store. BusyPaws has made it very easy to make the switch! Pros BusyPaws is very user friendly, it's a great value for the cost and it keeps all of our vaccination records organized. Payment processing is quick with daily payouts! Booking and sharing links for booking is super easy and efficient. My clients are loving the ability to access their pets portal and book hassle-free online Cons I find it a little annoying that when I am making my schedule I cannot see all of the new starting classes in once place. I like to stagger new classes start dates based on level and I often find myself looking at it thru the client view to see what classes are starting. Alternatives considered [DogBizPro](https://www.capterra.com/p/141295/DogBizPro/) Reasons for choosing BusyPaws BusyPaws offered on boarding, and ease of use Review source Vendor Referred - Incentive Offered: This reviewer was invited by the software vendor to submit an honest review and offered a nominal incentive as a thank you. TS Tasha S. Owner, Trainer Consumer Services ### "Having BusyPaws helps my business run smoothly and efficiently. " 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 5.0 5.0 Features 5.0 5.0 Customer Service 0.0 0.0 Likelihood to Recommend 10/10 September 25, 2025 The team at BusyPaws is great to work with, their support and help documentation is very thorough and I've never been left hanging the way one sometimes experiences with other support desks. I appreciate having input on new features, and each enhancement they've made has been a great addition to the system. I also love how easy it is for my team to manage their bookings and send client follow ups, it's saved me a lot of time and energy. BusyPaws is a critical part of my every day operations and has made the administrative aspects of my business easier, more efficient and cost effective. Pros The interface is user friendly, with the most important integrations taken care of for you. You don't need to become a software subject matter expert to get up and running, or make simple changes. Switching to BusyPaws has reduced the amount of administrative hours across my team and made it easy to manage client and pet bookings and payments. My clients appreciate the self serve portal (I appreciate that it didn't cost extra to provide that service) that allows them to see their bookings, cancel and see their payment history Cons I haven't found anything that I don't like yet! Each time I wish there was a feature, I've found it on the future road map. Review source Vendor Referred - Incentive Offered: This reviewer was invited by the software vendor to submit an honest review and offered a nominal incentive as a thank you. NT Nora T. Owner Consumer Services ### "Great client management and scheduling system" 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 4.0 4.0 Features 4.0 4.0 Customer Service 5.0 5.0 Likelihood to Recommend 8/10 September 13, 2025 We've been using BusyPaws for several years now - we started not long after they launched. It's been great to see the upgrades they have made and continue to make. They really listen to their customers and have an easy way to suggest changes and you can track where those changes are at. The customer service is really above and beyond. Pros The client management system is for sure the best part - being able to keep all records in one place has been really so helpful. It's much easier to keep up with vaccine records and invoicing. Cons Some of the schedule it still a little clunky but I know they are actively working on upgrades which is great! I'd like the app to be a little easer to use too but again I know they are always working on upgrades! Switched from [Google Workspace](https://www.capterra.com/p/247901/Google-Workspace/) [Trello](https://www.capterra.com/p/211559/Trello/) We had to use too many different docs/programs and a lot of manual admin time to keep everything up to date - we really needed an all in one program Alternatives considered [Acuity Scheduling](https://www.capterra.com/p/191978/Acuity-Scheduling/) [Gingr](https://www.capterra.com/p/136469/Gingr/) Reasons for choosing BusyPaws None of them had the full all in one scope busypaws had or was planning on having Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. RD Rae D. CEO Consumer Services ### "I'm happy and there's room for growth " 3.0 Overall Rating 3.0 3.0 Ease of Use 4.0 4.0 Features 4.0 4.0 Customer Service 2.0 2.0 Likelihood to Recommend 8/10 August 16, 2025 Overall, I’m happy with BusyPaws and have even recommended it to others to check out. There’s strong competition in this space, but I believe you have the opportunity to really stand out. My biggest ongoing concern is still the lack of human support, which would make a huge difference in user experience. I also had a few ideas that could add value: AI Phone Call Reminders – with pre-scripted options for efficiency. Pet Photo Album – allow clients to download photos for up to 30 days after a visit. Automated “How Was Your Stay?” Follow-up – built-in feedback collection (0–5 stars or emoji-based responses) that could generate useful reports. Payment Integrations – ability to link Cash App or Venmo for more client flexibility. Onboarding Packets – automatically send a welcome packet when a new client signs up or subscribes to BusyPaws as a user Built-in Hazardous Waste/Medical Tracking – for logging medications, injections, or special care. Medication Scheduling – calendar reminders for insulin, pills, or special treatments. Client Loyalty Rewards – points or credits for frequent visits, referrals, or add-ons. Built-in Marketing Tools – newsletters, promos, or seasonal specials (instead of separate Mailchimp fees). Dynamic Pricing Options – for peak holiday times vs. slow seasons. Referral Tracking – so you can reward clients who bring in friends. Emergency Evacuation Companion – digital roster with contact preferences and evacuation checklists if there’s fire, flood, etc. Emergency notification - click on message with instructions to anyone reaching out (We are currently sheltering in place for X storm. Contact X # for more information) Retention - retention reporting on how often dogs are coming back, between visits, and auto email "we miss you" Pros I transitioned from a manually managed system (Square) that fell short of my industry’s needs. As a one-person operation, this was a major leap forward in efficiency and organization and my biggest praise of BusyPaws. The low introduction rate and discount was 100% the winning factor compared to other programs -- as well as transparent pricing without having to talk to a rep. What I appreciate most is that customers now have their own portal where they can view and update their information directly. The ability for clients to self-book is by far the biggest benefit for my business. Everything related to a customer—whether it’s an invoice, payment method, or record—is saved within their profile, which means I no longer have to jump around the system to track down information. Now, getting my customers to properly use this portal is a challenge for some -- especially my older clients. Thanks to the reporting, I learned some interesting demographic data that I'd hadn't seen prior and that a good majority of my clients are retired. Meaning...tech, not always super friendly for them. I also like that clients can securely manage their credit cards for invoice payments, and I have the option to charge their card when needed. The system is straightforward and user-friendly, which is a big plus, and it’s easy to customize with my branding. Having different subscription options for users makes it even more flexible for a small business. Cons I originally started with the lowest-tier plan, which included no directed onboarding aside from some links (even 20 minutes talking to someone would have made a huge difference) and no access to a live person for support when something appeared to not be working properly were the most frustrating things for me. While the Q&A catalog is helpful, it’s not sufficient when something isn’t working as described. The lack of direct support was incredibly frustrating. If you’re a paying user, there should at least be a simple way to email operational issues and receive a timely response. That said, the only reason I chose BusyPaws initially was because the entry-level pricing made it accessible for small businesses like mine. I later upgraded my plan, but I believe eliminating this lower tier would be a mistake—it opens the door for small businesses to try the platform. Even though $80/m doesn’t seem like much, I went in with the mindset of “I’ll try it for 3–4 months and then decide.” That initial affordability matters for business owners testing a new system. To summarize, here are my primary issues and suggestions: 1. Invoices Once a payment has been made, invoices cannot be edited. Many of my clients add services right before pickup or something has to be edited afterward, and I want those charges consolidated into one invoice. Multiple invoices create more work, extra transaction fees, and even impact tipping. A solution could be an audit trail (e.g., “Invoice adjusted on X date by X user”) along with a notes section for system user and client to see. There’s no easy way to add late fees to an existing balance when there's been a payment made but not paid in full. I would like to see when a client has viewed the invoice. Deposits: if I require a deposit, I don’t want the client to be able to pay the full amount upfront. Clients often add services after booking, but if they’ve already paid in full, I’m forced to create a new invoice for small add-ons and end up chasing for payment. 2. Late Fees Automatic late fees should be available. It’s a necessary feature for managing payments. 3. Report Cards Custom fields should be taggable. Example being I use “G-” for grooming custom fields, making them easier to identify but this should be built in already with a tag. The ability to edit fields directly in the report, like in Forms/Contracts, would save time. I often encounter issues where the system selects the wrong or multiple pets during report creation (especially on mobile), even after re-clicking. Auto-generated reports would be helpful. After X service is completed, X report is sent. As would the ability to see when a client has viewed a report. 4. Calendar Blocking This has been the most challenging area for me. I’m closed Mondays and Tuesdays for drop-off/pick-up, daycare, and grooming, but I still have boarding dogs staying through those days. I need to prevent clients from selecting Monday/Tuesday for drop-off or pick-up, but despite trying schedules, HQ settings, kennel settings, and room settings, people still book those days, creating major confusion. 5. User App A client-facing app (similar to PetDesk) would make things much easier for customers who prefer mobile access. Some struggle with the portal, and an app would simplify the process. 6. Texting vs. Email Easier texting options are needed. Many clients unsubscribe from emails, which makes invoicing by email impossible. Maybe a unsubscribe from auto generated emails...but lets them still get invoices. 7. Mobile App Functionality The app can be cumbersome: it doesn’t click back easily, lags, and sometimes the buttons are too small. 8. Email Marketing Mailchimp integration should be included in the subscription, especially for users already paying separately for Mailchimp. 9. Data Export Exporting data is overly complicated. For example, I wanted a simple report showing pet name, vet name, and rabies status, but the system exports everything with no ability to refine or easily drop into Excel/Google Sheets. It would be much more efficient to schedule specific data pulls and have them emailed, or to predefine which data points I want. 10. Packages Packages should be integrated into the main booking portal. I’d like to offer standalone grooming or bundled packages, especially for medical washes. 11. Vaccination Verification I’d like the ability to block bookings from clients without a rabies vaccination on file. Rabies is required by law in every U.S. state, so it should be standard to verify before proceeding. Ideally, staff could mark “verified” once the record is checked. Until then, clients could remain on a waitlist. 12. Credits Credits on file should automatically apply to invoices when created by a system user (with the option to remove them). 13. The ability to adjust check in time back end system. I haven’t yet explored the Inventory or Courses tabs, but that will come in the future. Switched from [Square Point of Sale](https://www.capterra.com/p/275802/Square-Point-of-Sale/) [Weebly](https://www.capterra.com/p/246168/Weebly/) It's too general and I didn't meet all my needs. Alternatives considered [RoverPass](https://www.capterra.com/p/165353/RoverPass/) [BookyWay](https://www.capterra.com/p/244796/gymtrainer/) [GoReminders](https://www.capterra.com/p/154785/GoReminders/) [PetExec](https://www.capterra.com/p/92864/PetExec/) [Goose](https://www.capterra.com/p/10020167/Goose/) Reasons for choosing BusyPaws (almost had someone build me a program)...I reviewed every single company I could find on google search...The low intro pricing of 35, discounted first two months, ability to play immediately without talking to a rep, ability to play in a live program not a sandbox, clear pricing Review source Vendor Referred - Incentive Offered: This reviewer was invited by the software vendor to submit an honest review and offered a nominal incentive as a thank you. MA Maddi A. Founder and Certified Dog Trainer Professional Training & Coaching ### "Zero support for starter plan" 2.0 Overall Rating 2.0 2.0 Ease of Use 3.0 3.0 Features 3.0 3.0 Customer Service 1.0 1.0 Likelihood to Recommend 0/10 July 11, 2025 I have been using Busy Paws in my business for 10 months. I offer virtual and in person private training, a training membership, drop ins/dog walks, and over night sitting in the clients home. It's worked relatively well for these services for the $35 per month I pay. However, they recently did an update involving their intake forms & completely broke my intake process. The ONLY option for support is AI, & it's not even very advanced. They refuse to let me even tell them what my issue is. Pros The custom forms (until an update broke them), calendar sync, ability to create memberships, client profiles Cons NO support for the lowest tier plan ($35/month), they break parts of the product & refuse to tell me how to fix it, can't sync with multiple calendars, payments are slow, no option for overnight pet sitting in the clients home Alternatives considered [Gingr](https://www.capterra.com/p/136469/Gingr/) Reasons for choosing BusyPaws It had a tier that was appropriate for just starting my business Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. Response from Vendor July 15, 2025 Hi Maddi, Live support is available on the Solo tiers and above. If at any time you experience issues with the system you may submit a support ticket by clicking the "Feature Issue" button within the "Create a Ticket" section of the help window - this is a line directly to the developers to investigate any issues you may be experiencing. We hope to hear from you soon! [View all Reviews](https://www.capterra.com/p/231681/BusyPaws/reviews/) ## Top-rated software of 2026 ### Fill out the form and we'll send a list of the top-rated software based on real user reviews directly to your inbox. Popular comparisons [Breeder Cloud Pro vs BusyPaws](https://www.capterra.com/compare/176356-231681/Breeder-Cloud-Pro-vs-BusyPaws) [KennelBooker vs BusyPaws](https://www.capterra.com/compare/143168-231681/Kennel-Booker-vs-BusyPaws)