Getting Started
Creating Your Venue
Sign up for OpenChair and create your venue in under 5 minutes. No credit card required, every new venue starts with a 14-day free PRO trial.
Last updated 14 July 2026
Sign up for OpenChair and create your venue in under five minutes, no credit card required.
TL;DR
- Create an account with Google (faster, no email verification) or email and password
- Every new venue starts with a 14-day free PRO trial and a $5 wallet credit, no credit card required
- Your OpenChair URL is auto-generated from your business name; customise it if the default is taken
- After clicking "Launch Venue", OpenChair activates your PRO trial and shows the Day One checklist
Overview
Creating your venue lets you:
- Set up your business on OpenChair with a personalised booking page
- Start a 14-day free PRO trial with PRO features included
- Receive a $5 wallet credit for AI Sparks, SMS, and email features
- Begin accepting bookings immediately after setup
- Verify your owner mobile number by SMS when the setup form asks for it
Note
Every new venue starts with a 14-day free PRO trial. No credit card is required to get started.
Before You Begin
You will need:
- An email address or a Google account
- Your business name
- Your business address
- Your owner mobile number for SMS verification
If you were invited to an existing venue, use the invitation link instead of creating a new venue. OpenChair keeps staff-invite acceptance separate from owner-created venue setup.
Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1: Create Your Account
OpenChair offers two ways to create an account: Google or email and password.
Option A: Sign Up with Google (Recommended)
- Go to the OpenChair sign-up page
- Click Sign up with Google
- Select your Google account and grant permission
- You will be redirected back to OpenChair to continue setup
Google sign-up is faster because no email verification is needed, your identity is confirmed by Google.
Option B: Sign Up with Email
- Go to the OpenChair sign-up page
- Enter your Full Name
- Enter your Email Address
- Enter a Password (must be at least 8 characters)
- Click Start Free Trial
After submitting, you will need to verify your email address before continuing.
Verifying Your Email
If you signed up with email, OpenChair sends a 6-digit verification code to your inbox:
- Check your email for a message from OpenChair
- Enter the 6-digit code on the verification screen
- Once verified, you will be redirected to continue setup
Tip
If the code does not arrive, check your spam or junk folder. You can click Resend on the verification screen to request a new code.
If you verified your email on a different device (for example, clicking the link on your phone while signing up on your computer), the original screen will detect verification automatically and continue.
Step 2: Name Your Business
- Enter your Business Name (for example, "Joe's Barbershop")
- Your OpenChair URL is auto-generated from the business name (for example,
openchairpro.com/joes-barbershop) - A green checkmark confirms the URL is available; a red cross means it is already taken
- Customise the URL if needed, it can contain lowercase letters, numbers, and hyphens
- Click Next
The URL is your public booking page address. Customers will use this link to book appointments online.
Step 3: Add Your Location
- In the Business Address field, start typing your address, suggestions appear as you type
- Select your address from the dropdown for accurate location data
- Enter your Business Phone number
- Your Timezone is auto-detected from your address, adjust it from the dropdown if needed
- Click Next
Tip
Selecting an address from the dropdown (rather than typing it manually) ensures accurate location data and automatically sets your timezone.
OpenChair currently supports venues in Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. Your country and currency are determined by your address.
Trial Phone Verification
Some setup entry points use a one-page form titled Your business. That form asks for Owner mobile before the venue is created.
To verify your mobile number:
- Select Country.
- Enter Owner mobile.
- Select Send code.
- Enter the 6-digit code sent by SMS.
- Select Verify, or let OpenChair check automatically when the code reaches 6 digits.
When the number is verified, the button changes to Verified. If the code is not received, select Resend code.
The helper text says: Used to verify this trial and let us reach you about setup. This is not shown on your booking page.
OpenChair accepts trial mobile verification for Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.
Invitations During Setup
If your account has a pending team invitation, OpenChair sends you through invitation resolution before allowing a new venue setup. This prevents a staff member from accidentally creating a separate venue when they meant to join an existing one.
Invitation states include:
| State | What it means |
|---|---|
| This invitation has expired | Ask the inviter to send a new invitation |
| Invitation already accepted | Open the existing venue |
| This invitation is no longer valid | The invitation may have been revoked or the link is incorrect |
| Account mismatch | Sign out and try again with the invited email, or ask for a new invitation |
| You're already a member of [venue] | Open the venue from the invitation page |
Step 4: Choose Your Industry
Select the template that best matches your business. OpenChair uses this to pre-populate your first service and tailor the setup experience.
| Template | Best For |
|---|---|
| Hair & Grooming | Salons, stylists |
| Barbering | Barbershops |
| Nails | Nail technicians |
| Massage | Massage therapists |
| Skincare | Aestheticians, facials |
| Injectables | Med spas, cosmetic clinics |
| Tattoo | Tattoo artists |
Click the template card to select it, then click Next.
Note
The industry template pre-populates your services. You can fully customise your service menu after setup.
Step 5: Finalise
- Choose whether you take appointments yourself:
- I take appointments myself: checked by default. OpenChair adds you as a staff member who can be booked.
- Uncheck if you are purely a manager or business owner who does not see clients.
- Click Launch Venue
A success screen appears with the message "Welcome to OpenChair!", and you are redirected to your calendar.
What Happens After Launch
After clicking Launch Venue, OpenChair automatically:
- Activates your 14-day PRO trial: PRO features are included, no credit card required
- Grants a $5 wallet credit: covers AI Sparks, SMS, and email usage during your trial
- Creates your booking page at the URL you chose (for example,
openchairpro.com/joes-barbershop) - Sets default operating hours: Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm (customisable in the onboarding wizard)
- Adds you as staff if you ticked "I take appointments myself"
- Shows the Day One checklist on your dashboard to guide you through the remaining setup
You will land on your calendar page, ready to start the onboarding wizard where you set up your hours, services, branding, and payments.
Your Free Trial
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Duration | 14 days from venue creation |
| Tier | PRO trial |
| Credit card required | No |
| Wallet credit | $5 for AI Sparks, SMS, and email |
During the trial, you have full access to every OpenChair feature including Intelligence analytics, Inbox, campaigns, automations, Coach AI advisor, commission tracking, and custom consultation forms.
When the trial ends, your venue moves to the FREE plan. You keep your bookings, clients, and data, advanced PRO features become locked until you subscribe.
Troubleshooting
| Issue | Solution |
|---|---|
| URL already taken | Try adding your suburb or initials (for example, joes-barbershop-syd) |
| "An account with this email already exists" | You already have an account. Go to the sign-in page and log in instead. |
| Email verification code not received | Check your spam or junk folder. Click Resend on the verification screen to request a new code. |
| SMS verification code not received | Check that the country and mobile number are correct, then select Resend code. |
| "Verify your mobile number before continuing" | Enter the 6-digit SMS code and select Verify before submitting the setup form. |
| Google sign-in popup blocked | Allow popups for OpenChair in your browser settings, then try again. |
| Cannot click Next | Check that all required fields are filled in and valid. Look for red error messages below each field. |
| "This URL is already taken. Try another name." | Choose a different slug, add your location, initials, or a number to make it unique. |
FAQ
How do I create an OpenChair venue?
Go to the OpenChair sign-up page and create an account with Google (no email verification needed) or email and password. Then complete 5 setup steps: business name and URL, location, industry, and whether you take appointments yourself.
Is a credit card required to start?
No. Every new venue starts with a 14-day free PRO trial and a $5 wallet credit for AI Sparks, SMS, and email, no credit card required.
What do I do if my chosen URL is already taken?
Try adding your suburb, initials, or a number to make it unique, for example, joes-barbershop-syd or joes-barbershop-2. The URL can contain lowercase letters, numbers, and hyphens.
Which countries does OpenChair support?
OpenChair currently supports venues in Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. Your country and currency are determined by your business address.
Why do I need to verify my mobile number?
New trial setup requires an AU, NZ, or GB mobile number verified by SMS before OpenChair creates the venue. The number is used for trial verification and setup contact, not shown on your booking page.