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Digital Agreements and Waivers
Teddy sends digital agreements to sign and stores them securely on every client profile
Disputes in grooming almost always come down to one question: did the client know about this policy? Whether it is a deposit requirement, a matted coat surcharge, a cancellation fee, or a liability waiver for older dogs, the answer to that question determines whether you win or lose the dispute. Paper waivers get signed and then misplaced. Verbal explanations get forgotten or denied. Digital agreements signed through Teddy are stored permanently on the client's profile with a timestamp, and they do not disappear.
Creating an agreement in Teddy takes a few minutes. You write the policy content using a full-featured rich text editor, give the agreement a title, and decide whether clients need to sign it once ever or before every single appointment. A policies and procedures agreement that covers deposits, cancellations, and liability might be set to require signing every visit so it stays current and acknowledged. A matted pet release might be signed once and kept on file.
Sending an agreement to a client is a single action from the messaging inbox. You find the client, click to send the agreement link, and they receive a text with a direct link to read and sign. They open it on their phone, read through your policy, and sign digitally. The signed record is immediately visible on their profile in the Agreements tab.
The real value of this feature shows up in the difficult conversations. When a client is unhappy about a charge or disputes a cancellation fee, you can pull up the signed agreement with the exact date and time they signed it. That documentation ends most arguments before they escalate. For grooming businesses, where charge disputes tend to involve relatively small dollar amounts but can do real damage to reputation and relationships, that kind of evidence matters.
When your policies change, you create a new agreement and send it out. Clients re-sign the updated version, and the new signed document is stored alongside any previous ones. You always have a record of what policy was in place and when it was agreed to.
A single disputed charge that escalates to a negative review or a chargeback costs more than just the amount of the charge. It costs your time, your stress, and potentially a client relationship. Most charge disputes in grooming involve $25 to $150. A signed digital agreement that specifically covers the disputed item resolves those situations in minutes rather than hours. The time saved on dispute resolution alone justifies having clear signed policies on file.
Deposit collection improves meaningfully when clients must sign an agreement that explains the deposit requirement before they can book. When the policy is in writing and signed, clients treat deposits as an expected part of the process rather than something to push back on. That shift in expectation, driven by a clear signed agreement, protects your cash flow without requiring any additional conversation.
For matted coats specifically, the before and after difference is significant. Groomers who do not have a signed matted pet release routinely deal with clients who are shocked by the additional charge and unwilling to pay it, even when the work was necessary and clearly communicated in person. A digital release signed before the appointment, which requires the client to acknowledge that dematting involves extra time and cost, eliminates that category of dispute almost entirely.
Can I have multiple agreements active at the same time?
Yes. You can create as many agreements as you need, each with its own title, content, and signing frequency. A policies and procedures agreement and a matted pet release can both be active and used independently.
What does the signing process look like for the client?
The client receives a text with a link. They open it on their phone, read through the agreement content, and sign digitally. The whole process takes less than two minutes from their side.
Where are signed agreements stored?
Signed agreements are stored permanently on the client's profile under the Agreements tab. They include the date and time of signing, giving you a timestamped record for any future reference.
Can I require clients to sign before every appointment?
Yes. The everytime setting requires the client to re-sign before each appointment, which keeps your policies acknowledged on a rolling basis and is useful when policies change frequently or for high-liability service areas.
What if a client refuses to sign the agreement?
That is your business decision to make. Having a signed agreement as a requirement before booking or service gives you a clear policy to point to. If a client is not willing to sign, you have the option not to proceed with the appointment.
