Waiting Room Check-In
Clients check in. Staff get notified. No front desk needed.
FrontDesk replaces the "I'm here" moment with a self-managed waiting room. An iPad kiosk or QR code handles check-in, and the right staff member gets an instant push notification on their phone.
14-day free trial · No credit card required · From $50/mo
Who Uses FrontDesk
Works for any appointment-based business
Therapy & Counseling
Clients select their therapist; therapist gets notified instantly.
Medical Offices
Patients check in on arrival; providers know without front-desk calls.
Salons & Spas
Clients select their stylist; no one needs to stand at the desk.
Chiropractic
Patients check in; practitioners know without leaving their room.
Physical Therapy
Patients arrive; therapists notified before stepping out.
Wellness Studios
Practitioners work; clients let themselves into the flow.
Features
Everything a modern waiting room needs
Instant staff notification
Push notification to the right provider the moment their client checks in. Silent, instant, specific.
iPad kiosk or QR code
Use an iPad as a kiosk, or post a QR code for clients to scan on their own phone. Both options work together.
Branded kiosk
Upload your logo, set your brand colors. The Branding Studio gives you a live preview so the kiosk matches your space.
Multi-location
Manage multiple offices from one dashboard. Each location has its own provider list, QR code, and branding.
Check-in log
See a full log of who checked in and when. Useful for verifying attendance and understanding wait times.
No hardware required
The QR code check-in option requires no iPad at all. A printed or digital QR code is all you need to get started.
Questions
Waiting Room Check-In — FAQ
What is a waiting room check-in app?
A waiting room check-in app replaces the manual process of a client announcing their arrival at a front desk. Instead, the client checks in on an iPad kiosk or by scanning a QR code. The app records their arrival and sends an instant notification to the appropriate staff member. FrontDesk is one such app, designed for appointment-based service businesses.
What types of businesses use FrontDesk for waiting room check-in?
FrontDesk is used by therapy and counseling practices, medical and chiropractic offices, salons and spas, wellness studios, massage therapy centers, and any appointment-based business with a waiting room. The common need is the same: clients arrive, staff need to know, and no one should have to staff a front desk to manage the handoff.
Can FrontDesk run a waiting room with no receptionist?
Yes. This is the primary use case. Clients arrive, check in on the iPad kiosk or QR code, select their provider, and the provider receives an instant push notification. No receptionist needs to monitor arrivals or make phone calls down the hall. Many practices use FrontDesk to eliminate the front desk role entirely for the check-in workflow.
Does FrontDesk work for a medical waiting room?
Yes. Medical offices, chiropractic offices, physical therapy clinics, and similar practices use FrontDesk for patient check-in. When a patient arrives and checks in, the appropriate provider receives a push notification. FrontDesk does not collect clinical data, diagnosis information, or insurance details — it is specifically a check-in and notification tool.
What hardware do I need for FrontDesk?
The standard setup is any iPad running iOS 14 or later. You mount or prop the iPad in your waiting room, download the FrontDesk kiosk app, and it runs as a self-service check-in station. Alternatively, you can skip the iPad entirely and use QR code check-in — clients scan a code posted in your waiting room or sent in their appointment confirmation, and check in on their own phone.
How much does a waiting room check-in system cost?
FrontDesk starts at $50/month for one location, which includes the iPad kiosk app, QR code check-in, unlimited providers, push notifications, and the full Branding Studio. Additional locations are $15/month each. There is a 14-day free trial with no credit card required. Enterprise visitor management systems like Envoy or iLobby typically start significantly higher and are priced for corporate offices rather than service businesses.
Set up your self-managed waiting room today.
14-day free trial. No credit card required. From $50/month.