The guided pilot

Your shop rules. A careful first call.

ChairChime is an AI phone receptionist pilot for independent barbers and small barbershops. The first step is a guided test of your workflow, not an immediate switch of your business number.

1. Tell us how your shop runs

We review services, prices, durations, hours, walk-in rules, and the questions callers ask. Clear rules matter: “a haircut” may mean different services with different lengths. Information that has not been approved should lead to a callback instead of a guessed answer.

2. Review your scheduling setup

We establish which schedule is authoritative, check availability and blocked time, and review any calendar connection needed for the pilot. Tell us what you use today. Do not assume that ChairChime connects directly to Booksy, Fresha, Square, or another booking platform; compatibility needs to be confirmed for your shop.

3. Make test calls

Use a separate test number. Try a straightforward service question, an appointment request, an unavailable time, and a question outside your policies. Review what happened in the scheduling workflow and whether the callback details are useful.

• Did the receptionist use the correct service, price, and duration?
• Did a requested appointment appear correctly before it was treated as confirmed?
• Did unavailable times stay unavailable?
• Could the caller leave a callback request when the request could not be completed?

Download the printable phone and booking trial scorecard (PDF) ↓

4. Decide whether to route business calls

Business-line forwarding comes after the live call, calendar, and fallback checks for your shop. Agree on what happens if the assistant or a connected service is unavailable. Keep a way to return to your existing call handling.

What should I bring to a demo?

Your service list, opening hours, current booking method, and a few examples of difficult calls are enough to start a conversation. Never send customer records or account passwords through the pilot inquiry form.

Do clients need another app?

The pilot offers phone and public booking-link workflows. Clients do not need to install an app to use those paths.

Are text messages included?

Messaging availability is checked separately during setup. Do not rely on a confirmation or reminder until delivery has been verified for your shop.

Still deciding what to change? Read our missed-call guide or compare barbershop answering options.