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Allow only existing customers to join
Allow only existing customers to join

Learn how you can restrict your Waitlist or Bookings to only invited customers.

Lindsey Gagnon avatar
Written by Lindsey Gagnon
Updated over a month ago

The "Allow only existing customers to join" feature in Waitwhile gives businesses greater control over who can join their waitlist or make bookings. This setting restricts access to only those customers who receive an invitation, ensuring that your waitlist or appointment system is private and tailored to pre-selected individuals.

This feature is particularly useful for businesses or events that:

  • Operate with exclusive access (e.g., VIP events or RSVPs).

  • Manage high-demand services that require pre-approval before adding customers to a waitlist.

  • Prevent walk-ins by only accepting pre-invited or pre-booked customers.

In this article, we’ll explain how this feature works and guide you on how to configure it in Waitwhile.

What does "Allow only existing customers to join" do?

When this setting is enabled, only guests with valid invitations can:

  • Join the waitlist through the provided registration URL or link.

  • Book appointments or services via Waitwhile.

Without an invitation, other users who try to join or book will receive a message indicating that they are not permitted to access the service.

How to Configure "Allow Only Invited Guests to Join"

Follow these steps to enable and manage this feature:

Step 1: Access Your Location Settings

  1. Go to your Waitwhile dashboard.

  2. Navigate to Settings > Waitlist or Settings > Bookings.

Step 2: Enable the Invitation-Only Feature

  1. Scroll down to the General section.

  2. Toggle on the option for "Allow only existing customers to Join".

Step 3: Invite Guests to Join

Once the feature is enabled, you’ll need upload your list of invites or customers.

  1. Go to the Customers section in Waitwhile.

  2. Click Import from the three-dot menu in the upper right corner

  3. Upload a .csv file to Customer option in the dropdown menu

Uploading our customer or invite list to Waitwhile will not send out any invites via email or SMS. This must be done through your own communication tool, but will allow you to include a link to join, RSVP, or book time within Waitwhile.

Tips for using the Invitation only feature

  • Pre-screen guests: Use this feature for private consultations or events to ensure only qualified customers can join.

  • VIP or priority access: Create an exclusive waitlist for special customers or high-value clients.

  • Prevent walk-ins: If your business operates by appointment only, this feature ensures that only pre-approved customers can access the system.

By following the steps above, you can easily manage guest access to your waitlist or appointment system, ensuring that only invited guests can join. This gives your business more control over customer flow and enhances the booking experience for selected individuals.


Have additional questions or need assistance? Reach out to us via chat or at support@waitwhile.com.

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