Update README with marketing positioning and key features #126

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groombook-engineer[bot] merged 3 commits from feat/marketing-readme-update into main 2026-03-27 17:12:13 +00:00
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# Groom Book
# GroomBook
Open source, self-hostable pet grooming business management and customer relationship platform.
> **The open-source scheduling and client management platform built specifically for independent pet groomers** — giving you the tools of enterprise software without the enterprise price tag or vendor lock-in.
## Features
**Built for groomers, not corporations.**
- **Appointment scheduling** — calendar management for single or multiple groomers
- **Client & pet records** — detailed profiles with grooming history and preferences
- **Service management** — pricing, duration, and service catalog
- **Online booking portal** — customer-facing self-service booking
- **POS & invoicing** — payments, tips, and receipt generation
---
## Key Features
**Stop chasing confirmations**
- **Customer portal** — Clients confirm or cancel appointments on their own. Reduce no-shows with an automated waitlist.
**Your calendar, your way**
- **iCal calendar feed** — Push GroomBook appointments directly into Google Calendar or Apple Calendar. No app switching.
**Know every pet at a glance**
- **Client & pet records** — Detailed profiles with grooming history, preferences, and breed-specific notes. Full appointment notes for context on every regular.
- **Quick-find search** — Find clients and pets instantly without digging through spreadsheets.
**Staff access without stress**
- **Role-based access control (RBAC)** — Front desk sees bookings; only you see financials. Right access for every role.
**Everything else**
- **Appointment scheduling** — Calendar management for single or multiple groomers
- **Service management** — Pricing, duration, and service catalog
- **POS & invoicing** — Payments, tips, and receipt generation
- **Automated reminders** — SMS and email notifications
- **Reporting dashboard** — revenue, utilization, and trend analytics
- **Staff impersonation** — managers can view the customer portal as any client, with full audit logging and session controls
- **PWA** — installable on mobile devices, works offline
- **Reporting dashboard** — Revenue, utilization, and trend analytics
- **Staff impersonation** — Managers can view the customer portal as any client, with full audit logging and session controls
- **PWA** — Installable on mobile devices, works offline
---
## 🚀 Try the Demo
[**Live Demo**](https://demo.groombook.app) — explore GroomBook without installing anything.
---
## Quick Start
### Docker Compose (recommended for indie groomers)
Run GroomBook on your own hardware in minutes. Everything you need is in the box — no subscription, no vendor lock-in.
```bash
git clone https://github.com/groombook/groombook.git
cd groombook
# Start everything (Postgres + database migrations + API + web UI)
docker compose up --build
```
- **Web UI**: http://localhost:8080
- **API**: http://localhost:3000
The default `docker-compose.yml` sets `AUTH_DISABLED=true` so you can explore the app without configuring an OIDC provider. **Important:** Disable this in any internet-facing deployment.
---
## Tech Stack
@@ -110,24 +155,7 @@ pnpm build
## Self-Hosting
### Docker Compose (recommended for single-server deployments)
The fastest way to run Groom Book is with Docker Compose. This starts PostgreSQL, runs database migrations, and serves both the API and web frontend.
```bash
git clone https://github.com/groombook/groombook.git
cd groombook
# Start everything (Postgres + migrate + API + web)
docker compose up --build
```
- **Web UI**: http://localhost:8080
- **API**: http://localhost:3000
The default `docker-compose.yml` sets `AUTH_DISABLED=true` so you can explore the app without configuring an OIDC provider. **Disable this in any internet-facing deployment.**
#### Production configuration
### Production Configuration
Copy `.env.example` to `.env` and configure:
@@ -160,14 +188,29 @@ Groom Book is deployed in the `groombook` Kubernetes namespace using:
- **Authentik** for OIDC authentication
- **Flux** for GitOps-managed deployments
---
## Contributing
GroomBook thrives on contributions from the grooming community. Whether you're a groomer with a feature request, a developer fixing a bug, or someone improving docs — we'd love your help.
1. Fork the repository
2. Create a feature branch (`git checkout -b feature/my-feature`)
3. Commit your changes
4. Open a pull request
All PRs require CI to pass before merge.
All PRs require CI to pass before merge. See [CONTRIBUTING.md](./CONTRIBUTING.md) for details.
---
## Why GroomBook?
- **Open source** — You own your data. No vendor lock-in.
- **Purpose-built** — Features designed for grooming workflows, not generic scheduling.
- **Self-hosted or managed** — Run it yourself for free, or pay for hosted support (coming soon).
- **Community-driven** — Used and built by actual groomers.
---
## License