Frequently Asked Questions

Learn how to use your online reservations, waitlist, guestbook, and more.

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Getting Started

What devices does Simple Host work on?
Simple Host works on iPad, iPhone, Android phones and tablets, and in any web browser. Most restaurants use an iPad at the host stand, and every device you sign in on stays in sync in real time.
How long does setup take?
Most restaurants are up and running in under 5 minutes: create your account, build your floor plan with drag and drop, and start seating guests. The Getting Started guide walks through every step.
Do I need special hardware like pagers?
No. Simple Host runs on devices you already own and replaces buzzer pagers with text messages. If you want printed chits, any ESC/POS thermal receipt printer on your network works.
Can I use Simple Host on more than one device?
Yes. Unlimited devices are included in every plan. Seat a guest on one iPad and it updates on every other device instantly.
Does Simple Host work offline?
No. Simple Host needs an internet connection, because every device syncs in real time.
Does Simple Host connect to my POS?
Simple Host works independently of your POS, so no integration is needed. It handles the front of house alongside whatever POS you already use.

Pricing & Account

How much does Simple Host cost?
There are three flat monthly plans: Basic at $49.99, Professional at $69.99, and VIP at $99.99. Every plan includes unlimited devices and unlimited parties. Compare the plans.
Is there a free trial?
Yes. Every plan starts with a 7-day free trial with all features unlocked, and no credit card is needed to start.
Are there per-cover or per-reservation fees?
No. Simple Host is a flat monthly price, no matter how many guests you seat or how many reservations you take.
How many text messages are included?
Basic includes 250 SMS a month, Professional 500, and VIP 1,000. Unused messages roll over to the next month. If you need more, you can add 100 messages for $4.99 or 1,000 for $39.99.
Can I cancel anytime?
Yes. There are no contracts or cancellation fees. Billing is month to month, and you can cancel from within the app.
Who owns my guest data?
You do. Simple Host does not sell or share your guest information, and you can export your data at any time.

Online Reservations

How do I enable reservations?
Open Online Settings and toggle on "Allow Reservation Requests." Set your minimum and maximum party sizes, same-day policy, and any time buffer before seating.
What does "Based on reserved tables" mean?
This option automatically checks all tables you've reserved and blocks new bookings when no table is available — recommended for accurate online availability.
Why do I get a warning about unavailable party sizes?
It means your maximum party size exceeds the tables or combinations available. Create table combinations or adjust minimum seat settings on larger tables.
Can guests pick their own tables?
Yes. Enable "Allow guests to choose tables". Guests will see your floor plan and select tables that fit their group size.
How do I add my reservation link to Google?
Go to your Google Business Profile, click "Bookings," then "Add a link" under "Links to your online booking tools." Paste your Simple Host reservation URL and save. See full guide with screenshots →

Blocking Dates

How do I stop online bookings on certain dates or times?
Use Block Reservation Dates in Online Settings to block a date or a time. Guests booking online cannot choose a blocked date or time.
How do I block in-house reservations?
Go to Settings → Block Dates. Choose Whole Day, Date Range, Time Range, or Recurring (for example, every Monday). When staff try to make a reservation in a blocked time, the app shows a warning and does not create it.
Can I block only certain party sizes?
Yes. Each in-house block can apply to all parties or only to a range of party sizes, like parties of 8 or more. You can also add a reason, which is shown in the warning.
What is the difference between blocking dates and closing tables?
Blocking dates stops reservations for a date or time. Table Closures take specific rooms or tables out of service on a schedule, and can also stop hosts from seating them and keep them out of wait-time quotes.

Online Waitlist

What do guests see while waiting?
Guests view their live position in line, estimated wait time, and number of parties ahead. They can message, call, or view your menu while waiting.
What is Force Sign-In?
It requires guests to sign in with Google or Apple before joining the waitlist or making a reservation, keeping guest data secure and synced with the guestbook.
Can I restrict who can join the waitlist?
Yes. Set a guest location radius in Online Settings, and enter your full restaurant address so guests must be within range to join.
How are wait times estimated?
Wait times are based on your live table turn data, so quotes reflect how your restaurant is actually running right now.
How do guests join the waitlist online?
Guests scan a QR code at your door or tap the waitlist link on your website or Google profile, then join from their phone with no app to download. See how to set it up.
How do guests know their table is ready?
They get a text message when you notify them, and they can reply right from their phone.

Guestbook

How are guests added?
Guests who join the waitlist or make a reservation are automatically saved to your guestbook by phone number. You can also add them manually.
What are categories and tags?
Categories group similar tags (e.g., Allergies, Preferences). Use Edit Categories to create new ones and Edit Tags to manage them.
Does Simple Host recognize repeat guests?
Yes. Guests are linked by phone number, so the next time they join the waitlist or book, your host sees their visit history, notes, and tags.
Can I mark VIPs, allergies, or birthdays?
Yes. Add custom tags and notes to any guest, like VIP, allergies, birthdays, anniversaries, or dietary needs, so the whole team can see them.
Does the guestbook track no-shows?
Yes. No-shows are part of each guest's history, so you can spot repeat no-shows before you confirm their next booking.

Table Management

How do I edit my floor plan?
Go to Edit Floor Plan. Drag tables into place, assign numbers, set capacity, and toggle reservation availability. Use the resizing bar to adjust scale.
What does the "Reservation" switch do on a table?
When off, you can still seat reservations manually, but the table will not appear for online bookings.
How do I combine tables?
Choose Combine Tables, select tables, then choose Flexible or Strict mode, set min/max size, and decide where combinations apply.

Server Sections

How does server rotation work?
Assign tables to each server, and Simple Host suggests who should get the next table so seating stays fair. You can always pick a different server when you seat a guest. Learn more about server sections.
What rotation modes are there?
Guest Count gives the next table to the server who has served the fewest guests, Parties to the server who has served the fewest parties (or tables, depending on your setting), and Smart Cycle lets servers take turns, with Balance Adjustment deciding how far ahead a server can get before being skipped. You can switch modes at any time. Try the interactive example.
Can I change how sections look on the floor plan?
Yes. Choose from three views in Edit Sections: Table Colors (each table tinted its server's color), Section Boxes (each server's tables outlined together as one colored zone with the server's name), or Section Marker (a colored border on each table with the server's name above the section). Each device keeps its own choice.
Can I see which server is looking after a seated table?
Yes. Turn on the server color option in Settings and every seated table shows the name of the server looking after it.

Table Closures

How do I close a room or specific tables?
Open Close Tables from the menu, choose a whole room or tap the tables you want closed, then pick the closed days and hours or add closed dates from the calendar. Learn more about Table Closures.
Will guests be able to book closed tables online?
No. When a closure is set to block online booking, your booking page only offers tables that are open at the time the guest picks.
Can a closure run past midnight?
Yes. Set the hours from, for example, 7:30 PM to 2 AM and the tables stay closed until 2 AM the next morning. A closure that ends at 12 AM ends at midnight and does not carry into the next day.
Can I open a closed section just for tonight?
Yes. Tap Open for today on the closure. It goes back to its normal schedule the next day. Close for today works the same way.
What happens if a host tries to seat a closed table?
The app warns that the table is closed and asks before seating. You can also turn off Allow seating at closed tables in Settings so closed tables cannot be seated at all.

Staff Logins

Do I have to use staff logins?
No. If you never add staff or set an owner PIN, the app opens straight to your floor plan just like before. Learn more about staff logins.
How do I add staff?
Open the menu, choose Staff Accounts, then Manage Users and + Add Staff. Give each person a name, a role (Owner, Manager, Host, or Staff), and their own 4-digit PIN.
What can I restrict?
There are 40 individual permissions across settings, the floor plan, reservations, the waitlist, guest messaging, the guestbook, statistics, online booking, servers, and billing, so you decide exactly what each person can do.
What is a manager override?
When someone tries something they are not allowed to do, a PIN keypad appears showing the action. Anyone with that permission, like a manager, can enter their PIN to approve it once, without signing anyone out.
What if someone forgets their PIN?
The owner can change any staff member's PIN, and the owner can have their own PIN recovery sent to the account email.
Can the app lock itself, or open without a PIN?
Both are options. Auto-lock returns to the sign-in screen after 15 minutes, 1 hour, or 4 hours of inactivity. Open Without Login skips the PIN screen and opens the app as a person you choose, with their permissions still in place.

Activity & Statistics

What is the Activity Logger?
It records reservations, seated guests, waitlist events, server breaks, and more. Quick-view tools let you see open tables, over-time tables, and estimated waits.
What can I see under Statistics?
View ratios between reservations, waitlist, and walk-ins; guest and party totals; no-shows; guests per half hour; and server performance metrics.
What do the lightning and crown icons mean?
Lightning marks the server with the highest guest rate per hour. Crown indicates the server with the most guests for the day.

Messaging & Notifications

How do I notify a guest that their table is ready?
Click the guest's name, then Preset Message, then choose one of your presets. You can also click Table Ready but you must enable automatic text and email notifications in Settings to send instantly. This will send your first preset as a shortcut to whichever switch is on in Preset Message.
Can guests reply to messages?
Yes. Both text and online chat are two-way — guests can respond, and you'll see it directly in your chat panel.

Chit Printing

What is chit printing?
Chit printing lets you automatically print a small receipt-style ticket on a thermal printer when a guest is added to the waitlist or a reservation is created. Each chit includes guest details and a QR code.
What gets printed on a chit?
Waitlist chits include the guest name, party size, estimated wait time, and a QR code the guest can scan to check their place in line. Reservation chits include the guest name, date, time, party size, and a QR code to view their reservation details online.
What does the QR code on the chit do?
Guests scan the QR code with their phone camera to see their live waitlist position or reservation details in their browser — no app download needed.
What printers are compatible?
Any ESC/POS thermal receipt printer connected to your network via Wi-Fi or Ethernet. Popular models include Epson TM-T88, Epson TM-T20, and Star Micronics TSP100 series. The printer must be reachable on TCP port 9100.
How do I connect my printer?
Go to Settings → Printer Settings and tap Scan for Printers to find printers on your network automatically. If your printer doesn't appear, you can enter the IP address and port manually. See our full printer setup guide →
Can I customize what gets printed?
Yes. In Printer Settings, you can choose which guest details appear on the chit — such as name, phone number, party size, notes, wait time, table assignment, and more. Toggle each field on or off to match what your host stand needs.
What are the print modes?
Auto prints instantly when a guest is added or a reservation is created. Ask shows a confirmation dialog before each print. Off disables printing. You can change modes anytime in Printer Settings.
Do I need extra software for the web browser version?
Yes. Web browsers can't connect directly to printers, so you'll need the free SimpleHost Print Helper app running on a Mac or Windows computer on the same network. iPad, iPhone, and Android connect to the printer directly — no extra software needed. Download Print Helper →

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