Car Wash Booking System - Documentation

📦 Installation

Method 1: WordPress Admin Upload (Recommended)

Download the plugin ZIP file from CodeCanyon
Log in to your WordPress admin panel
Navigate to Plugins → Add New
Click Upload Plugin button
Choose the downloaded ZIP file
Click Install Now
After installation, click Activate Plugin

Method 2: Manual FTP Upload

Extract the ZIP file on your computer
Upload the smart-car-wash-booking folder to /wp-content/plugins/
Go to WordPress admin → Plugins
Find "Car Wash Booking System" and click Activate

What Happens on Activation

When you activate the plugin, it automatically:

✅ Creates 10 database tables for storing data
✅ Adds default vehicle types (Sedan, SUV, Truck, Van)
✅ Adds default addons (Interior Cleaning, Waxing, Engine Wash, Tire Shine)
✅ Sets up default business settings
✅ Configures working hours (9 AM - 6 PM)
✅ Sets currency to USD

Success! After activation, you'll see a new "Car Wash" menu in your WordPress admin sidebar.

✨ Features Overview

🚗 Vehicle Types Management

Create and manage different vehicle categories with custom pricing, icons, and descriptions.

📦 Service Packages

Build flexible service packages with multiple vehicle type support and detailed feature lists.

➕ Addons System

Offer optional services like waxing, interior cleaning, and more with individual pricing.

📅 Smart Booking

Intelligent date and time slot management with availability checking and buffer times.

💳 Payment Integration

Accept payments via Stripe, PayPal, or Cash on Delivery with secure processing.

📧 Email Notifications

Automated email confirmations for customers and admins with customizable templates.

📊 Analytics Dashboard

Track revenue, bookings, peak times, and popular services with interactive charts.

🎨 Multiple Layouts

Choose from 4 booking form layouts: Single Page, Wizard, Compact, and Grid.

🔒 Security Features

Rate limiting, secure tokens, input validation, and comprehensive security logging.

🌐 Translation Ready

Fully internationalized and ready for translation into any language.

📱 Responsive Design

Works perfectly on desktop, tablet, and mobile devices.

🔄 Demo Content

One-click demo content installer for quick setup and testing.

📍 Multi-Location Support

Manage multiple car wash branches with unique schedules, services, and settings per location.

📅 Google Calendar Sync

Two-way synchronization with Google Calendar for automatic event creation and updates.

📱 SMS Notifications

Send SMS or WhatsApp notifications via Twilio for booking confirmations and updates.

🎛️ Admin Panel Guide

Dashboard

The dashboard provides an overview of your booking system:

Statistics Cards: Total bookings, revenue, pending bookings, completed bookings
Recent Bookings: Latest booking activity
Quick Actions: Add new booking, view all bookings, manage packages
System Status: WordPress version, PHP version, database status

Vehicle Types

Manage different vehicle categories:

Add New: Create vehicle types with name, slug, description, and icon
Edit: Update existing vehicle types
Delete: Remove vehicle types (checks for dependencies)
Sort Order: Drag and drop to reorder display
Status: Toggle active/inactive status

Packages

Create service packages:

Basic Info: Name, description, duration
Vehicle Types: Select which vehicle types this package applies to
Pricing: Set base price (can vary by vehicle type)
Features: Add feature list (e.g., "Exterior wash", "Tire cleaning")
Images: Upload package images for better presentation
Status: Enable/disable packages

Addons

Manage optional services:

Name & Description: Clear addon details
Pricing: Set addon price
Duration: Additional time required
Icon: Upload or select icon
Status: Enable/disable addons

Bookings

Manage all customer bookings:

View All: List of all bookings with filters
Filter by Status: Pending, Confirmed, In Progress, Completed, Cancelled, No-show
Filter by Date: Today, This Week, This Month, Custom Range
Search: Find bookings by customer name, email, or phone
Actions: View details, change status, delete booking
Export: Download bookings as CSV

Analytics

View business insights:

Revenue Chart: Daily/weekly/monthly revenue trends
Bookings Chart: Booking volume over time
Peak Times: Busiest hours and days
Top Packages: Most popular services
Vehicle Type Analysis: Revenue by vehicle category
Date Range Filter: Analyze specific time periods

Email Settings

Configure email notifications:

Sender Details: From name and email address
Enable/Disable: Toggle customer and admin notifications
Email Templates: Customize confirmation, reminder, and cancellation emails
Test Email: Send test emails to verify configuration
Email Log: View sent email history

Frontend Settings

Customize booking form appearance:

General: Primary color, secondary color, font family, border radius
Layout Settings: Configure each layout (Single, Wizard, Compact, Grid)
Package Display: Grid, slider, or list view with column options
Addon Display: Grid, table, list, or compact view
Show/Hide: Toggle images, icons, descriptions, features

General Settings

Configure business and system settings:

Business Info: Name, email, phone, address
Working Hours: Start time, end time, days of operation
Time Slots: Duration (15, 30, 45, 60 minutes)
Booking Buffer: Time between bookings
Currency: Currency code and symbol position
Payment Methods: Enable Stripe, PayPal, Cash on Delivery
Stripe Settings: API keys for test and live modes
PayPal Settings: Client ID and secret

License

Activate your plugin license:

Purchase Code: Enter your Envato purchase code
Email: Your purchase email address
Activate: Validate license and enable updates
Status: View license expiration and status
Deactivate: Transfer license to another site

System Status

Check system health:

WordPress Environment: Version, site URL, home URL
Server Environment: PHP version, MySQL version, server software
Database Tables: Verify all plugin tables exist
File Permissions: Check upload directory permissions
Active Plugins: List of installed plugins

📍 Multi-Location Setup

Overview

The multi-location feature allows you to manage multiple car wash branches from a single WordPress installation. Each location can have its own schedule, contact information, and settings.

Enabling Multi-Location

Go to Car Wash → Settings → General
Find the Multi-Location toggle
Enable it to activate multi-location support
A default location will be automatically created using your existing business settings

Note: When you disable multi-location, your booking forms will work without a location selector. Bookings will either use the default location or have no location assigned.

Managing Locations

Access locations via Car Wash → Locations:

Add New: Create new locations with name, address, phone, and email
Working Hours: Set unique operating hours for each location
Time Slots: Configure time slot duration per location
Booking Buffer: Set buffer time between bookings
Default Location: Mark one location as the default for single-location mode
Status: Enable/disable locations without deleting them

Location Fields

Field	Description	Required
Name	Location name (e.g., "Downtown Branch")	Yes
Address	Street address	No
City, State, ZIP	Location details	No
Phone	Contact phone number	No
Email	Location-specific email	No
Working Hours	Start and end time for appointments	Yes
Time Slot Duration	Duration of booking slots (15, 30, 45, 60 min)	Yes

Frontend Behavior

Multiple locations enabled: Location selector appears as the first step in booking forms
Single location: Location step is skipped, and that location is auto-selected
Multi-location disabled: Location step is hidden entirely

Location in Analytics

When multi-location is enabled:

Filter analytics dashboard by location
View revenue and bookings per location
Compare performance across branches
Location column appears in the bookings list

🔗 Integrations

Google Calendar Integration

Automatically sync bookings to your Google Calendar. When a booking is created, confirmed, updated, or cancelled, the corresponding Google Calendar event is created or updated.

Setup Steps

Go to Google Cloud Console
Create a new project (or select an existing one)
Enable the Google Calendar API for your project
Go to APIs & Services → Credentials
Click Create Credentials → OAuth client ID
Select Web application as the application type
Add the Redirect URI from your plugin settings
Copy the Client ID and Client Secret
In WordPress, go to Car Wash → Settings → Integrations
Paste the Client ID and Client Secret
Click Save Settings
Click Connect Google Calendar and authorize

Configuration Options

Calendar ID: Use "primary" for your main calendar or enter a specific calendar ID
Timezone: Calendar events will use this timezone
Connection Status: Shows if Google Calendar is connected
Disconnect: Remove the connection to use a different account

Important: Make sure to add the correct Redirect URI in your Google Cloud Console OAuth settings. The exact URI is shown in your plugin settings.

SMS Notifications (Twilio)

Send SMS or WhatsApp notifications to customers and admins when bookings are created or updated.

Setup Steps

Create a Twilio account
Get a phone number from Twilio
Find your Account SID and Auth Token in the Twilio Console
In WordPress, go to Car Wash → Settings → Notifications
Enable SMS Notifications
Enter your Twilio Account SID
Enter your Twilio Auth Token
Enter the "From" phone number (your Twilio number)
Enter the admin phone number for admin notifications
Select message type: SMS or WhatsApp
Save settings

Configuration Options

Setting	Description
Enable SMS	Toggle SMS notifications on/off
SMS Provider	Currently Twilio only
Account SID	Your Twilio Account SID
Auth Token	Your Twilio Auth Token
From Number	Your Twilio phone number with country code (e.g., +14155551234)
Admin Phone	Phone number for receiving admin notifications
Message Type	SMS or WhatsApp (WhatsApp requires approved Twilio account)

Testing SMS

Use the Send Test SMS button in settings to verify your configuration is working correctly.

WhatsApp Note: To use WhatsApp messages, you need an approved Twilio WhatsApp sender. SMS works immediately with any Twilio account.

📝 Shortcode Reference

Main Booking Form

[car_wash_booking]

Displays the booking form with default settings (wizard layout).

Shortcode Parameters

Parameter	Values	Default	Description
`layout`	single, wizard, compact, grid	wizard	Choose booking form layout
`primary_color`	Any hex color	#3B82F6	Primary color for buttons and accents
`accent_color`	Any hex color	#10B981	Accent color for highlights
`text_color`	Any hex color	#1F2937	Main text color
`bg_color`	Any hex color	#FFFFFF	Background color
`vehicle_type`	Vehicle type slug	-	Pre-select a vehicle type
`package`	Package slug	-	Pre-select a package

Examples

Single Page Layout

[car_wash_booking layout="single"]

Compact Layout with Custom Colors

                [car_wash_booking layout="compact" primary_color="#FF6B6B" accent_color="#4ECDC4"]
            

Grid Layout with Pre-selected Vehicle Type

[car_wash_booking layout="grid" vehicle_type="suv"]

Wizard Layout with All Custom Colors

                [car_wash_booking layout="wizard" primary_color="#8B5CF6" accent_color="#EC4899" text_color="#1F2937" bg_color="#F9FAFB"]
            

My Bookings Shortcode

[car_wash_my_bookings]

Displays a list of bookings for the current logged-in user. Requires user to be logged in.

⚙️ Configuration Guide

Initial Setup Checklist

✅ Business Information: Go to Settings → General and fill in your business details
✅ Working Hours: Set your operating hours and time slot duration
✅ Currency: Configure your currency and symbol position
✅ Vehicle Types: Review and customize default vehicle types or add your own
✅ Packages: Create service packages with pricing and features
✅ Addons: Review and customize optional services
✅ Payment Methods: Enable and configure Stripe, PayPal, or Cash
✅ Email Settings: Configure sender details and test email delivery
✅ Frontend Settings: Customize colors and layout preferences
✅ License: Activate your purchase code for updates

Payment Gateway Setup

Stripe Configuration

Create a Stripe account at stripe.com
Get your API keys from Stripe Dashboard → Developers → API keys
In WordPress admin, go to Car Wash → Settings → Payment
Enable Stripe
Select mode (Test or Live)
Enter your Publishable Key and Secret Key
Save settings
Test with Stripe test card: 4242 4242 4242 4242

PayPal Configuration

Create a PayPal Business account
Go to PayPal Developer Dashboard
Create a REST API app to get Client ID and Secret
In WordPress admin, go to Car Wash → Settings → Payment
Enable PayPal
Select mode (Sandbox or Live)
Enter your Client ID and Secret
Save settings

Email Configuration

Go to Car Wash → Email Settings
Set "From Name" (e.g., "Your Car Wash")
Set "From Email" (e.g., "bookings@yourcarwash.com")
Enable customer notifications
Enable admin notifications
Click "Send Test Email" to verify configuration
Customize email templates if needed

Note: If emails are not being delivered, consider using an SMTP plugin like WP Mail SMTP or Post SMTP for better email deliverability.

Frontend Customization

Go to Car Wash → Frontend Settings
Choose your primary and secondary colors
Select font family (or leave default)
Set border radius for rounded corners
Configure layout-specific settings for each form type
Choose package display mode (grid, slider, list)
Choose addon display mode (grid, table, list, compact)
Toggle visibility of images, icons, and descriptions
Save changes

🔧 Troubleshooting

Plugin Won't Activate

Symptoms: Error message when trying to activate the plugin.

Solutions:

Check PHP version (requires 7.4 or higher)
Check WordPress version (requires 5.8 or higher)
Enable WordPress debug mode to see detailed errors
Check server error logs
Deactivate other plugins to check for conflicts

Booking Form Not Displaying

Symptoms: Shortcode shows as text or form doesn't appear.

Solutions:

Verify plugin is activated
Check shortcode spelling: [car_wash_booking]
Clear browser cache and WordPress cache
Check browser console for JavaScript errors
Try switching to a default WordPress theme temporarily
Disable other plugins to check for conflicts

Booking Form Shows "Loading..."

Symptoms: Form stuck on loading screen.

Solutions:

Check browser console for API errors
Verify REST API is working: Visit yoursite.com/wp-json/cwb/v1/vehicle-types
Check if security plugins are blocking REST API
Disable REST API authentication plugins temporarily
Check server error logs for PHP errors

Emails Not Being Sent

Symptoms: Customers not receiving booking confirmations.

Solutions:

Check spam/junk folders
Verify email settings in Car Wash → Email Settings
Use "Send Test Email" feature
Install WP Mail SMTP plugin for better deliverability
Check email logs in Car Wash → Email Settings → Email Log
Verify your hosting provider allows email sending

Payment Not Processing

Symptoms: Payment fails or doesn't complete.

Solutions:

Stripe: Verify API keys are correct and match the mode (test/live)
Stripe: Check Stripe dashboard for error details
PayPal: Verify Client ID and Secret are correct
PayPal: Ensure mode matches your credentials (sandbox/live)
Check browser console for JavaScript errors
Test with different payment method
Enable WordPress debug mode to see detailed errors

Time Slots Not Showing

Symptoms: No available time slots for selected date.

Solutions:

Check working hours in Settings → General
Verify the selected date is not in the past
Check if date falls on a working day
Verify time slot duration is configured
Check if all slots are already booked

Styles Not Loading Correctly

Symptoms: Form looks broken or unstyled.

Solutions:

Hard refresh browser: Ctrl + F5 (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + R (Mac)
Clear WordPress cache (if using caching plugin)
Clear browser cache
Check browser console for CSS file loading errors
Verify file permissions on plugin directory
Check for theme CSS conflicts

Database Tables Not Created

Symptoms: Plugin activated but features don't work.

Solutions:

Check database user has CREATE TABLE permissions
Deactivate and reactivate the plugin
Check wp-content/debug.log for errors
Manually verify tables in phpMyAdmin (look for wp_cwb_* tables)
Contact hosting support if permission issues persist

License Activation Fails

Symptoms: Cannot activate purchase code.

Solutions:

Verify purchase code is correct (copy from CodeCanyon)
Ensure email matches your CodeCanyon account
Check if license is already activated on another site
Deactivate from previous site first
Verify server can make outbound HTTP requests
Check firewall settings

Still Having Issues? Enable WordPress debug mode by adding these lines to wp-config.php:

                    define('WP_DEBUG', true);

                    define('WP_DEBUG_LOG', true);

                    define('WP_DEBUG_DISPLAY', false);

Then check wp-content/debug.log for detailed error messages.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use this plugin for other types of bookings?

Yes! While designed for car wash businesses, the plugin can be adapted for any service-based booking system like detailing, mobile car wash, bike wash, etc.

How many bookings can the plugin handle?

The plugin is designed to handle thousands of bookings. Performance depends on your hosting environment. For high-volume businesses, we recommend VPS or dedicated hosting.

Can I have multiple booking forms on different pages?

Yes! You can use the shortcode on as many pages as you want. Each can have different layouts and colors using shortcode parameters.

Does it work with my theme?

Yes! The plugin is designed to work with any WordPress theme. If you experience styling conflicts, you can customize the appearance using Frontend Settings.

Can customers cancel or reschedule bookings?

Customers can view their bookings using the [car_wash_my_bookings] shortcode. Cancellation and rescheduling features can be enabled in settings.

Is the plugin translation-ready?

Yes! The plugin is fully internationalized and ready for translation. You can use plugins like Loco Translate or WPML to translate into any language.

Can I export booking data?

Yes! You can export bookings as CSV from the Bookings page. This is useful for accounting, reporting, or importing into other systems.

Does it support multiple locations?

Yes! The plugin includes full multi-location support. You can manage multiple car wash branches, each with unique schedules, services, and settings. Customers can select their preferred location during booking, and analytics can be filtered by location.

Can I customize email templates?

Yes! Email templates can be customized from the Email Settings page. You can modify the content, styling, and include dynamic variables.

What payment methods are supported?

The plugin supports Stripe (credit/debit cards), PayPal, and Cash on Delivery. You can enable any combination of these methods.

Are there any transaction fees?

The plugin itself doesn't charge any fees. However, Stripe and PayPal charge their standard processing fees (typically 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction).

Can I set different prices for different vehicle types?

Yes! When creating packages, you can assign them to multiple vehicle types, and pricing can vary based on the vehicle type selected.

How do I prevent double bookings?

The plugin automatically checks availability and prevents double bookings for the same time slot. You can also set buffer times between bookings.

Can I block specific dates or times?

Yes! You can configure working hours and days of operation in Settings. Dates outside these hours will not be available for booking.

Is customer data secure?

Yes! The plugin includes comprehensive security features including input validation, SQL injection prevention, XSS protection, rate limiting, and secure token generation.

What happens if I deactivate the plugin?

Deactivating the plugin will disable all booking functionality, but your data remains in the database. If you reactivate, everything will work as before.

What happens if I uninstall the plugin?

You can choose to keep or delete all data during uninstall. If you choose to delete, all database tables, bookings, and settings will be permanently removed.

Can I customize the booking form fields?

The core fields are standard for booking systems. Custom field support is planned for a future update. You can currently show/hide certain fields via settings.

Does it work with page builders?

Yes! The shortcode works with all major page builders including Elementor, Beaver Builder, Divi, WPBakery, and Gutenberg.

Can I get updates after purchase?

Yes! After activating your license, you'll receive automatic update notifications in your WordPress admin. Updates include new features, improvements, and security patches.

💬 Support & Resources

Getting Help

If you need assistance with the Car Wash Booking System, here are your options:

📚 Documentation

You're reading it! This documentation covers installation, configuration, and troubleshooting.

💬 Support Forum

Visit the item support page on CodeCanyon to ask questions and get help from our support team.

🐛 Bug Reports

Found a bug? Please report it through the CodeCanyon support system with detailed steps to reproduce.

💡 Feature Requests

Have an idea for a new feature? We'd love to hear it! Submit your suggestions through support.

Before Contacting Support

To help us assist you quickly, please:

Check this documentation and the FAQ section
Review the Troubleshooting section
Enable WordPress debug mode and check for errors
Check browser console for JavaScript errors
Try deactivating other plugins to check for conflicts
Test with a default WordPress theme

When Contacting Support, Include:

WordPress version
PHP version
Plugin version
Active theme name
List of active plugins
Detailed description of the issue
Steps to reproduce the problem
Screenshots or screen recordings if applicable
Any error messages from debug log or browser console

Support Hours: We typically respond to support requests within 24-48 hours on business days.

System Requirements

Requirement	Minimum	Recommended
WordPress	5.8	6.4+
PHP	7.4	8.0+
MySQL	5.7	8.0+
Memory Limit	128 MB	256 MB+
Max Execution Time	30 seconds	60 seconds+

Changelog

Version 1.0.0 - Initial Release

✨ Vehicle types management
✨ Service packages with multi-vehicle support
✨ Addons system
✨ Complete booking workflow
✨ Four booking form layouts (Single, Wizard, Compact, Grid)
✨ Payment integration (Stripe, PayPal, Cash)
✨ Email notification system
✨ Analytics dashboard
✨ Frontend customization settings
✨ License management system
✨ Demo content installer
✨ System status page
✨ Comprehensive security features
✨ Multi-location support with unique schedules per branch
✨ Google Calendar two-way sync with OAuth 2.0
✨ SMS notifications via Twilio (SMS & WhatsApp)
✨ Setup wizard for easy initial configuration
✨ Magic links for customer booking management

Welcome to Car Wash Booking System

📦 Installation

Method 1: WordPress Admin Upload (Recommended)

Method 2: Manual FTP Upload

What Happens on Activation

✨ Features Overview

🚗 Vehicle Types Management

📦 Service Packages

➕ Addons System

📅 Smart Booking

💳 Payment Integration

📧 Email Notifications

📊 Analytics Dashboard

🎨 Multiple Layouts

🔒 Security Features

🌐 Translation Ready

📱 Responsive Design

🔄 Demo Content

📍 Multi-Location Support

📅 Google Calendar Sync

📱 SMS Notifications

🎛️ Admin Panel Guide

Dashboard

Vehicle Types

Packages

Addons

Bookings

Analytics

Email Settings

Frontend Settings

General Settings

License

System Status

📍 Multi-Location Setup

Overview

Enabling Multi-Location

Managing Locations

Location Fields

Frontend Behavior

Location in Analytics

🔗 Integrations

Google Calendar Integration

Setup Steps

Configuration Options

SMS Notifications (Twilio)

Setup Steps

Configuration Options

Testing SMS

📝 Shortcode Reference

Main Booking Form

Shortcode Parameters

Examples

Single Page Layout

Compact Layout with Custom Colors

Grid Layout with Pre-selected Vehicle Type

Wizard Layout with All Custom Colors

My Bookings Shortcode

⚙️ Configuration Guide

Initial Setup Checklist

Payment Gateway Setup

Stripe Configuration

PayPal Configuration

Email Configuration

Frontend Customization

🔧 Troubleshooting

Plugin Won't Activate

Booking Form Not Displaying

Booking Form Shows "Loading..."

Emails Not Being Sent

Payment Not Processing

Time Slots Not Showing

Styles Not Loading Correctly

Database Tables Not Created

License Activation Fails

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use this plugin for other types of bookings?

How many bookings can the plugin handle?

Can I have multiple booking forms on different pages?

Does it work with my theme?

Can customers cancel or reschedule bookings?