Frequently asked questions
Everything you need to know. Can't find an answer? Contact us.
Getting started
How long does setup take?
Most businesses are up and running in under 30 minutes. You enter your business info, add your customers, and start using your tools right away. No technical knowledge required.
Do I need to install anything?
No. IslandBiz is fully web-based. You log in from any browser — desktop or mobile. There are no apps to install or software to maintain.
What types of businesses is this designed for?
We built this specifically for Vancouver Island, BC service businesses: hotels, B&Bs, spas, salons, restaurants, cafés, tour operators, trades, and health & wellness providers. If you serve local customers and manage your online presence, it's for you.
Features & tools
How does the loyalty program work?
You set how many visits are required to earn a reward and what that reward is. When a customer checks in, you stamp their digital card from your dashboard. When they hit the threshold, the system flags it so you can redeem the reward — no app needed for the customer.
How do intake forms work?
You build a form with your own fields (short text, long text, yes/no, dropdown), then share a link with clients before their appointment. Submissions appear in your dashboard under that form. Clients fill it out in their browser — no account required.
Can I send quotes to clients?
Yes. You create a quote with line items, quantities, and prices. The system calculates subtotals and tax automatically. You can email the quote directly to the client with a link where they can view and formally accept it.
What are follow-up sequences?
Follow-up sequences are multi-step email campaigns you configure once and send manually per customer. Each step has a day number, subject line, and message body. You enroll a customer after their first visit and send each step when the timing is right — giving you control without the busywork of writing from scratch.
What does the financials tool track?
You log income and expense transactions with a category, description, amount, and date. The dashboard shows YTD totals, current-month summaries, and a 6-month bar chart breaking down income vs. expenses. It's designed for a clear at-a-glance view, not full accounting software.
Privacy & compliance
Is IslandBiz PIPEDA compliant?
Yes. We comply with Canada's Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA). Customer data is stored on Canadian servers, we never sell your data, and we maintain a full privacy policy outlining data handling practices.
Where is my data stored?
All customer data is stored on servers located in Canada. We do not transfer personal information outside Canada except where strictly required by an integrated third-party service (e.g. Google), in which case you are notified in our Privacy Policy.
Do you comply with BC's Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA)?
Yes. British Columbia has its own privacy legislation (PIPA BC) which applies to private-sector organizations in BC. Our data practices are designed to meet PIPA BC requirements in addition to federal PIPEDA standards.
Can customers request deletion of their data?
Yes. Any individual can request access to or deletion of their personal information by contacting us at privacy@islandbiz.ca. We respond within 30 days as required by law.
Billing & cancellation
Is there a free trial?
Yes — every new account gets 14 days free with full access to your chosen plan. No credit card is required to start the trial.
What happens when my trial ends?
You'll receive an email reminder before your trial expires. If you add a payment method, your plan continues uninterrupted. If not, your account is paused — your data is retained for 30 days so you can reactivate.
Can I cancel at any time?
Yes. Cancel from your account settings at any time with no cancellation fee. Your access continues until the end of the billing period you've already paid for.
What payment methods do you accept?
We accept all major credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express) and Interac e-Transfer for annual plans. All transactions are processed securely via Stripe.
Are there any contracts or lock-in periods?
No. All plans are month-to-month. Annual plans are available at a 20% discount but are not required.