Step 1: Create Your Organization
Start by signing up at nowaitn.com and creating your organization. This is your business identity on the platform — it holds your team, your apps, and your billing.
You will need your business name, your email address, and a password. Once created, you land on the app chooser where you can activate the apps your business needs. For a digital queue, activate the Queue app.
Activating Queue gives you your first seat automatically. You can add more seats later as you bring more staff onto the platform.
Step 2: Configure Your Queue
Inside the Queue app, create a new queue. Give it a name that matches what your customers will see — for example, your restaurant name or a specific service line like Takeout Orders.
Set your operating hours so the queue opens and closes automatically. Set a maximum party size if relevant to your business. Choose whether customers can join remotely — via a web link or QR code — or only through staff-assisted entry.
The defaults are sensible for most businesses. You can always adjust these settings later based on how your customers actually use the system.
Step 3: Set Up Customer Notifications
Notifications are the core of the experience. When a customer joins your queue, they should receive a confirmation text with their position and estimated wait. When their turn approaches, they should get an alert. When it is their turn, they should get a final notification.
Configure each notification message to match your brand voice. Keep messages short — customers read texts quickly. Include the essential information: their position, the estimated time, and what to do when notified.
SMS notifications require a phone number from the customer. If you prefer not to collect phone numbers, the system also supports a web-based status page that customers can bookmark.
Step 4: Generate Your QR Code
Every queue gets a unique QR code and web link that customers can use to join remotely. Print the QR code and place it at your entrance, on table tents, or wherever customers first encounter a wait.
When a customer scans the code, they see a simple form: name, phone number, party size. They submit it and receive their confirmation text. The entire process takes under thirty seconds.
You can also share the web link on your website, social media, or Google Business Profile so customers can join your queue before they even arrive.
Step 5: Train Your Staff
The Queue dashboard is designed to be intuitive, but a brief walkthrough with your host or front-desk staff ensures a smooth first day.
Show them how to view the queue, how to mark customers as served or no-show, and how to manually add a walk-in customer. The dashboard uses color coding: green for ready customers, yellow for approaching, and the standard queue order for everyone else.
Most staff are comfortable with the dashboard within five to ten minutes. The most common early question is about what happens when a customer does not respond to their notification — the system marks them after a configurable timeout and moves to the next person.