Client Intake Form Questions: Examples for Every Service Business

The right client intake form questions save you a phone call, a site visit or an awkward surprise on the day. The wrong ones make clients give up halfway. Below are practical intake questions for the most common service businesses, plus advice on keeping your form short enough that people actually finish it.

What is a client intake form?

A client intake form collects the details your business needs before it can quote, prepare or deliver a service. It replaces the first few rounds of questions in a phone call or WhatsApp chat. When it is combined with booking, the client chooses a time and gives you the context in one step.

With SlotForm, intake answers are saved in your Inbox and the client continues on WhatsApp with their details prepared, so the conversation starts with context. Learn more in what is a WhatsApp form?

Core questions for every intake form

1. Full name
2. WhatsApp number
3. Email address (if you send documents or invoices by email)
4. Which service are you interested in?
5. When would you like the service?
6. How did you hear about us?
7. Is there anything else we should know?

Keep name, WhatsApp number and service required. Make the rest optional unless you genuinely cannot proceed without them.

Salon and spa intake questions

1. Which treatment would you like to book?
2. Do you have a preferred stylist or therapist?
3. What result are you hoping for?
4. Have you had colour, chemical treatments or extensions in the last six months?
5. Do you have any allergies or sensitivities?
6. Have you had a reaction to a product before?
7. Are you preparing for a special occasion? If so, when?
8. Do you have any accessibility or comfort requests?

See salon booking forms and the salon consultation template.

Pet grooming intake questions

1. Pet name, breed and age
2. Approximate weight
3. What condition is the coat in? (well maintained, tangles, matted)
4. When was the last professional groom?
5. Any allergies, skin conditions or medical notes?
6. How does your pet react to dryers, clippers or nail trims?
7. What style or length would you like?
8. Is your pet vaccinated? (if your salon requires it)

See pet grooming software and the pet grooming intake template.

Cleaning service intake questions

1. What type of clean do you need? (regular, deep, move-in/out, office)
2. Property type
3. Number of bedrooms and bathrooms
4. Approximate size of the property
5. Any extras? (oven, windows, carpets, fridge)
6. How often would you like cleaning?
7. Pets in the home?
8. Access, parking and alarm notes

See cleaning service forms and the cleaning quote template.

Contractor and trades intake questions

1. What type of work do you need?
2. Describe the project in a few sentences
3. Property address
4. Is the property a house, apartment or commercial unit?
5. Approximate measurements or quantities, if known
6. When would you like the work to start?
7. What is your approximate budget?
8. Link to photos of the area (optional)

See contractor quote forms and the quote request template.

Auto repair intake questions

1. Vehicle make, model and year
2. Registration number
3. Current mileage
4. What problem are you noticing?
5. When does it happen? (starting, braking, at speed)
6. Are any dashboard warning lights on?
7. Will you wait, drop off or need collection?

See auto repair forms and the vehicle service request template.

Consultant and coach intake questions

1. Company or project name
2. What would you like help with?
3. What have you already tried?
4. What would a successful outcome look like?
5. When would you like to start?
6. What is your estimated budget?
7. Who else is involved in the decision?

See consultant intake and booking and the consultation intake template.

Tips for intake forms clients actually finish

• Ask only what changes the work. If an answer would not change your quote, preparation or schedule, remove it.
• Use choices for predictable answers. Tapping is faster than typing on a phone.
• Show questions conditionally. Ask about extensions only when the client chooses an extensions service.
• Explain sensitive questions. A short help text such as “so we can choose suitable products” builds trust.
• Combine intake with booking. One flow is easier than a form followed by a separate booking link. See WhatsApp appointment booking.
• Ask for photos in the chat. SlotForm forms do not take file uploads, so ask for a link to photos or invite clients to share them in WhatsApp after submitting.

Start from a ready-made intake form template and adapt the questions to your services.

Frequently asked questions