COMPLETE USER WORKFLOW GUIDE 📋
Let me break down exactly how your marketplace works for both Vendors (Hosts) and Clients (Guests).
This comprehensive guide walks you through every step of the user journey in your Airbnb-style marketplace, from registration to booking completion and beyond.
🏠 VENDOR/HOST WORKFLOW (Property Owners)
Step 1: Registration & Account Creation
Option A: Register First, List Later (Standard Flow)
- User visits your site
- Clicks "Register" (top right menu)
- Fills registration form:
- Username
- Password
- Receives email verification link
- Clicks link → Account activated
- User is logged in as a regular user (not vendor yet!)
Option B: Direct Vendor Registration (Optional - Faster)
You can enable this in HivePress > Settings > Vendors:
- Check ✅ "Enable vendor registration"
- Now users see "Register as Host" button
- They fill out vendor profile fields immediately (business name, phone, etc.)
- They become a vendor instantly (before adding listings)
Step 2: Adding First Listing (Becomes Vendor)
- User clicks "Add Listing" button (top right)
- Redirected to:
/select-plan(Membership Selection page)
Why? Because you have Memberships enabled with listing limits!
Step 3: Selecting Membership Plan
User sees your 3 plans:
| Plan | Price | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | $0 | 2 listings, basic support |
| Advanced | $18 | 5 listings, priority badge |
| Premium | $36/month | 10 listings, premium badge |
Process:
- User clicks "Select" on chosen plan
- If paid plan: Redirected to WooCommerce checkout
- Enters payment details (Stripe/PayPal)
- Completes payment
- If free plan: Instantly activated
After payment/selection: User is redirected back to
/submit-listing (Add Listing form)
Step 4: Complete Vendor Profile (If Required)
If youve set required vendor attributes (phone, business address, etc.):
- User sees "Complete Profile" step
- Fills out:
- Business Name
- Phone Number
- Location/Address
- Profile Picture
- Business Description
- Clicks "Continue"
🎉 User is now officially a VENDOR!
Step 5: Add Listing Details
User fills out the listing form:
Required Fields:
- Property Title (e.g., "Luxury Beach Villa in Malibu")
- Description
- Category (e.g., Villa, Apartment, Cabin)
- Location (address - Geolocation field)
- Images (upload photos)
Booking Settings:
- Check ✅ "Enable Bookings"
- Set Base Price (e.g., $200/night)
- Set Max Guests (e.g., 6)
- Booking Mode:
- ☐ Instant Booking (auto-confirm)
- ☐ Request to Book (manual approval)
Custom Attributes (you create these):
- Bedrooms (e.g., 3)
- Bathrooms (e.g., 2)
- Amenities (Pool, WiFi, Parking)
Availability Calendar:
- Set default availability
- Block specific dates (holidays, maintenance)
Clicks "Submit Listing"
Step 6: Listing Approval (Optional)
If you enable moderation:
- Go to HivePress > Settings > Listings
- Check ✅ "Require approval"
What happens:
- Listing status = "Pending"
- Admin receives email: "New listing awaiting approval"
- Admin goes to Listings > All Listings
- Reviews listing → Clicks "Publish"
- Vendor receives email: "Your listing is now live!"
If moderation disabled: Listing goes live immediately
Step 7: Vendor Dashboard
Vendor accesses dashboard at /account/
Dashboard shows:
- Total Earnings (commissions deducted)
- Active Bookings (upcoming reservations)
- Pending Requests (if using Request-to-Book mode)
- Messages (from guests)
- My Listings (manage/edit properties)
Step 8: Managing Bookings
When a booking comes in:
If Instant Booking:
- Vendor receives email: "New booking confirmed!"
- Goes to
/account/orders - Sees booking details (guest name, dates, amount)
- Calendar automatically updated (dates blocked)
If Request-to-Book:
- Vendor receives email: "New booking request!"
- Goes to
/account/orders - Clicks "Approve" or "Decline"
- Guest receives notification of decision
Step 9: Stripe Onboarding (Receiving Payments)
To receive payouts, vendor must connect Stripe:
- Go to
/account/settings - Click "Payout Method" tab
- Click "Proceed to Stripe"
- Completes Stripe onboarding:
- Business details
- Bank account
- Identity verification
- Returns to your site → Stripe connected ✅
Now vendor can receive payouts!
📖 Guide: How to set up payouts
Step 10: Receiving Payouts
How payouts work:
- Guest books property for $200
- Your commission: $30 (15%)
- Vendor receives: $170
Payout timing options:
- Immediate: After booking confirmed (risky for cancellations)
- After checkout: After guest check-out date passes (safer)
- Manual: You approve each payout
Configure in HivePress > Settings > Vendors > Selling
👤 CLIENT/GUEST WORKFLOW (Property Renters)
Step 1: Browsing Properties
- Guest visits your homepage
- Uses search bar:
- Location: "Los Angeles"
- Check-in: June 15, 2026
- Check-out: June 20, 2026
- Guests: 4
- Clicks "Search"
Step 2: Viewing Search Results
Redirected to /listings?location=los-angeles&dates=2026-06-15,2026-06-20&guests=4
Guest sees:
- Filtered listings (available for those dates + location)
- Sidebar filters:
- Price range
- Bedrooms
- Amenities (Pool, WiFi, etc.)
- Property type (Villa, Apartment)
- Sort options:
- Price (low to high)
- Rating
- Newest
Guest applies filters → Results update in real-time
Clicks on a property
Step 3: Viewing Property Details
Guest is on /listing/luxury-beach-villa-malibu
Guest sees:
- Photo gallery
- Property description
- Price: $200/night × 5 nights = $1,000
- Availability calendar (unavailable dates grayed out)
- Location map
- Host profile (photo, name, rating, reviews)
- Amenities list
- Reviews from previous guests
- "Book Now" or "Request to Book" button
Step 4: Initiating Booking
Guest clicks "Book Now" or "Request to Book"
If guest is NOT logged in:
- Modal appears: "Sign in to book"
- Options:
- Login (if has account)
- Register (quick form: email, password)
- After registration/login → Returns to booking
Step 5: Booking Form
Instant Booking Flow:
Modal/page opens with booking summary:
- Property name
- Dates: June 15-20, 2026 (5 nights)
- Guests: 4
- Subtotal: $1,000
- Service Fee (your commission): $150 (15%)
- Total: $1,150
Guest enters details:
- Phone number
- Special requests (optional)
Clicks "Proceed to Checkout"
Request-to-Book Flow:
- Guest fills same form
- Clicks "Send Request"
- Message: "Booking request sent! You'll receive confirmation within 24 hours."
- Wait for host approval
Step 6: Payment (WooCommerce Checkout)
Guest redirected to /checkout (WooCommerce page)
Checkout form:
- Billing details (name, address)
- Payment methods:
- Credit/Debit Card (Stripe)
- PayPal
- Apple Pay / Google Pay
Guest enters card details
Clicks "Place Order"
Payment processing:
- Marketplace mode: Full amount charged ($1,150)
- Your commission: $150 (held by site)
- Vendor payout: $1,000 (sent to vendor's Stripe later)
Success message: "Booking confirmed! ✅"
Step 7: Confirmation
Guest receives:
Email confirmation with:
- Booking reference number
- Property details
- Host contact info
- Check-in/out dates
- Total amount paid
Host receives:
Email notification:
- New booking details
- Guest name & contact
- Payment confirmation
Step 8: Guest Dashboard
Guest goes to /account/
Dashboard shows:
- Upcoming Bookings (with countdown)
- Past Bookings (history)
- Messages (chat with host)
- Favorites (saved properties)
Step 9: Communication (Messages)
Guest can message host:
- On listing page → Click "Send Message"
- Or in dashboard →
/account/messages - Real-time messaging
- Email notifications for new messages
Use cases:
- Ask questions before booking
- Coordinate check-in details
- Report issues during stay
Step 10: After Checkout
Day after checkout date passes:
- Guest receives email: "How was your stay?"
- Clicks "Leave a Review"
- Rates property (1-5 stars)
- Writes review text
- Submits
Review appears:
- On property listing page
- On host profile page
- Guest's public profile
📊 ADMIN WORKFLOW (You - Site Owner)
Your Dashboard:
/wp-admin/admin.php?page=hivepress
You can:
- View all bookings & earnings
- Manage memberships (approve/expire plans)
- Moderate listings (approve/reject)
- Manage vendors (view earnings, commissions)
- Handle disputes via message monitor
- Process payouts manually (if not automated)
- View reports & analytics
🔄 COMPLETE USER JOURNEY MAP
Scenario: Sarah (Guest) books Mike's (Vendor) Villa
│ VENDOR (Mike) - Sets Up Listing │
1. Registers account → Email verified
2. Clicks "Add Listing" → Redirected to /select-plan
3. Selects "Advanced Plan" ($18) → Pays via Stripe
4. Completes vendor profile (phone, location)
5. Fills listing form:
- "Luxury Villa in Miami"
- $200/night
- 4 bedrooms, pool, WiFi
- Uploads 10 photos
6. Sets booking mode: "Request to Book"
7. Submits → Listing goes live (or pending your approval)
8. Connects Stripe account for payouts
│ CLIENT (Sarah) - Books Property │
1. Visits homepage
2. Search: Miami + July 1-7 + 4 guests
3. Browses results → Clicks Mike's villa
4. Reads description, checks reviews (4.9★)
5. Clicks "Request to Book"
6. Registers quickly (email + password)
7. Fills booking form:
- Phone: xxx-xxx-xxxx
- Message: "Arriving at 3pm, need parking"
8. Clicks "Send Request"
│ VENDOR (Mike) - Approves Booking │
9. Receives email: "New booking request from Sarah"
10. Goes to /account/orders
11. Reviews request → Clicks "Approve"
│ CLIENT (Sarah) - Pays for Booking │
12. Receives email: "Booking approved! Complete payment"
13. Clicks link → Redirected to checkout
14. Sees total: $1,200 + $180 fee = $1,380
15. Enters credit card → Pays
16. Confirmation: "Booking confirmed! ✅"
│ DURING STAY │
17. Sarah messages Mike about WiFi password
18. Mike replies via /account/messages
19. Check-in July 1 → Check-out July 7
│ AFTER STAY │
20. Sarah receives "Leave a Review" email
21. Rates 5 stars: "Amazing villa! Great host!"
22. Mike receives $1,200 payout to Stripe account
23. You (admin) keep $180 commission
⚙️ CONFIGURATION CHECKLIST
To enable this entire workflow:
✅ Memberships:
HivePress > Settings > Memberships
- Create 3 plans (Starter, Advanced, Premium)
- Set listing limits per plan
- Set expiration (30 days or recurring)
✅ Bookings:
HivePress > Settings > Bookings
- ❌ Disable "Multiple bookings per time period"
- ❌ Disable "Time slots"
- ✅ Enable "Allow multiple places per booking" (for Guests field)
- Set booking mode: Instant OR Request-to-Book (per listing)
✅ Marketplace (Commissions):
HivePress > Settings > Marketplace
- Set commission rate: 15%
- Enable "Hold payments" (until checkout date)
- Configure payout method: Stripe
✅ Geolocation:
HivePress > Settings > Geolocation
- Choose provider: Mapbox
- Add API key
- Enable for Listings
✅ Payments:
WooCommerce > Settings > Payments
- Enable Stripe
- Add Stripe API keys
- Test mode first!
✅ Emails:
HivePress > Emails
Customize email templates:
- Booking confirmation
- Booking request
- Review reminder
- Payout notification
🎉 You are All Set!
Follow this workflow guide to understand how users interact with your marketplace at every stage. Test each flow thoroughly before launching to ensure a smooth experience for both vendors and guests.