Set Up Your First Waiver

This article walks you through creating your first waiver in WaveRez. The process has three phases: configuring the waiver's Settings (its name, contact info, and trips), building the form on the Form tab, and publishing it. WaveRez gives you a default scaffold of common form fields when you create a new waiver, so most of your build time is spent customizing the scaffold and adding your own legal content (terms and conditions, acknowledgements, safety video acknowledgements, and any state-specific minor guardian language). This article covers the full first-time build, including how to add each type of step. Once you have published your first waiver, the related articles cover deeper customization and ongoing management.

Have these items ready before you begin so you can build your waiver in one sitting:

Step 1 — Navigate to the Waivers section. In the left menu, click Waivers > Waivers. The Waivers list opens.

Step 2 — Click Create. A New Waiver modal appears with a single Waiver name field.

Step 3 — Enter a Waiver name. The Waiver name is the internal label you and your team see in the Waivers list. It is not the name customers see on their waiver. Use a versioning convention from the start (for example, "Pontoon Waiver V1") so future revisions are easy to track. The Waiver name cannot be changed after the waiver is created. Click Save. WaveRez creates the waiver in draft status and opens the Settings tab.

Step 4 — Enter the Title. The Title field on the Settings tab is what customers see at the top of the waiver page. By default, the Title pre-fills with your business name. Edit the Title if you want a different label visible to customers.

Step 5 — Add your business Email and Phone (optional). The Email and Phone fields appear as Email Us and Call us buttons at the top of the customer-facing waiver page. If you leave one or both blank, the corresponding button does not appear on the waiver page. The Title and Address are the only required fields.

Step 6 — Enter the Address. The Address field is required to publish. The address appears at the bottom of the customer-facing waiver page.

Step 7 — Upload your logo. Click Change logo. Use a logo with a solid (non-transparent) background. Logos with transparent backgrounds will render with a black background on the customer-facing waiver page.

Step 8 — Configure the Advanced section. The Kid age field controls how many youth life jackets are calculated for a booking. The Kid age field does not gate the minor question itself. Use a whole number representing the maximum age that counts as a child for life jacket purposes (typically 6 to 12). The Driver birth date field controls the steering wheel icon color displayed next to driver guests on the order Overview. Drivers born on or after this date display a yellow steering wheel icon, drivers born before display a black icon, and minor drivers display a red icon. Both fields are required to publish.

Click the Form tab at the top of the waiver editor. The form is divided into two panels.

The left panel lists every field included in WaveRez's default scaffold, organized into sections (Personal info, Driver, Emergency, Minors). It also includes any pre-built Terms & Custom Steps templates from your account. Each item has a checkbox. Checked means the item is included in your form. Unchecked means it is not.

The right panel shows the actual form your customers will see, in order. Each step on the right panel has an eye icon (preview), a gear icon (configure), and a trash icon (remove). Steps can be dragged to reorder using the dotted handle on the left side of each row.

Step 1 — Walk through the right panel from top to bottom. Look at each step in the order your customers will see it. For each step, decide whether to keep it as-is, customize it, or remove it.

Step 2 — Remove fields you do not need. To remove a field, either uncheck the box on the left panel, or click the trash icon on the right panel. The field disappears from your form. To add the field back later, re-check the box on the left panel. Re-checked fields appear at the bottom of the right panel and can be dragged into position.

Step 3 — Customize a default field. Click the gear icon next to a step on the right panel. The Form Step Configuration modal opens, where you can edit the Step title (the customer-facing heading at the top of the step), the Step description (optional secondary text below the step title), and the field configuration (label, helper text, required status, error messages, and other settings depending on the field type).

Step 4 — Reorder steps. On the right panel, click and hold the dotted drag handle on the left side of a step and drag it to the position you want. Steps can be reordered freely.

Step 5 — Preview what your customers will see. Click the eye icon next to any step on the right panel. The Waiver Preview opens showing exactly that step as the customer will see it, with desktop and mobile toggle options. Use the preview throughout your build to verify your customizations look right.

A Terms and Conditions step displays a block of legal text plus a checkbox the customer must tick to agree before they can proceed. Use this step type for liability terms, lease agreements, rental agreements, or any other legal text that requires customer agreement.

Step 1 — Click Add custom step at the top right of the right panel. The Form Step Configuration modal opens.

Step 2 — Enter a Step title. The Step title is the customer-facing heading at the top of the step. The Step title can be anything you want.

Step 3 — Enter a Step description (optional). The Step description is optional secondary text that appears below the Step title. Leave it blank if you do not need additional context above the terms.

Step 4 — In the Fields section, change the Field type to Terms and Conditions. Click the Field type dropdown and select Terms and Conditions. The field's configuration options update to match the field type.

Step 5 — Enter the field Label. The Label is an internal/admin-facing label that appears in the form's structure and in details/PDF views. The Label is not customer-facing.

Step 6 — Add your terms in the Terms content area. The Terms content area is a rich text editor. Type or paste your terms language directly into the editor. The editor supports bold, italic, underline, strikethrough, bulleted lists, numbered lists, alignment, links, and inline images. The formatting you apply renders to the customer exactly as it appears in the editor.

Step 7 — Customize the Checkbox label. The Checkbox label is the line of text that appears next to the checkbox the customer ticks. The default value is "I have read and agree to the terms." Edit the Checkbox label to match the nature of your acknowledgement (for example, "I understand" or "I agree to the lease terms").

Step 8 — Set the Error text. The Error text is the message customers see if they try to proceed without ticking the checkbox. The default value is "Please accept the terms to continue." Edit the Error text if you want different wording.

Step 9 — Confirm the Required toggle is on. The Required toggle defaults to on for Terms and Conditions fields. Leave it on so customers must tick the checkbox to proceed.

Step 10 — Set the Display in details/PDF dropdown. The Display in details/PDF dropdown controls whether and how the field appears in the staff-facing waiver details view and in any PDF output. New custom fields default to Do not show. Change this to Show in details and PDF if you want your team to see the field on staff-facing waiver views. The dropdown options are:

Step 11 — Click Create step. The step is added to the bottom of the right panel. Drag it into the position you want using the dotted drag handle.

A Multiple Acknowledgements step displays a list of statements where each statement has its own checkbox. The customer must tick every checkbox in the list to proceed. Use this step type when you want the customer to confirm several specific items individually rather than agreeing to a single block of terms.

Step 1 — Click Add custom step at the top right of the right panel. The Form Step Configuration modal opens.

Step 2 — Enter a Step title. The Step title is the customer-facing heading at the top of the step (for example, "Pre-Trip Acknowledgements" or "Safety Confirmations").

Step 3 — In the Fields section, change the Field type to Multiple Acknowledgements. Click the Field type dropdown and select Multiple Acknowledgements. The field's configuration options update to match the field type.

Step 4 — Enter the field Label. The Label is the heading that appears above the list of acknowledgement items on the customer-facing step.

Step 5 — Add your first acknowledgement item. The Acknowledgements subsection at the bottom of the field shows a single acknowledgement item by default with Label and Error text fields. Enter the text of your first acknowledgement statement in the Label field (for example, "I have read the safety briefing materials"). The Error text is the message customers see if they try to proceed without ticking this specific item.

Step 6 — Add additional acknowledgement items. Click the Add acknowledgement button on the right side of the Acknowledgements subsection. A new acknowledgement item appears below the previous one. Each item has its own Label, its own Error text, and up/down arrows for reordering plus a trash icon for removal. Continue adding items until you have all the acknowledgements you need.

Step 7 — Reorder acknowledgement items. Use the up and down arrows next to each item to move it up or down in the list. The order you set here is the order customers see.

Step 8 — Confirm the Required toggle is on. The Required toggle applies to the entire group. When Required is on, customers must tick every acknowledgement item to proceed.

Step 9 — Set the Display in details/PDF dropdown. New custom fields default to Do not show. Change this to Show in details and PDF if you want your team to see which acknowledgements were ticked.

Step 10 — Click Create step. The step is added to the bottom of the right panel. Drag it into the position you want.

A Video Acknowledgement step embeds a video and requires the customer to confirm they have watched it before they can proceed. Use this step type for safety briefings, equipment orientations, or any other video content you want customers to watch before their trip.

Step 1 — Click Add custom step at the top right of the right panel. The Form Step Configuration modal opens.

Step 2 — Enter a Step title. The Step title is the customer-facing heading at the top of the step (for example, "Pontoon Safety Video" or "Watercraft Orientation").

Step 3 — In the Fields section, change the Field type to Video Acknowledgement. Click the Field type dropdown and select Video Acknowledgement. The field's configuration options update to match the field type.

Step 4 — Enter the field Label. The Label is the heading that appears above the embedded video on the customer-facing step.

Step 5 — Choose the Provider. The Provider dropdown defaults to YouTube. Select the platform that hosts your video.

Step 6 — Enter the Video ID. The Video ID field accepts the unique identifier for your video on the chosen provider. Hover over the help icon next to the Video ID field for guidance on what to enter for your selected provider.

Step 7 — Set the Manual button label. The Manual button label is the text on the button the customer taps to confirm they have watched the video. The default value is "I have watched the video." Edit the Manual button label if you want different wording.

Step 8 — Set the Completion mode. The Completion mode dropdown defaults to Ended or manual, which lets the system mark the step complete either when the video reaches the end or when the customer taps the manual button. Leave the default unless you have a specific reason to change it.

Step 9 — Decide on Auto advance. The Auto advance after video acknowledgement checkbox controls whether the customer is automatically advanced to the next step after they confirm the video. Check this box if you want a faster flow. Leave it unchecked if you want customers to tap Continue themselves.

Step 10 — Confirm the Required toggle is on, set the Error text, and set the Display in details/PDF dropdown. The Required toggle defaults to on. The Error text is the message customers see if they try to proceed without acknowledging the video. New custom fields default to Do not show in the Display dropdown. Change this to Show in details and PDF if you want your team to see that the customer acknowledged the video.

Step 11 — Click Create step. The step is added to the bottom of the right panel. Drag it into the position you want.

A custom step using a Text, Email, Phone, ZIP Code, Date, Select, Radio Buttons, Checkbox, or Upload field type lets you collect any additional information not covered by the default scaffold. Use these field types for non-legal data collection (for example, "How did you hear about us?" or "Do you have any allergies?").

Step 1 — Click Add custom step at the top right of the right panel. The Form Step Configuration modal opens.

Step 2 — Enter a Step title. The Step title is the customer-facing heading at the top of the step.

Step 3 — In the Fields section, change the Field type to the type you want. Click the Field type dropdown and select one of the available field types: Text, Email, Phone, ZIP Code, Date, Select, Radio Buttons, Checkbox, Info, Upload, Terms and Conditions, Multiple Acknowledgements, or Video Acknowledgement.

Step 4 — Configure the field. The configuration options change based on the field type you selected. Common fields include Label, Placeholder (for text-style fields), Required toggle, Display in details/PDF dropdown, and Error text. Some field types have additional options:

Step 5 — Confirm the Required toggle, set the Error text, and set the Display in details/PDF dropdown. New custom fields default to Do not show in the Display dropdown. If you want this field's response to appear on staff-facing waiver views, change the Display dropdown to Show in details and PDF or one of the "when filled" options.

Step 6 — Click Create step. The step is added to the bottom of the right panel. Drag it into the position you want.

The default scaffold includes a Minor details loop that repeats per minor associated with a booking. The loop includes pre-built steps for Minor Personal Info, Minor Date of Birth, and several minor-specific questions. To add your own state-specific guardian acknowledgement language, you add a Terms and Conditions field or a Multiple Acknowledgements field inside the loop.

Step 1 — Locate the Minor details loop on the right panel. Look for the step labeled with the minor loop title (typically "Minors" or "Minor details"). Click the gear icon to open the Form Step Configuration modal for the loop.

Step 2 — Add a new step inside the loop or modify an existing one. Inside the loop, you can add a Terms and Conditions field or a Multiple Acknowledgements field using the same process as adding a top-level custom step. The field will repeat for each minor.

Step 3 — Enter your guardian acknowledgement language. Type or paste your attorney-prepared language into the Terms content area (for a Terms and Conditions field) or as individual acknowledgement items (for a Multiple Acknowledgements field).

Step 4 — Save the step. Click Save step to add the field to the loop.

If your account has pre-built templates in Waivers > Terms & Custom Steps, those templates appear as unchecked items in the left panel of every new waiver's Form tab.

Step 1 — Locate the template in the left panel. Pre-built Terms and Conditions templates, Multiple Acknowledgements templates, Video Acknowledgement templates, and custom step templates all appear in the left panel as unchecked checkboxes. The template's name is what you saved it under.

Step 2 — Check the checkbox to add the template. Checking the box adds the template as a step at the bottom of the right panel.

Step 3 — Drag the step into position on the right panel. Use the dotted drag handle to move the step where you want it in the customer-facing flow.

Click Save at the top right at any point during the build. Saved drafts are not visible to customers. Drafts remain editable until you publish.

Step 1 — Final preview. Click Preview at the top right of the waiver editor. The Waiver Preview opens and shows the entire customer-facing waiver. Click through every step to confirm the experience matches what you want customers to see.

Step 2 — Assign trips on the Settings tab. Return to the Settings tab. In the Trips section, click the Select trips dropdown and choose the trips this waiver should cover. Trips can be assigned at any point, including before publishing. Conflicts with other waivers are detected only at publish time.

Step 3 — Click Save and Publish. Click the dropdown arrow next to the Save button and select Save and Publish. A confirmation modal warns that the form can no longer be changed after publishing. Click Publish.

Step 4 — Resolve any trip conflicts. If any of your assigned trips are currently linked to a Wherewolf waiver or another active WaveRez waiver, a "Trip already uses a waiver" modal appears. Click Publish and overwrite trips to move those trips to your new waiver. New bookings on those trips will now receive your waiver.

Step 5 — Verify the cutover. Open an existing order on one of the assigned trips. The Signed in Guests section should display your new waiver's link. New customer bookings on these trips will receive the new waiver in their email and SMS.

Once published, a waiver's form structure (steps, fields, conditional logic, terms content, settings) is locked. The Trips list on a published waiver can still be modified. To change anything else, you create a new version of the waiver. See "Edit, Update, or Replace a Published Waiver" for the full process.