> ## Knowledge Base Index
> Fetch the complete knowledge base index at: https://help.chefmaison.com/sitemap.xml
> Use this file to discover available pages before exploring further.
> Pure-Markdown content can be obtained by appending a '.md' suffix to the content URLs listed in the sitemap (without the trailing slash).

# Accepting a lead

Leads can reach you through three channels — WhatsApp, the app, and email. Here's what to expect and how to respond on each.
## Via WhatsApp
You'll receive a message with the main event details (date, location, guest count, budget indication). You can reply directly to accept or decline — for example, with quick options like **"Yes, I'm available"** or **"No, not interested."**
Once you accept via WhatsApp, head into the chat as soon as you can to discuss the details with the client and update your proposal with the correct price. 
## Via the app
Go to **Leads** in the app, where you'll see incoming requests with their details. From there, you can **Accept** or **Decline** each one directly. If you accept, you'll typically enter your initial proposal price at that point, before the chat opens with the client.
## Via email
You'll receive an email with the request details. Follow the link in the email to review the request and respond — accepting or declining works the same way as through the app.
## In every case
* **Review the details first** — date, location, guest count, and budget — before deciding whether to accept or decline.
* **There's no penalty for declining** a lead that isn't the right fit for you.
* **Accepting doesn't mean the client is booked yet** — it just means you're available and the conversation can begin. The booking is only confirmed once the client pays.
> 💡 Whichever channel a lead arrives through, the same rule applies: nothing is locked in until the client pays, so use the chat to finalize the details and your price beforehand.


|| A common source of confusion: accepting a lead does not mean the client is already booked or has paid. Here's exactly what accepting means, and when a booking actually becomes confirmed.

## What accepting a lead actually means
Accepting a lead simply means you're **available** and are starting the conversation with the client — it's not a confirmed booking. What happens next depends on how you received the request.
## How this works depending on where the lead came from
**1. Lead received through the app / a direct request** When you accept, you enter an initial proposal with a price. The client sees this proposal and can proceed to pay if they're happy with it.
**2. Lead found in the Hub** Same idea — once you take on the lead, you enter an initial proposal/price. The client can then pay if they accept the terms.
**3. Lead received via WhatsApp** This works slightly differently: you accept the lead first, then go into the chat to discuss with the client and update the proposal with the correct price and details.
**4. Lead handled directly by our Sales team** In this case, our team handles updating the order and managing the process directly.
## How many other chefs is the client talking to?
It depends on the type of lead.
**If a client finds your profile directly and sends a request specifically to you**, that lead is sent only to you — we don't send it to other chefs.
**If a client contacts us and asks us to find a chef for them**, we initially send the request to a maximum of **3 chefs**. The client can request additional chefs through the platform afterward if they want to compare more options.
## The key point, regardless of how the lead arrived
**As long as the client hasn't paid, you can still discuss with them, adjust the menu, and update the proposal.** For example, if you accept a lead and enter €150 per person as your first proposal, the client can see it and potentially pay — but if you'd rather refine the menu or adjust the price first, you can update the proposal before they pay.
## When it becomes a real commitment
Once the client pays, the booking is confirmed. At that point, it's no longer just a request under discussion — you have a confirmed commitment with the client.
## Will I know if the client books someone else?
Yes — you'll always be notified in the chat:
* If the client **books a different chef**, you'll receive a message letting you know they've chosen someone else.
* If the client **decides not to proceed at all**, you'll receive a message letting you know they're no longer interested, and the request will be closed.
## What if the client just goes silent?
**Silence doesn't necessarily mean they've booked someone else.** You'll always be notified directly if either of those things happens (see above) — so if you simply haven't heard back, you should consider the request **unconfirmed** rather than assume it's gone to another chef. Only a booking confirmation, or a message that the request has been closed, means it's actually settled one way or the other.
> 💡 No news isn't necessarily bad news — a quiet request stays open until you're told otherwise. See **The client doesn't answer** for tips on what to do while you wait.
## Can I decline after accepting a lead?
Yes — **as long as the client hasn't paid yet.** Just tap the 3 dots in the chat to close the request. Since no payment has happened, there's nothing to refund.
## When does a refund come into play?
A refund only applies if the client has **already paid** and you cancel the booking afterward. In that case, our standard cancellation terms apply — see **Cancellation Policy for chefs**.
## Our recommendation
Always use the chat to clarify the details of the service, and update your proposal whenever needed, **before** the client pays. This is the best way to make sure the price and terms are exactly right before anything becomes a confirmed booking.
> 💡 Accepting a lead just opens the door to a conversation — nothing is locked in, for either side, until the client actually pays.