Frequently asked questions
Everything hotel owners ask us about JHotels and JBooking.
Do I need a computer?
No. JHotels works in the browser on any smartphone, tablet or laptop. You can also add it to your home screen like an app.
What happens when the internet goes down?
Keep working. Check-ins and payments are saved on your device and sync automatically as soon as the connection returns.
Can I manage more than one hotel?
Yes. Add branches in any city and switch between them from one login. Each property has its own rooms, staff and reports.
What kinds of properties is JHotels for?
Hotels, lodges, guest houses, pensions and serviced apartments, from a 5-room guest house to a large hotel with several branches. If you rent rooms by the night, JHotels fits.
Which languages are supported?
This website and JBooking are available in Somali, Amharic, Afaan Oromo and English. The staff app is in English today, and our support team answers in all four languages.
Which currencies can I use?
Rates, receipts and reports are in Ethiopian Birr (ETB) by default. Hotels that need it can choose another currency, and you can store a USD reference rate for guests who ask for prices in dollars.
How do I sign up?
Click Start free trial, enter your hotel name, your name, email and a password, then confirm your email. Your 14-day trial starts straight away.
Do I need a credit card for the trial?
No. The trial is free and needs no card. You only pay if you decide to keep using JHotels after the trial.
How long does setup take?
Most hotels are checking guests in within 15 minutes: add your room numbers, types and nightly rates, then invite your staff. We can also set it up with you for free over the phone or WhatsApp.
How do I add my staff?
Go to Settings → Staff and create an account for each person. Every employee gets their own login, so you always know who checked a guest in or took a payment.
Can I install JHotels like an app?
Yes. Open JHotels in Chrome or Safari on your phone and choose Add to Home Screen. It opens full-screen like a normal app, with no app store needed.
Can I move my existing guest records into JHotels?
Yes. Send us your current list (Excel or a photo of your register) and we will help you bring your rooms and regular guests into the system.
How do I pay for the subscription?
Plans are priced in Birr and billed monthly. Contact us on WhatsApp or phone to arrange payment, and we activate your account the same day.
What happens after the free trial?
Choose a plan to keep going. If you don't, your account becomes read-only — nothing is deleted, and you can still view and export your data.
What is the difference between the plans?
Plans differ in how many rooms, user accounts and properties they include, and in the extra services that come with them. See the comparison table on the pricing section for the current details.
What happens if I reach my plan’s limit?
Nothing you already have is affected. You simply can’t add more rooms, staff accounts or branches than your plan allows until you upgrade. Contact us and we can move you to a bigger plan the same day.
Can I change plans later?
Yes. You can upgrade or downgrade at any time. The new price applies from your next monthly invoice.
How do I pay my invoice?
You will find your invoices under Billing in the app. You can pay by bank transfer or mobile money. Send us the reference and we mark the invoice paid, or pay directly in the app where mobile payment is available.
Can I cancel at any time?
Yes. There are no contracts. If you stop paying, your account becomes read-only and you can still export all your data.
Do you charge per booking or per user?
No. You pay a flat monthly price for your plan. There is no commission on bookings and no extra fee per guest.
How does JBooking charge me?
A flat monthly listing fee, with no commission. Guests pay you directly at the hotel.
How do I get my hotel listed on JBooking?
In the app, open Listing, add your photos, description, amenities and room prices, and send a listing request. We review it and your hotel goes live on jbooking.somict.com, usually within one working day.
How do online bookings reach my hotel?
Each booking appears straight away in your room grid and calendar with the guest’s name and phone number. You also get an email alert.
Can a room be booked twice?
No. JBooking shows live availability from your room grid, so a room that is occupied or reserved can’t be booked online.
How do guests pay for online bookings?
Guests book directly with your hotel and usually pay you on arrival. You keep 100% of the payment, and JBooking takes no commission.
Can I pause my listing?
Yes. Send us a message from Support and we hide your hotel from JBooking search results until you ask us to show it again. Bookings you already have are not affected.
Is my data safe?
Each hotel's data is private to its own account, all connections are encrypted, and we back up the database every night. You can export all your data at any time.
Who can see my hotel’s data?
Only the people you give an account to. Each hotel’s data is completely separate from every other hotel’s, and staff only see what their role allows.
Where is my data stored?
On secure servers with encrypted (HTTPS) connections and nightly backups. See our Privacy Policy for full details.
Can I export or delete my data?
Yes. You can download your bookings, guests, expenses and reports to Excel/CSV at any time. An account owner can also permanently clear all hotel data from Settings.
What if a staff member leaves?
Remove their account in Settings → Staff. They lose access immediately, and their past records stay in your history.
I forgot my password. What do I do?
Click Forgot password on the login page and we will email you a secure reset link.
How do I contact support from inside the app?
Account owners can tap Support in the top bar of the app to send us a message. Our replies appear in the same conversation, and you will see a badge when we answer.
How quickly do you reply?
We reply within 24 hours, and usually much faster during working hours (East Africa Time).
Which languages does support speak?
Somali, Amharic, Afaan Oromo and English.
Do you offer training for my staff?
Yes. Setup help and a short training session for your front-desk team are free on every plan.
I found a problem. How do I report it?
Send us a message from Support in the app, or use the contact form. Tell us what you were doing and, if possible, include a screenshot.
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Still have a question?
Send us a message and we will reply within 24 hours, in Somali, Amharic, Afaan Oromo or English.
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