William West
Founder & CEO
Firefighter by trade, retired in 2024
Firefighter by trade who recognized the gap in the service industry and founded ChairWatch to empower beauty professionals with better tools.
About ChairWatch
We're on a mission to make professional business management accessible to every service provider, from solo practitioners to multi-location enterprises. Start free, scale as you grow.
About
Built by people who get it
ChairWatch began in New York City from the vision of William West, a firefighter who saw beauty professionals and independent service providers struggling with outdated, complicated booking systems.
William partnered with Allan Thompson, a software architect from mission-critical systems. Together they turned real provider feedback into a platform that serves the people behind the chair — self-funded, community-driven, and shaped by the professionals who use it every day.
Allan Thompson
Co-Founder & COO
Software architect from datacenters and mission-critical systems who transformed Will's vision into a platform providers can rely on.
Empowerment
Smart tools that help service professionals build their own success.
Innovation
Technology that evolves with what providers actually need.
Community
Connecting service professionals to grow together.
Excellence
A top-tier experience in every interaction and feature.
Our Journey
A decade of listening
Key milestones in the ChairWatch story, shaped at every step by the providers who use it.
- 2013
The Spark
A New York City firefighter, William West, recognizes a serious gap in the service provider industry and envisions a better, smarter way.
- 2015
The Foundation
William partners with Allan Thompson, a software architect he meets through his church. OpenChair LLC is officially established.
- 2019–2020
Going Mobile
The team expands and ChairWatch begins shaping into a full mobile experience for both Apple and Android.
- 2021
App Store Launch
ChairWatch officially launches on the Apple App Store, with the first major collaboration alongside Queen of Nails out of Detroit, Michigan.
- 2023
Growth Through Community
ChairWatch gains traction through social media and grassroots engagement, with @thechairwatchapp becoming an active hub for features and success stories.
- 2024
Refinement & Momentum
Continuous updates improve performance and payment integration, and early testing begins on the next generation of the platform.
- 2025
Expansion & Education
A breakthrough year of innovation, education and collaboration, bringing deeper automation, analytics and new revenue models to providers.
Join the ChairWatch Community
Be part of our mission to make professional business management accessible to every service provider. Start today and grow with us.