Deposit

A deposit is money a client pays when they book, not when they arrive, that is credited toward their service and kept (in whole or part) if they cancel late or fail to show. It gives the client real skin in the game: an appointment they have already paid something toward is one they are far more likely to keep. Deposits are the single most effective lever against empty chairs.

The numbers are consistent across platforms. Businesses that require deposits see a 32% increase in successful appointments, and the contrast with going without is stark: salons and barbershops with no deposit system run no-show rates of 15% to 25%. A deposit is usually a percentage of the service or a flat amount for high-value or long appointments (color, lash sets, med-spa treatments) where a lost slot hurts most.

A deposit works hand in hand with your Cancellation Policy: the policy defines the terms, the deposit enforces them, and both are best collected automatically at Online Booking rather than chased by phone. For lower-friction protection on repeat clients, a Card on File can play the same role. Set it up via payments and retail and no-show prevention.