How to cut no-shows with deposits
An empty appointment is time you can’t sell again. A few simple rules make it much rarer.
1. Ask for something when people book
A deposit, or the full price, turns a maybe into a plan. It doesn’t have to be large: enough that people notice it. Many businesses ask a fixed amount for short appointments and a share of the price for long or expensive ones.
2. Write a clear cancellation policy
Say how long before the appointment people can cancel, and what happens to the deposit if they cancel later or don’t come. Put it next to the Book button and in the confirmation email, so nobody is surprised. For example:
“You can cancel or change your appointment up to 24 hours before it, and we refund your deposit. After that, or if you don’t come, the deposit is kept.”
Check that your policy follows the consumer rules where you work.
3. Make cancelling easy
It sounds backwards, but people who can cancel in one click do it in time, and someone else can book the slot. People who have to call often just don’t come.
4. Keep your calendar honest
Double bookings and wrong hours cause no-shows too. Connect the calendar you really use, so your own appointments block those times, and keep days off up to date.
How to set it up with Digitally Boosted
On the Business plan, turn on booking from your website’s page. For each service, choose free, deposit or full payment. Under Settings, choose how many hours before an appointment clients can still cancel online; the cancel link is in their confirmation email. Write your policy in the introduction of your booking page. Payments go to your own Stripe account, and refunds are your decision.
Questions
Some people prefer not to pay up front, so start with a small deposit on new clients or long appointments, and see how it goes.
Not yet. Clients get a confirmation email with a calendar invite, so the appointment is in their own calendar.
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