Why deposits work

A no-show isn’t just a missed appointment — it’s an empty chair you can’t sell twice, and across the UK industry it adds up to over £1 billion in lost revenue a year, averaging around £39 per missed appointment.

Deposits are the strongest fix. When a client has money committed to a booking, they’re far more likely to turn up — salons that take deposits commonly see no-shows fall by around 29%, and often more for higher-value services. The psychology is simple: a booking with nothing at stake is easy to forget; a booking you’ve paid towards isn’t.

The fear — and why it’s usually overblown

The most common worry is: “Won’t deposits scare clients away?” In practice, for most salons, they don’t. Clients are well used to paying deposits for restaurants, events and other appointments. A small, clearly-explained deposit signals that your time has value — and the clients you might lose are often exactly the ones most likely to no-show anyway.

The key is to be fair and clear, not heavy-handed.

How to take deposits the right way

Start small

You don’t need the full price up front. A deposit of around 10–20% of the service is usually enough to create commitment without feeling like a barrier.

Apply them where they matter most

Many owners use deposits only for longer or higher-value treatments (colour, extensions, multi-hour services), for new clients, or for clients with a history of missing appointments — while keeping quick, low-value bookings deposit-free.

Make the policy clear before booking

State it on your booking page and in confirmations: for example, “A 20% deposit secures your appointment, refundable with 24 hours’ notice.” No surprises means no resentment.

Set a fair cancellation window

Refund or transfer the deposit if the client gives reasonable notice (commonly 24–48 hours). This keeps it fair while still protecting your time.

Make paying effortless

The deposit should be taken at the moment of booking, through a smooth card payment. If paying is awkward, you’ll lose bookings — so use proper, mainstream processing (e.g. Stripe).

A nice side effect

Deposits don’t just cut no-shows — they often nudge spending up slightly, because the remaining balance feels smaller at checkout. And because the slot is far more likely to be honoured, your diary becomes something you can actually rely on.

How Feature helps

Feature lets you take deposits and payments via Stripe right at the point of online booking, alongside WhatsApp & SMS reminders— the two most effective no-show defences working together.

✓Stripe deposits taken at booking — no chasing payment after the fact

✓Set the deposit amount per service or apply it across all bookings

✓WhatsApp & SMS reminders automatically sent 24h and 2h before each appointment

✓All on one flat £29/month — no commission on any booking

Protect your diary with deposits

14-day free trial — no card, no commission, no catch.

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UK-built booking software for salons, barbers, gyms and clinics — online bookings, deposits, reminders and Stripe payments, one flat price.