Deposit
A partial payment collected at booking time, typically applied toward the full service cost and designed to reduce no-shows.
Definition
A deposit (or booking fee) is a partial payment collected when a client books an appointment. Deposits are typically non-refundable or partially refundable per the cancellation policy. They serve two purposes: securing commitment to reduce no-shows, and collecting partial payment upfront. Deposits are credited toward the total service cost, with the remainder due at the appointment.
Examples of Deposit
50% deposit required for wedding photography booking
$25 non-refundable booking fee for first-time clients
Hour of billable time as deposit for consulting projects
$50 deposit deducted from $200 service at checkout
Why Deposit Matters
Deposits dramatically reduce no-shows (by 50-80%) because clients have skin in the game. They protect against lost revenue when clients cancel without notice. High-value or high-demand services particularly benefit from deposit requirements.
How SchedulingKit Handles Deposit
Set fixed-amount or percentage-based deposits per event type. Connect Stripe for secure payment processing. Deposits are automatically deducted from totals. Configure partial or full refund rules based on cancellation timing.
Try SchedulingKit FreeCommon Questions About Deposit
What deposit percentage works best?
25-50% is common. Higher for longer/expensive services or industries with high no-show rates. Some businesses use flat fees ($25-50) for simplicity.
Are deposits refundable?
You decide. Options include: fully refundable with notice, partially refundable, non-refundable, or forfeited on no-show only.
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