thread Re: Does anyone require prepayments, if so What to you do when a client reschedules/cancels? in Appointments & Bookings

Does anyone require prepayments, if so What to you do when a client reschedules/cancels?

Marlissal — Mon, 22 Sep 2025 14:09:19 GMT

DO you refund the client, or does the deposit/prepayment roll over? Please help signed a confused and tired stylist especially of no show appointments.

Re: Does anyone require prepayments, if so What to you do when a client reschedules/cancels?

TheRealChipA — Thu, 14 Sep 2023 23:56:51 GMT

Hi @Marlissal. Yup, no-shows are the absolute worst. There ought to be a law! Ha. Anyway, You are free to define your own cancellation policy. Square requires the following statement and they add it automatically — “We ask that you please reschedule or cancel at least 2 hours before the beginning of your appointment.”. You can add your own policy to that.

Honestly, if you are having a lot of problems with no-shows right now, I’d recommend making it tough enough that people think twice about wasting your time. Something like “Prepayment is fully forfeited in the event of a no-show.”

Once you have reduced or eliminated the number of no-shows, you might change your policy to something like you will retain 50% of the prepayment in the event of a no-show. But that would be up to you and your comfort level.

One more thing. If you upgrade to the Plus subscription, you can require customers enter a card on file that you can charge in the event of a no-show.

I wish you less confusion and weariness!

Re: Does anyone require prepayments, if so What to you do when a client reschedules/cancels?

Marlissal — Fri, 15 Sep 2023 00:38:04 GMT

thank you this helps alot!!!

Re: Does anyone require prepayments, if so What to you do when a client reschedules/cancels?

Candlestore — Fri, 15 Sep 2023 00:44:22 GMT

@TheRealChipA ;

I keep thinking of having Candle Making classes, but I already have people not showing about our Make Your own Candle. Now for the Make your own we do not have a deposit or need an appointment but have people call ask about it then say we will be in Saturday in the afternoon.... and never show up. We only require appointments for groups of 4 or more, the rest are just walk ins. Now If I do an actual Class, then we would be taking deposits or full payment that is non refundable, and these tips and thing to consider are helping me too. Especially after reading where others have had problems with No Shows.

Thanks again.

Re: Does anyone require prepayments, if so What to you do when a client reschedules/cancels?

TheRealChipA — Fri, 15 Sep 2023 00:53:05 GMT

This phenomenon has been frustrating restaurants for years, especially around the holidays. People think nothing of making reservations (Party of 10) at 5 different restaurants and then choosing one at the last minute, leaving the other 4 high and dry. The last full-service restaurant where I was the Chef du Cuisine started requiring cards to hold a reservation and then charging a flat $25 per head for no-shows. Out of that, 25% of that went to the servers 10% in the tip-out pool and the rest the restaurant kept. Trust me, once word got around that nonsense stopped on a dime! Sometimes you just have to hit people over the head with a big stick. Ha.

Re: Does anyone require prepayments, if so What to you do when a client reschedules/cancels?

Candlestore — Fri, 15 Sep 2023 14:33:36 GMT

@TheRealChipA ;

Now all the people who use to do that, and post it as a 'Hack' are upset that there are now non-refundable deposits.

Can't have your cake and eat it too.