Deposits for Appointments/online booking

[Forwardthinker]

Though I’m aware that other community members have posted this I’m making another request. Hopefully if they get enough of these new requests they will bump this feature to the top of the list. I think we may need to help them understand why this feature is make or break for so many of our business.

After using square for years I’m disappointed that we still have not been able to find a way to add in this basic functionality that is prevalent in almost every booking service available in 2023. Im not understanding why after so many years of this being requested square has chosen not to prioritize this project. I can only assume it is because there aren’t enough of us complaining or leaving the platform entirely due to the lack of this feature.

As a salon based business square provides amazing data and tons of great products and feature but none would affect my bottom line more than being able to collect deposits with online booking simply and easily WITHOUT having to use the cumbersome and confusing work around constantly suggested by square in these forums. 

I have been using square for years and consider this company to be a great partner for small business despite the high processing fees, high interest rates and lack of desired features. But I’m also losing patience for this company and the lack of response to a seller request that dates back to (at least) 2016. 

Im sure that so many of us feel the same frustration with square for putting this feature on the back burner when this feature can change the bottom line for so many of our businesses. Being able to collect deposits and have a seemless check out process can have a huge impact on our revenue.

It changes customer behavior, allowing us to reach a broader range of customers than the “full payment” feature. It creates a level of buy in from the customer that cannot be reached using the “no show protection feature” (customers often block their cards to get around this feature). It allows us to have additional revenue to support payroll and other business costs.

Lastly , as a small company with many responsibilities adding on the task of using the suggested work around requires more work than necessary, especially when other platforms have already integrated this feature. For me, using the suggested workflow means retraining staff and adding on weekly check to each salon service to ensure that revenue is not being affected by small check out mistakes. Not to mention the labor of changing the system for each service. 

There are so many reasons why this feature is crucial not listed here. Please bump this update to the top of the list. It is absolutely critical for us. I can imagine that so many businesses are considering switching to other appointment booking platforms just because of this feature. I’m holding on because of the data, but if I have to use a workaround I would rather use another platform. I’m too busy to do the extra work square is asking us to do to use this platform for booking and I’m too frustrated to wait another few years for square to make this a priority. 

[hmua113]

As a salon owner I need to be able to accept deposits from appointments and ensure that my client is able to have a seamless booking process. I do not want to add unnecessary steps to my booking just to accept deposits. For the high cost of a monthly subscription this should be a feature that’s prioritized. 

[essentialnails]

As you mentioned Square does allow businesses to take deposits. Curious how you imagine it should look? Or what could me it faster/more seamless?

[JJ_]

Hi @hmua113, this request has been previously submitted by another seller. I have merged your submission with the other request here [Link]. If you know of any fellow Seller Community members who would like to see this built out as well, feel free to tag them in your post so they can share their thoughts as well! The more sellers chime into the request, the more likely it is to catch our product team's eye.

[hmua113]

@essentialnails Square does not accept deposits for services. I have been using Acuity because you can put a $ or % of each service to be put down for a deposit and the booking system automatically deducts the amount from the total so at check out all you have to do is check the client out. Currently through square you literally have to create a workaround to accept deposits via invoice after a client books an appointment with a card on file and then at check out after the service you then have to do the math yourself to get the correct amount. Which seems ridiculous to me considering this request has been on these forums since 2016 that I’ve found and EVERY other platform that provides service booking has this as well. I enjoy using square and have already invested in the square stand reader or I’d go ahead and switch my booking and inventory system to a software that is much more robust and worth the price of every little add on. It’s disappointing I pay almost 3 digits monthly and can’t have simple features available. It’s extremely frustrating when I have so many other aspects of my business to worry about and this should be automated. 

[vitalsparkpdx]

I am so irritated that Square does not have a feature allowing us to collect a small deposit at time of booking.  This is proven to be the most sure-fire way to prevent cancellations and no-shows when clients book their appointment weeks in advance.  Some of my services are $350+, no one is going to want to pay at time of booking, but putting down a $25 deposit ensures they will show up.  I just did all of the tedious labor to switch to square from my other software because they don't do add-ons... only to discover that now I have to re-work my cancellation policy.  Really frustrating.  

[hjuliao]

is anyone from square even listening when it comes to this feature request?

It's been year and this seems like a no brainer. It's getting to the point where I'm looking for an alternative solution.

As a photographer, a deposit is a must in ordert secure time and resources. Having to add an extra step via an invoice or a message is not optimal. An no, the no show protection is not a solution to this issue.

[kristen]

Hi @hjuliao, @vitalsparkpdx, @hmua113, @essentialnails, and the other folks who have stopped by this thread to share your idea, and even your frustrations. We'd like to extend an apology for the lack of communication here, and our hope is that you will enjoy trying out this new feature in open beta. Watch this tutorial video for more information, and if you have any support related questions on deposits, you can post them here.