Bookings | Deposits & Cancellation Policies
Take a deposit instead of full payment, and set the cancellation policy customers see at checkout — no-shows get expensive without both.
Two settings on a service product protect your diary from the two ways bookings go wrong: the commitment-free booking and the no-show.
Deposits
The Payment type in Service details chooses what the customer pays at booking:
Pay in full at checkout — simplest; the whole fee committed up front.
Deposit — a percentage now, the balance on the day. Lower booking friction, still a real commitment. Set the deposit percentage that makes a no-show hurt (20–50% is the working range).
Cancellation policy
The Cancellation policy text is shown at checkout and on the order confirmation — your terms in plain words: how late they can cancel or reschedule, and what it costs them (“Cancellations under 24h forfeit the deposit. Reschedules free with 24h+ notice.”). Write it to be read, not to be legal armour.
The pair in practice
High-demand, low-ticket services (classes, cuts) often run full payment + strict policy.
High-value consultations run deposit + flexible reschedule — the balance settles after delivery.
Tips
Any policy beats no policy — customers read it at checkout, which is the only moment it can shape behaviour.
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