The simplest fix for the most expensive problem in beauty
A no-show in a spa is double-cost: the time slot is gone (you can’t sell it again) and a therapist sat idle. Industry-average no-show rate is 15–20%. With deposits properly implemented, that drops to 5–7%. This single module typically pays for the entire snapshot in the first 60 days.
How it works
- Configurable threshold per service. Quick services (express facials, threading) usually waive deposits. Higher-ticket services ($100+) take $20–$50 hold. You set the thresholds during install.
- Held on card-on-file, not charged unless forfeited. New clients pay a pre-auth; returning clients with a card-on-file see a “deposit will be released after appointment” line at checkout. The friction is minimal.
- Auto-refund on legitimate cancellations. Cancel 24h+ before? Deposit refunded automatically. Reschedule 24h+ before? Deposit transferred to the new appointment.
- Forfeit only on opt-in agreement. Clients see the policy at booking time. Forfeit triggers only if they no-show or cancel under 24 hours, and only after the studio confirms.
What happens at the no-show moment
If a client no-shows: 10-minute grace period, then a soft SMS “we noticed you missed your appointment — should we reschedule, or did you forget?” If they reschedule within an hour, deposit transfers. If they don’t respond by end of day, the forfeit notification goes out.
The policy language that actually works
The system ships with a deposit policy template that beauty studios have tested for years: clear, friendly, non-punitive language. Clients accept it because it’s framed as “holding your slot,” not “punishing you for canceling.”