How to take deposits for beauty appointments
Deposits are not a personality test for your clients. They are how you stop a 90-minute colour or a clinic slot turning into unpaid waiting time. UK beauty businesses that take deposits at the point of booking, on a clear policy, usually see fewer casual holds.
Decide which appointments need a deposit
You do not have to take a deposit on every 15-minute appointment. Start with the slots that hurt: new clients, Saturday peaks, long technical work, mobile visits where you already have travel time, and clinic treatments.
A simple rule is: if you cannot reasonably fill the gap with a walk-in, take a deposit.
Make the policy boring and visible
State the amount or percentage, when it is taken, and how cancellations work. Put it on the booking website, not only in a highlight that nobody opens. If the first time a client hears the rule is when they cancel, you will get an argument.
Collect it when they book
Asking for a bank transfer after a WhatsApp “yes” creates extra steps and extra no-shows. Card deposits at checkout, including Apple Pay, match how people already pay. Bookivo uses Stripe for deposits and full payments. Bookivo does not take marketplace commission; Stripe’s processing fees still apply.
Klarna, where Bookivo offers it, is for eligible full payments only — not deposits.
Pair deposits with reminders
A deposit reduces unserious bookings. A reminder reduces forgotten ones. Use both. Software should send the reminder from the same appointment record so the time and service are correct.
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