Appointment Deposits: How Much to Charge (By Industry)
Deposits · 6 min read · 2026-07-04
Reminders reduce forgetfulness. Deposits reduce indifference. When a customer has even a small amount of money on the line, show-up rates jump — studies across salons and clinics put the effect at 40–70% fewer no-shows on deposit-backed bookings.
How much should you charge?
- Salons & barbers: 10–20% of service value. ₹100–200 on a ₹1,000 colour; $10–20 on a $100 treatment.
- Clinics & dentists: flat ₹200–500 / $10–25 consultation deposit, credited to the bill.
- Tattoo & aesthetics: 20–30% — long slots, high prep cost.
- Consultants & tutors: first-session prepay or 50% deposit; time is the whole product.
- Restaurants (large tables): per-head hold for groups of 6+.
The psychology: small stakes, big effect
The deposit's job isn't revenue — it's commitment. Even a token amount transforms "I'll try to make it" into "I've booked." Keep it small enough that regulars never hesitate.
Collect it without awkwardness
The trick is timing: ask at the moment of booking, in the same conversation, with a payment link. "To hold your slot, here's a quick ₹200 deposit link" feels professional — the same request a day later feels like a chase.
Refund policy that keeps goodwill
State it once, simply: full refund/credit if rescheduled 24h+ ahead; forfeited on no-show. Fair both ways, and it makes your reminder messages more effective too.
Automate it
With Welqo, you set a deposit per service; the AI includes a UPI/card link when it books, marks the appointment confirmed when paid, and the whole ladder — reminders, recovery, waitlist backfill — runs automatically.
Frequently asked
Will asking for a deposit lose me bookings?
For high-value services, businesses consistently report little to no drop in genuine bookings — the drop-off is concentrated in the customers who wouldn't have shown up.
UPI or card for deposits in India?
UPI links convert best in India (near-zero friction). Welqo generates payment links through your own Razorpay account — UPI for Indian customers, with cards and international cards supported too.
