Is a deposit the same as a no-show fee?

No. A deposit is collected before the appointment and should have a stated treatment under the cancellation policy. A no-show fee is a separate policy concept; do not use the terms interchangeably.

Should the deposit be a flat amount or percentage?

Choose the simplest amount that fits the business's services and current system. What matters most is that the client sees the exact amount, how it applies to the service, and what happens after cancellation.

When should an appointment reminder arrive?

Send the actionable reminder early enough for the client to use the stated cancellation or rescheduling path before the deadline.

How does Kirah handle deposit money?

Kirah supports deposits through the practice's connected Stripe account. The practice defines the deposit and cancellation terms; standard payment-processor fees may apply.

Salon deposits and appointment reminders: a practical setup guide

Define the job of the deposit

Choose one clear purpose:

Commitment: a modest amount confirms that the client intends to attend.
Risk sharing: a larger amount protects part of the time reserved for a long or costly service.
Prepayment: the amount pays toward the service balance.

The label and receipt should match what the business actually does. Avoid calling an amount “fully refundable” while publishing exceptions elsewhere.

Write the policy as a decision table

Before configuring software, write the outcome for common events:

| Event | Question the policy must answer |

| --- | --- |

| Client cancels before the deadline | Is the deposit refunded, retained, or moved under stated terms? |

| Client cancels after the deadline | What happens to the deposit? |

| Client reschedules | Does the deposit move, and are there limits? |

| Practice cancels | How and when is the client made whole? |

| Client does not attend | What stated treatment applies? |

| Service or price changes | Does the client review a new total before agreeing? |

Keep the client-facing version short, but make sure the business has answered each case internally. Rules can be subject to local requirements and processor terms; this guide is operational guidance, not legal advice.

Show the amount before payment

The booking path should display the service price, deposit amount, remaining balance, and cancellation treatment before the client enters payment information. The confirmation or receipt should repeat those facts.

Deposits should go to the practice's payment account, not disappear into an unexplained platform balance. Reconcile the appointment, payment status, refund or transfer decision, and final service payment so the owner can explain any transaction later.

Put reminders on the policy timeline

Map the reminder sequence backward from the appointment and the cancellation deadline. An actionable reminder arrives before the deadline and includes:

Service, practitioner, date, time, and location
Current status: requested, pending approval, or confirmed
Deposit or balance information relevant to the visit
Direct cancellation or rescheduling instructions
Preparation or arrival details that prevent avoidable disruption

A same-day reminder can help with memory, but it should not be the first time the client sees the change path.

Handle exceptions without erasing the rule

Illness, weather, practitioner changes, and genuine mistakes need judgment. Decide who can make an exception, record the outcome, and communicate it clearly. A consistent process does not mean every case has the same outcome; it means exceptions are deliberate rather than accidental.

Where Kirah fits

Kirah supports owner-configured deposits through the practice's connected Stripe account, appointment confirmations and reminders, cancellation terms, connected-calendar availability, and client appointment management. Kirah does not add a markup to card processing; standard processor fees still apply.

This page does not claim that Kirah automatically charges a separate no-show fee. The practice remains responsible for the policy it publishes and the exceptions it approves. Read the broader no-show system →

Setup and review cycle

Questions, answered

Is a deposit the same as a no-show fee?: No. A deposit is collected before the appointment and should have a stated treatment under the cancellation policy. A no-show fee is a separate policy concept; do not use the terms interchangeably.
Should the deposit be a flat amount or percentage?: Choose the simplest amount that fits the business's services and current system. What matters most is that the client sees the exact amount, how it applies to the service, and what happens after cancellation.
When should an appointment reminder arrive?: Send the actionable reminder early enough for the client to use the stated cancellation or rescheduling path before the deadline.
How does Kirah handle deposit money?: Kirah supports deposits through the practice's connected Stripe account. The practice defines the deposit and cancellation terms; standard payment-processor fees may apply.