Online deposit — a real commitment, without scaring anyone off
A fixed amount paid at booking, the balance settled on the day of the appointment.
The problem
A free booking commits nobody to anything. The client blocks a slot in three clicks, and not turning up costs them nothing. It is not ill will: it is simply that cancelling weighs nothing against the rest of their day.
Asking for the full price solves that problem and creates another. A significant sum to part with before they have even met you gives people pause, particularly for a first appointment. Some of them close the page at the payment step.
The deposit sits between the two. Enough that not coming has a cost, little enough that booking stays easy. It is the setting that makes the most difference to no-shows, and the one where the amount takes the most judgement.
How it works in Kagenda
The deposit is set service by service: it is a payment mode in the same way as “free”, “on site” or “full amount online”.
- You set the amountA fixed amount, specific to each service. A first session may call for a deposit where a follow-up session does not.
- The client pays as they bookHaving chosen their slot, they are sent to a Stripe payment page. The slot is held throughout, then released if they give up.
- The balance stays due on the dayThe confirmation states what has been paid and what remains to settle on the day of the appointment. You take the rest by your usual means.
- Cancellation follows your scaleIf the client cancels themselves, the share refunded depends on the notice given, according to the bands you have defined. A scale can provide for 0% below a certain point.
Who it helps
Frequently asked questions
How large a deposit should I ask for?
Enough that backing out has a cost, without turning the booking into a purchase. Many practitioners sit between a quarter and a half of the price, or set a round sum independent of the tariff. Above all, look at the effect on your no-show rate after a few weeks.
Is a deposit compulsory for all my services?
No, the payment mode is set service by service. You can ask for a deposit on first appointments and leave the rest payable on site.
Where does the money arrive?
In your own Stripe account, connected to Kagenda. The funds do not pass through a Kagenda account, and payouts to your bank follow Stripe's schedule.
What happens if the client cancels after paying the deposit?
If they cancel themselves through their link, the refund scale applies automatically. If you are the one cancelling, the refund has to be made by hand from your Stripe dashboard.