Asking for money before the service feels uncomfortable to a lot of solo owners - like you're saying you don't trust the client. Here's the reframe: a deposit isn't distrust. It's how both sides agree the appointment is real.
How much to charge
- 20–50% of the service price is the common range. Higher-ticket, longer appointments justify the higher end.
- Flat deposits ($20–$50) work for shorter services where percentages get fiddly.
- Full prepayment makes sense for classes, workshops, and anything with hard capacity.
How to phrase it
Attach the deposit to the reservation, not to distrust: "A $25 deposit reserves your appointment and comes off your total." That sentence does all the work - it explains what the money is, when it's used, and why it exists.
When deposits might be wrong
If your clientele is long-standing regulars who never miss, a deposit adds friction without solving a problem you have. In that case card-on-file (no charge unless your policy triggers) gives you the same enforcement with less ceremony. New clients and first visits are where deposits earn their keep - that's where no-shows concentrate.
Deposits change client behavior before the appointment
The overlooked benefit: deposit-paying clients engage more. They add the appointment to their calendar, they reply to reminders, they reschedule instead of vanish - because there's something of theirs attached to the slot.
Deposits without the awkwardness
Ivy collects deposits right on your booking page - clients pay to confirm, straight to your Stripe, before the slot is theirs.
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