Solo Work ToolsHow the policy reaches clients
A deposit policy only works if the client reads it before the appointment exists. Here is the order that keeps it simple, with BookingSolved doing the calendar part.
Build the policy once
Use the generator below. Keep it to four short rules a client can read in 20 seconds.Send it with the open times
When a client texts "can I come in Saturday?", BookingSolved checks your Apple Calendar and offers a few open times. The reply is editable, so paste your one-line deposit rule in before you send it.Book only after the yes
When the client confirms a time and the deposit, approve the booking. Nothing changes in your Calendar until you do, and you send every reply yourself.
Add your deposit line here
Booked only when you tap
Salon deposit policy template
This is a plain-language starting point, not legal advice. Deposit and refund rules vary by state and by your payment processor's terms, so check yours before you publish it.
A good deposit policy fits on a phone screen and says what happens to the money in every case.
A Saturday that held
Picture a lash studio (an example, not a customer story). It books a 3-hour full set for a new client every Saturday morning. Without a policy, say two of those slots in a month went empty with a "so sorry, something came up" text at 8 a.m. That is six chair hours with no one in them.
With a policy, the open times went out with one extra line: "To hold this, a $60 deposit applies to your service; it moves once with 48 hours' notice." One client asked to move with three days' notice, and the deposit moved with her. One stopped replying before paying, so the slot was never booked and went to someone on the waitlist.
The deposit didn't stop people changing plans. It made them say so early, while the slot could still be filled.
Is a salon deposit non-refundable?
A salon deposit is non-refundable only under the terms the client agreed to before booking, and even then a client can still dispute the charge with their card company. Stripe's dispute guidance says proof that your customer agreed to your terms at checkout is critical. Write the rule down, send it before the booking and keep the client's yes.
"Non-refundable" on the website settles it.
Fact
Stripe's dispute best practices say to show how the terms were presented at checkout and to submit only the relevant cancellation section. A policy the client never saw is weak evidence.
Clients can only dispute for a week or two.
Fact
The CFPB says a cardholder has 60 days after the charge appears on the statement to send a billing-error notice. Keep the message thread at least that long.
A deposit and a cancellation fee are the same thing.
Fact
A deposit is paid up front and goes toward the service. A cancellation fee is charged after a late cancel, which means asking for money you don't hold yet. Deposits are easier to enforce.
Bigger deposits are always safer.
Fact
Size it to what an empty slot costs you. On our $240 example, 25% is $60 and 50% is $120. Long colour or braiding appointments justify more; a 30-minute trim usually doesn't need one.
A deposit is just for big salons.
Fact
Solo chairs feel no-shows most. The BLS counted 80% of barbers and 48% of hairstylists as self-employed in 2025, so for most of the trade the empty chair is their own pay.
Salon deposit policy questions
How much deposit should a salon charge?
Most salons pick either a percentage of the service or a flat amount. Twenty-five to fifty percent is a common range for long services. On a $240 appointment, that is $60 to $120. Short, low-price services often need no deposit at all.
Should the deposit move when a client reschedules?
Moving it once with proper notice keeps goodwill and still protects you. Say in the policy how many times it moves and how much notice counts, so the answer is never a judgment call made by text.
What should a salon deposit policy include?
Four things: how much the deposit is and who pays it, how much notice changes or cancellations need, what happens to the deposit when someone is late or a no-show, and how many times it can move to a new date.
Does BookingSolved collect deposits?
No. BookingSolved turns client requests into Apple Calendar bookings, open-time suggestions and ready-to-send replies. It stores no prices and never contacts clients. Take deposits with the payment method you already use.
Deposit, card on file or prepay?
| Option | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Deposit | Long services, new clients | Must be agreed before the booking |
| Card on file + fee | Regulars you trust | You charge after the fact, so expect pushback |
| Prepay in full | Classes, packages, high no-show slots | Can put off first-time clients |
| No deposit | Short, easy-to-refill slots | Rely on reminders and a clear late rule |
Who should pick something else: if you want clients to pay a deposit online at the moment they book, you need a booking platform with payments built in. BookingSolved keeps your current workflow and Apple Calendar instead, and the first 3 completed actions are free.
Policy written. Now book faster.
Paste a client's text or screenshot, approve the time, and send the reply with your deposit line in it. Requests are processed on your iPhone, with no account and no connected inbox.
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