How to accept deposits for appointments in Jamaica

A no-show isn't just a missed appointment — it's a slot that another paying customer would have taken. For a hair stylist, a single no-show costs 1–2 hours of revenue plus the products you would have sold. Compounded across a month, it's the difference between profitable and breakeven.

Deposits work because they convert a soft commitment ('I'll be there at 3') into a financial one. The customer has skin in the game. We see no-show rates drop from ~25% to under 5% within the first month after deposits go live.

There are three reasonable options. Pick one and apply it consistently:

• Flat deposit (e.g. JMD 2,000 across the board). Simple and predictable but feels heavy on cheap services.
• Percentage (30–50% of service price). Scales with the service. Works best.
• Full pre-pay. Best for high-end services (bridal, multi-hour spa) or when you want to lock in inventory.

1. 1Update your services in Bookerva. Set the deposit policy on each service (or globally).
2. 2Post a one-line announcement: 'Starting Monday, all bookings require a 30% deposit. This helps us hold your slot — and refunds are easy if life happens.'
3. 3Pin the announcement to your IG, WhatsApp status, and booking page.
4. 4For your top 20 regulars, send a personal message before the change. They'll appreciate the heads-up and you'll keep them.

A deposit is only fair if customers know how to get it back. State your refund window clearly on your booking page:

• More than 24 hours before: full refund, no questions.
• Within 24 hours: deposit forfeit unless rescheduled within 48 hours.
• No-show: deposit forfeit.

Bookerva can issue refunds in one click via the Payments tab on the appointment. Funds reverse to the customer's card within 3–5 business days.