Deposits, card on file and cancellation fees
Ask clients for a deposit or a card on file when they book, and charge a no-show or late-cancellation fee from the saved card — only when you choose, from the appointment.
Whatever you set here, clients complete online while booking, without calling: a credit card saved as a guarantee — with no charge — or a deposit, as a fixed amount or a percent of the treatment’s price. The time is held for the client for a few minutes until the payment is done, and a paid deposit is refunded automatically when they cancel in time.
For clients to be able to pay, connect a PayMe or PayPal account. The settings here are kept before that too, and take effect when you connect.
Open the screen
PaymentsDeposits & cancellationsUnder “When booking”, turn on “Save a credit card as a guarantee”, and/or pick a “Deposit”: “No deposit”, “Fixed amount” or “Percent of the price”.
Under “Cancellation and no-show fees”, enter an amount for a no-show and for a late cancellation (0 = none).
Under “Payment method”, tick how clients can pay, and click “Save settings”.
Bit and PayPal suit deposits only, since they don’t save a card. When you save a card or charge fees, clients pay by credit card or Apple Pay through PayMe.
Charging a no-show or late-cancellation fee
Fees are never charged by themselves. When a client didn’t show up or cancelled late, open the appointment in the calendar, and under “Payments & guarantees” choose to charge the no-show or cancellation fee and confirm. A late cancellation is one after the cancellation window you set in the booking rules.
The cancellation window in the booking rulesThe client card shows all their payments, and you refund a payment from there; a refund can’t be undone. When receipts and invoices are on, every deposit and fee collected gets a receipt automatically.
The guided tour is in the app
In the “Deposits & cancellation fees” chapter, the tour shows this on the screen itself, step by step.
The client cancelled in time. What about the deposit?
It goes back to them automatically.
Can I charge a fee without a saved card?
No. Fees are charged from a saved card, so turn on saving the card at booking.
Who can change the settings and charge fees?
The business’s owner and managers.
Updated: 10 October 2026
Related guides
- Connecting PayMe or PayPal to get paid by clientsProDeposits and fees your clients pay go straight to your business’s own PayMe or PayPal account — Bookly doesn’t hold the money or take a cut. Connect it once, anywhere.
- Receipts and invoices: turning them on and issuingBookly issues computerized, digitally signed receipts and tax invoices — by hand for any payment, and automatically for deposits and fees. Turn it on once, then issue anywhere.
- Booking rules: approval, time slots and how far aheadDecide how clients book online: automatic or manual approval, choosing a staff member, minimum notice, how far ahead they can book and the slot interval.
- Cancellation policy and clients cancelling themselvesHow late clients can cancel or move an appointment themselves, the cancellation policy they see, and what happens when one cancels: an alert, a deposit refund, a waitlist offer.
- The client card: history, notes and photosEverything about a client in one place: appointments and visits, revenue and no-shows, private notes, before-and-after photos, forms and punch cards — and search, sorting, tags.
Did this guide help?
Still have a question? Write to us