Booking deposits for the salon services you cannot afford to lose.
Ask for a deposit only on the services that hurt when a client does not turn up, like full colour, keratin or extensions, and leave quick services free to book.
Why long salon services need a deposit
A three hour balayage or a set of extensions blocks a stylist for most of an afternoon. When that client does not come, nothing can fill a gap that size at short notice, and the hair you ordered for the extensions is sitting on the shelf.
Asking for a bank transfer by DM before every big booking is awkward, slow and easy to forget, and checking who has actually paid means scrolling through screenshots.
How Timeo takes salon deposits
Set a deposit on each service: no deposit, the full price up front, a fixed amount or a percentage of the price. Clients booking that service online pay before the booking is confirmed, and the slot is held for 20 minutes while they pay, then released if they do not.
If a client cancels a paid booking before the start time, the deposit is marked for a refund so your team can return it. If they cancel at or after the start time, or are marked as a no show, the deposit is kept and recorded against the booking.
Deposits are paid through your own payment account. In Malaysia that can be Billplz or iPay88; elsewhere, through your own Airwallex account. Until one is connected, bookings simply confirm without a deposit.
Turn on deposits
- Connect your online payment account in Settings > Payments.
- Open Settings > Business > Booking rules and turn on Booking deposits.
- Open Booking setup > Services, edit a long service, and under Booking deposit choose Full price up front, Fixed amount or Percentage of price.
- Set your cancellation notice under Booking setup > Policies so clients see the rule before they book.
What clients see
After choosing the service, stylist and time, the client sees the deposit amount and pays on a secure payment page before the booking is confirmed. Services without a deposit book exactly as before.
The deposit is linked to the booking, so when the client comes in, the front desk sees what is already paid and only charges the rest at checkout.
Questions
Can I take a deposit only on some services?
Yes. Each service has its own Booking deposit setting, so a quick trim can stay free to book while colour needs a deposit.
What happens to the deposit if the client cancels?
A cancel before the start time marks the deposit for a refund, which your team returns by hand. A cancel at or after the start, or a no show, keeps it.
Can the deposit be a percentage?
Yes. Choose a fixed amount, a percentage of the service price, or the full price up front.
Which payment methods can clients use?
Whatever your connected account offers. In Malaysia that includes FPX and DuitNow through Billplz or iPay88; outside Malaysia, card payments through your own Airwallex account.
What if the client does not finish paying?
The slot is held for 20 minutes. If the deposit is not paid in that time, the time is released for other clients.