What are booking deposits?
You can ask customers to provide a small payment when they book a table. This is a useful way to reduce no-shows for popular times, large parties, or special events.
The two modes
Deposit charged at booking — a flat fee per booking is charged immediately. The amount can be deducted from the customer's bill, refunded after they dine, or kept if they don't show up, depending on your terms.
Card hold (charge on no-show) — the customer's card is saved but not charged at booking. If they don't show up, you can charge the no-show fee with one click in the dashboard.
How to enable deposits
Open the dashboard and go to Bookings, then Settings.
Choose between Deposit and Card hold modes.
Set the amount you want to charge.
Choose which scenarios require a deposit — for example, only parties of 6 or more, or only Friday and Saturday nights.
Save.
How customers see it
When a deposit or card hold applies, the booking flow asks for card details before the booking is confirmed. The terms and conditions you set are shown clearly so customers know what they're agreeing to.
Charging a no-show
To charge a saved card after a no-show, open the booking in the dashboard and click Mark no-show. The system will run the charge using the card the customer provided.
Tips
Keep deposits modest — they're a deterrent, not a profit centre.
Make sure your terms and conditions clearly explain when the deposit is kept versus refunded.
For high-demand events, consider a larger non-refundable deposit.