---
title: Requiring a deposit from repeat no-show clients
slug: appointment-deposits-for-repeat-no-shows
category: Payments & Billing
url: https://alaga.io/help/article/appointment-deposits-for-repeat-no-shows
audiences: business_owner, manager, staff
updated: 2026-10-03
source: Alaga Help Center
---

# Requiring a deposit from repeat no-show clients
Some clients book and never show. Alaga can ask those clients — and only those clients — for a deposit before you confirm their next appointment. Nobody else sees a change.

## Turn it on

Go to **Settings → Payments → Deposit Settings** and switch on **Appointment deposits**. Then choose:

- **Deposit** — a percentage of the booked service price, or a fixed dollar amount.
- **Require after N no-shows** — how many no-shows (appointments and boarding/daycare stays combined) trigger the requirement. Leave it blank to require deposits only from clients you flag by hand.
- **Look back** — how many days of history count (default one year).
- **Count no-shows from** — a date before which no-shows are ignored. If you migrated from another system, set this to your go-live date so old history from the import doesn't flag everyone.

## Flagging a client by hand

Open the client, click **Edit**, and switch on **Require deposit**. Add a staff-only reason if you like — the client never sees it. When a client crosses your no-show threshold, Alaga switches this on for them automatically. It stays on until you switch it off.

A **Deposit required** badge shows on the client's profile and in the side panel so the front desk knows at a glance.

## What the client sees

When a flagged client books online, the booking page shows: *"A $X deposit is required to hold this appointment. We'll collect it by phone or at your next visit before confirming."* Their request still goes through as **Pending**, and the confirmation email repeats the deposit line. Their appointment page in the portal reads **Deposit due — call us** until it is paid.

## Collecting the deposit

On the appointment, click **Confirm**. If a deposit is still owed you'll see **Deposit due — $X**:

- **Collect deposit** takes the payment now (cash, check, or card on your terminal) and then confirms.
- **Confirm anyway** waives it for this visit and confirms.

A collected deposit is held as **account credit** on the client. At checkout, the payment screen leads with **Apply deposit**, so the client only pays the balance.

Online payment of the deposit from the portal is coming; for now deposits are collected in person or by phone.