How to take deposits for dog grooming appointments (UK)

Your options

• Bank transfer: free, but you have to check every payment and match it to a booking, and customers sometimes forget to pay.
• Card payment links (from a card reader app or payment provider): quicker for customers, but you still send each link yourself.
• Online booking with a deposit: the customer pays when they choose their time, and the booking is only confirmed once they've paid. Nothing to chase.

How much to ask for

Most groomers ask for a fixed amount (often £10 to £20) or a percentage (20% to 50%). A larger deposit for long or first-time appointments is common. Keep it in proportion to what you lose if the slot goes empty: that's what keeps it fair under consumer law.

What it costs

Card payments usually cost a small percentage plus a fixed fee per payment. With Stripe, standard UK cards start at 1.5% + 20p, so a £10 deposit costs about 35p. Avoid systems that add their own commission on top: on a busy diary that adds up to far more than a monthly fee.

Make the rules clear

Tell customers before they pay: whether the deposit comes off the final price, how much notice they need to give to move or get it back, and what happens if they don't turn up. Put it on your booking page and in the confirmation.

Refunds

If you cancel, refund in full. If they cancel with enough notice, either refund or move the deposit to the new appointment, whichever your policy says. Online systems let you refund in a couple of taps.