No-shows account for 1.2 billion pounds in lost revenue every year, which is why it is important to reduce no-shows and cancellations as much as possible. This needn’t be time-consuming, as there are several easy ways you can make an immediate improvement. We therefore guide you through several key areas to ensure clients keep turning up.
Reduce no-shows by taking a deposit
The first step to reduce no-shows comes right from the point of booking. Taking a booking deposit will ensure your business still takes a cut of the client’s payment, even if they don’t turn up. Best of all, clients will be more likely to arrive if they have already paid part of their booking payment. When they attend their appointment, this deposit is taken off the final bill.
Implement a cancellation policy
An easy way to ensure clients turn up is to implement a cancellation policy. This could involve a cancellation charge should clients cancel within 48 hours of their booking. A charge is a sure-fire way of deterring clients from cancelling for little reason. With an integrated online platform, you can make sure your cancellation policy is clear and visible on your website and confirmation messages. You should also make your policy visible in your salon or spa, itself.
Booking reminders to reduce no-shows
SMS has many benefits including an enormous open rate of 98% (according to Text Anywhere), making them ideal for booking confirmations and reminders. Not only do confirmations provide clients with all the details they need for their booking, but reminders prompt them closer to the time of their appointment. Should you set up automated SMS appointment reminders, you can make sure clients are reminded without taking time out of your day to send them.
Alerts for repeat offenders
A vital part to reduce no-shows and cancellations is to keep an eye on clients that are repeat offenders. If you have a system in place that maintains client details, you could place a note on your client card whenever they miss their appointment. Systems such as Salon by Premier Software® take this one step further by automatically recognising when a client hasn’t arrived, helping to alert staff when the client tries to book their next appointment. Any further actions can then be taken at that stage, such as taking a deposit or reiterating your cancellation policy.
Salon makes it simple to prevent no-shows, helping you protect your business against lost revenue. To find out how Salon can help your business further, book a free presentation below.