1. The reminder, with a way to cancel
Most no-shows are not bad faith: the customer forgot, or did not dare let you know. A reminder the day before solves the first case. A “cancel or reschedule” link in that reminder solves the second: the customer frees up the slot in one tap, and it goes straight back online for someone else. With CYB, this reminder is sent from the salon's phone, at no cost per message.
2. The deposit, for long services
A deposit at booking turns an intention into a commitment. It does not need to be high: a few euros on an hour-long cut and beard is enough to filter out “just in case” bookings. CYB lets you set the deposit per service, and only ask for it on those that warrant it. Payment goes through Stripe, and the deposit is deducted at checkout.
3. The card hold, to charge nothing unless there is a no-show
Gentler than a deposit: the customer saves their card, and nothing is charged if they turn up. In the event of a no-show without cancellation, the salon can charge the stated amount. It is the mechanism hotels use, and it works because it is announced: the rule is written at the time of booking. CYB manages the card hold and the no-show fee via Stripe, on the Pro plan and above.
4. Remembering no-shows
A customer who has missed two appointments without notice is not like other customers. The CYB customer profile keeps a history of visits and no-shows: at the time of booking, the salon knows who it is dealing with and can, for that customer alone, require a deposit or refuse online booking.
5. Conditions visible right from the website
What is not written down does not exist. The cancellation period, the deposit and any fee must appear at the time of booking — not in rules pinned up behind the till. The website generated by CYB displays these conditions on the booking page, and the SMS reminder repeats them.
A point to watch: a no-show fee must be proportionate and accepted by the customer at the time of booking. An amount that is announced, accepted and then applied poses no problem; a fee discovered after the fact does.
Measure before drawing conclusions
Before tightening your conditions, count. How many no-shows per week, in which slots, which customers? The CYB dashboard shows the no-show rate and how it changes over time; it is this figure, not an impression, that tells you whether a lever works. We do not claim any percentage reduction here: it depends on the salon, and it is measured in your own shop.
Frequently asked questions
Can I ask for a deposit on certain services only?
Yes. The deposit is set service by service in CYB: you can require it for an hour-long cut and beard and not for a ten-minute touch-up.
Is the customer charged by the card hold if they turn up?
No. Nothing is charged if the customer keeps their appointment. The stated amount is only charged in the event of a no-show without cancellation, under the conditions accepted at booking.
Can the customer cancel from the SMS reminder?
Yes. The reminder sent by CYB contains a link to cancel or reschedule; the freed-up slot goes straight back online.
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Other guides
- Which barber software charges no commission on bookings?
- How can I send free SMS reminders to my salon's customers?
- Directory-style booking platform or independent software: which should I choose for my salon?
- How much does an online booking website cost for a barber?
The prices quoted are those currently in force, read from the database at the time of display.