How to Deal With Client Cancellations

Are a lot of your clients canceling their appointments last minute? Are you getting no-shows?

Are you getting frustrated and losing out on money? These tips will hopefully reduce client cancellations.

Requesting a small deposit when you take a booking will help to ensure that your clients will be less likely to cancel. If they do decide to cancel then they will lose their deposit and nobody likes to lose out on money. Requesting a deposit also helps to cover a small fee of your time so your financial loss wont be as dramatic. If you had an appointment for example which you would schedule half of your day and your client cancelled you would be losing out on half a day's pay so requesting a deposit will help to cover yourself if they did decide to cancel. 

Sending reminders to your clients is an effective way to help reduce client cancellations as some clients might genuinely forget. Having appointment cards is the cheapest way of reminding your clients about their next appointment. Setting up a text message service to remind is also a good way as everyone is always on their phone. Messaging and reminding at least 48 hours is a good heads up so they can always re-arrange if they needed to and it gives you a chance to try and fill in the gap. You could always try phoning the clients, Yes it is a little time-consuming but this will hopefully ensure little cancellations as you have personally reminded them. If they did wish to cancel again you can hopefully try and fill in the gap. 

Offering a cancellation fee can help to stop client cancellations. Allowing them to cancel between 24-48 hours is fair so at least you have time and notice to try and reschedule your clients. If they decide to cancel on the day or less than 24 hours then you should offer a cancellation fee. The cancellation fee can be at your discretion depending on the cost of the service. A cancellation fee will also help to cover your finances if a client cancels last minute or they didn't show up. 

Offering an online booking system can be a helpful tool for yourself and your clients. An online booking system does all the hard work for you. Your clients can book the appointments which suit them best, they can see your prices and they can also cancel. If they do decide to cancel they can easily do it on their phone and you would be notified. Most online booking system does take their card details so if they did cancel then a cancellation fee would be charged. If your clients can see all your services and prices that you offer they are more likely to spend more as maybe they didn't realise you even offered them. Online booking is very quick and easy and your clients don't have to wait to get through on the phone to a receptionist. Online booking systems also send reminders automatically so a very handy tool to have.

Hopefully, you can take away a few of these tips to help reduce client cancellations and to help get your profit back on track. Shop now at CM Hair and Beauty Supplies for all your hair, beauty and tanning supplies.