Should salons take deposits? Pros, cons, fair amounts and wording

A missed two-hour colour appointment can wipe out a stylist's afternoon. Deposits are the most common fix, but they need to be fair, clear and easy to pay or customers will book elsewhere. Here's how to decide, what UK consumer law expects and wording you can use.

Updated 9 October 2026 · DeskKit Tools, Belfast

Why salons take deposits

A deposit gives a customer a small stake in turning up. It also covers part of your loss if they don't, and it makes people more likely to tell you in time if they need to cancel, so you can fill the slot. For long or expensive services, the risk of an empty chair is high enough that many salons now ask for one as standard.

The downsides

Some customers won't book. First-time customers comparing salons may choose one that doesn't ask for money up front.
Admin. You need to record who has paid, refund when you should, and deal with disputes.
Bad feeling if the policy is unclear or applied unfairly, for example keeping a deposit when the customer cancelled with plenty of notice.

That's why most salons don't ask for a deposit on everything. They target the bookings where a no-show costs the most.

Which bookings to cover

Common choices are:

long services: colour, highlights, balayage, extensions, bridal trials, lash sets
new customers, who have no track record with you
peak slots, such as Friday evenings, Saturdays and the weeks before Christmas or formals
customers who have missed an appointment before

Regular customers who always turn up for a short trim often don't need one. Whatever you decide, write it down and apply it consistently.

How much is fair?

There is no fixed legal percentage in the UK. Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, terms in contracts with consumers must be fair. The government's guidance on writing a fair contract for customers says that any deposit or prepayment you keep when a customer cancels must take into account what your business will actually lose, must not be excessive, and should reflect steps you can take to reduce the loss, such as filling the slot with someone else.

In practice, that points to:

a deposit that is a modest share of the service price, rather than the full amount
a fixed amount for short services and a larger one for long services
refunding or transferring the deposit when the customer gives reasonable notice
not keeping a deposit if you cancel, or if you were able to rebook the slot

The Competition and Markets Authority's longer guidance on unfair contract terms (CMA37) covers deposits and cancellation charges in more detail.

Make the policy clear before they book

A deposit policy only works if the customer sees and agrees to it before booking, in plain English. Put it on your booking page, your price list and the confirmation message. It should say:

which services need a deposit, and how much
how to pay it, and by when
how much notice you need to cancel or move the booking
what happens to the deposit if they cancel in time, cancel late or don't turn up
that the deposit comes off the final bill

Example wording

Deposits: We ask for a deposit of £20 for appointments over 90 minutes and for all new colour clients. It comes off your bill on the day.

Changes and cancellations: Please give us at least 48 hours' notice to cancel or move your appointment and we'll refund your deposit or move it to your new booking.

Late cancellations and no-shows: If you cancel with less than 48 hours' notice or don't arrive, we may keep your deposit to cover the time we set aside. If we manage to fill your slot, we'll refund it.

If we need to cancel: you'll always get your deposit back in full.

Adjust the amount, notice period and services to suit your salon. Our sister site has a full salon no-show policy guide for Belfast salons with more wording.

Taking the deposit

You can take deposits by card over the phone, a payment link, bank transfer or in person. Whichever you use, record it against the booking straight away, so the customer's final bill is right and you know who has paid. Send a confirmation that repeats the amount and the cancellation notice period.

Handling the awkward cases

Genuine emergencies: many salons use discretion and move the deposit to a new booking. Being kind here earns loyalty.
Repeat no-shows: ask for full prepayment or decline future bookings.
Disputes: point to the policy they agreed to, keep calm, and remember that a small refund can cost less than a bad review.

Frequently asked questions

Is it legal for a salon to take a non-refundable deposit in the UK?

Salons can take deposits, but under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 the terms must be fair. Government guidance says any deposit you keep should reflect your actual loss, not be excessive, and take into account whether you could fill the slot.

How much deposit should a salon charge?

There is no set legal amount. Many salons use a modest fixed amount for shorter services and a larger one for long services, rather than the full price. Keep it proportionate to what you would lose.

Should the deposit come off the final bill?

Yes, normally. Say so clearly in your policy and on the confirmation so customers know it is part of the price, not an extra charge.

More guides

General information for small businesses, not legal or professional advice. Rules change, so check the official sources linked above before you rely on them.