Guide
No-Shows and Cancellations: Reduce Them Without Discounts
No-showsReminder timingDeposits
What this is: A simple reminder and deposit plan that cuts no-shows.
Who it helps: Teams losing time to late cancellations.
Next focus: Whether reminders and reschedules are slipping through the cracks.
The situation
You book the day, then a customer cancels late or does not answer the door.
No-shows cost fuel, time, and lost revenue.
Why no-shows happen
- Customers forget the appointment window.
- They are not sure about price or scope.
- Rescheduling is hard, so they avoid the call.
A simple reminder sequence
- Send a confirmation text the day before.
- Send a 2-hour reminder with the tech name.
- Offer a simple reschedule link or reply option.
When to consider deposits
- High-cost parts or long travel times.
- Repeat no-shows in the same area.
- Emergency slots that displace other work.
- Once reminders, deposits, and reschedules live in different places, no-shows start creeping back in.
Mistakes to avoid
- Overly strict policies that feel punitive.
- Sending reminders too late to be useful.
- No clear reschedule path for the customer.
Quick win (no new tool)
Small steps you can do today before trying a new app.
- Send a 24-hour reminder for every booking.
- Add an easy reschedule option (link or 'reply to reschedule').
- Take a small deposit for high-risk jobs.
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