Level up…

It’s time to change the way business is done. The case for a 50% deposit.

I have be honest, when I first heard this idea I thought it was genius but I was also a little hesitant. I mean, how were my clients going to react? Would I turn away potential new clients? The results were pretty astounding.

It was quite the opposite. My existing clients said things like “I was wondering when you were going to start doing this” or “It’s about time” . They loved the idea of splitting up the payments so they weren’t hit with such a large bill at the time of the appointment.

My new clients didn’t know any different, and a new standard was set. I have not had any pushback.

Since implementing a deposit, I have had ZERO no shows and only a handful of cancellations. Anyone who puts down a non refundable deposit means business. They respect and value your time and in return, it is our responsibility to run on time and deliver outstanding service that exceeds their expectations.

By implementing a deposit I was able to establish clear boundaries in my business. I also have a legally binding policy waiver that all clients must sign before arriving to their appointment. It includes a clear explanation of my cancellation policy, expectations around late arrivals, and any changes a client may want to make to originally booked service after arriving to their appointment. Last but not least there is a photography and video release waiver, since social media is such a huge part of our marketing.

Every client signs this waiver before each appointment, this way there is a clear understanding of what the expectations are.

So what are you waiting for??? It’s time to level up and set a higher standard for your business and never have no shows again!!

Author,
Melanie Hess