Payment at booking: deposits, full payment and payouts
How deposits and full payment change the booking workflow, plus what to check about fees, payouts and the remaining balance.
Collecting payment after an appointment adds a separate step to the customer journey. Taking a deposit or full payment at booking can move some or all of that step earlier, although you still need a clear process for any balance, failed payment, refund or cancellation.
Deposit or full payment?
You don't have to pick one rule for everything. The right choice usually depends on the service:
- Deposits can suit longer or higher-value appointments by making the commitment explicit, with the balance settled under the terms shown at booking.
- Full payment can suit fixed-price sessions and classes where the amount is known in advance, leaving no service balance to collect at the appointment.
What up-front payment changes
An advance payment can add commitment and reduce the amount left to collect later, but it does not guarantee attendance or make daily takings predictable. Pair it with accurate booking details, operational reminders and fair, transparent cancellation terms so customers understand what happens if plans change.
How payouts work
UK businesses that complete Stripe's checks can connect payments to QZee. Stripe processes each payment and pays it into the connected account. The business pays QZee's 3% + 25p fee per paid booking, plus Stripe processing. QZee does not add VAT to its fee.
Setting it up
In QZee, turn on payment at booking and set a deposit or full amount per service. Consider testing deposits on longer appointments and full payment on suitable fixed-price services, then review the payment workflow, attendance and customer feedback before expanding the approach. QZee Pro also lets booking businesses take payment for event and class tickets; no new events-only plan is offered.