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CANCELLATION & NO-SHOW POLICY — THIS STUDIO Please read this policy carefully before booking. ───────────────────────────────────── CANCELLATIONS ───────────────────────────────────── Cancellations made less than 24 hours before the appointment: your deposit will not be refunded. Cancellations made with more than 24 hours notice will be refunded or credited in full minus the deposit. ───────────────────────────────────── NO-SHOWS ───────────────────────────────────── If you do not arrive for your appointment without prior notice, your deposit will be retained in full. No-shows affect other clients waiting for availability. ───────────────────────────────────── RESCHEDULING ───────────────────────────────────── One free reschedule is offered with at least 24 hours notice. Further reschedules within the same appointment cycle may be subject to a fee. ───────────────────────────────────── LATE ARRIVALS ───────────────────────────────────── Clients arriving more than 15 minutes late may have their appointment shortened to avoid affecting the next client. The full service price remains due. ───────────────────────────────────── DEPOSITS ───────────────────────────────────── A non-refundable deposit is required at the time of booking to confirm your appointment. This deposit is applied to the balance of your service. ───────────────────────────────────── ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ───────────────────────────────────── By completing a booking, you confirm that you have read and agree to this cancellation policy.
This generator produces a template for informational purposes. Review it for your specific situation before publishing. It is not legal advice.
No-shows and last-minute cancellations are one of the most damaging things that can happen to a nail tech's income. A cancelled appointment isn't just lost revenue for that slot — it's also the revenue you could have earned by booking someone else in that time, and it's time you can't get back.
A written cancellation policy does three things:
Notice window
How many hours notice is required for a free cancellation. This is the core of the policy — 24–48 hours is standard.
Late cancellation fee
What you charge when a client cancels inside the notice window. Usually the deposit or a percentage of the service.
No-show fee
No-shows are more disruptive than cancellations. Most nail techs retain the full deposit or charge a higher percentage.
Rescheduling terms
Whether clients can reschedule, how much notice they need, and whether there's a fee for repeated rescheduling.
Late arrival
A grace period after which you may shorten or cancel the appointment. This protects your schedule and the next client.
Deposit requirement
If you collect deposits (highly recommended), reference this in the policy so clients know it's non-negotiable.
A policy is only useful if clients see it before they book. Publish it in:
Enforcing your policy is easier when it was clearly communicated upfront. Most clients will accept a fee that they knew about when they booked. The tricky situations arise when clients feel surprised.
Practically:
Collecting deposits at booking makes enforcement straightforward: you already hold the fee before the appointment. No awkward conversations about collecting after a no-show.
How to collect deposits as a nail tech →Do nail techs need a written cancellation policy?
A written cancellation policy protects you in disputes and sets clear expectations before clients book. Without one, it's your word against the client's when a no-show or last-minute cancellation happens.
How much notice should I require for cancellations?
Most nail techs require 24–48 hours notice. 24 hours is the minimum needed to fill a cancelled slot. 48 hours is more protective but can feel strict to some clients. A tiered policy (full refund with 48+ hours, partial with 24–48, no refund under 24 hours) balances both.
What should I charge for a no-show?
Most nail techs retain the full deposit on a no-show. If you're not collecting deposits, a fee equivalent to 50–100% of the service is common. The goal is to cover the income lost when a slot can't be filled.
How do I communicate my cancellation policy to clients?
Add your policy to your booking page, booking confirmation message, and Instagram bio or highlights. Clients can't claim they didn't know if it was presented before they confirmed their booking.