The Simple Booking Requirement That Eliminates Window Shoppers
If you want to protect your schedule from empty chairs and immediately drop your cancellation rate, you need to introduce a filter.
I highly suggest you require a reservation deposit 💳 for every weekend new patient and all high-value consultations.
In an era of casual online booking and automated text reminders, a financial commitment cuts through the noise. But this isn’t just about being strict—it is a highly effective filtering and commitment strategy.
Here is exactly how to execute it:
1. Target Specific Appointments: You don’t need a deposit for every single new patient. Instead, require one for all weekend new patients and any consultation for cosmetic work or All-on-X (regardless of the day). Filter out the uncommitted.
2. Scale with the Procedure: For any treatment that is scheduled in advance, do not just use a flat fee. The deposit should be a direct percentage of the patient’s out-of-pocket expense.
3. Frame it as a Credit: Treat the deposit as an advance payment. Let the patient know this amount goes directly toward their out-of-pocket expense or treatment plan when they arrive.
4. Enforce the Policy: Include a strict 48-hour cancellation policy, clearly stating that the fee is only forfeited if they no-show or cancel without adequate notice.
This simple policy accomplishes two things: it immediately gets rid of uninterested window shoppers, and it ensures that your no-show rates plummet to ZERO.
By Dr. Patrick Anghel, DDS (Pat the Dentist)