Online payments and deposits in bookings
An online deposit turns an enquiry into a real booking. The system can automatically record the payment, change the status and send the customer a confirmation.
What problem this feature solves
Businesses often hold a date after a WhatsApp message, but the customer pays nothing up front. As a result the calendar gets blocked, and some bookings vanish without ever being cancelled.
How it works
- The customer picks a date or submits a form, and the system calculates the deposit amount or the full payment.
- Once paid, the system changes the booking status to confirmed.
- The administrator can see payments that are pending, paid, refunded or cancelled.
- A payment confirmation can trigger automatic messages with instructions.
Benefits for the business
- Fewer empty blocks in the calendar.
- Better cash flow ahead of the season and during high occupancy.
- Less manual checking of bank transfers.
- A clear payment history when cancellations and date changes happen.
Benefits for the end customer
- The customer knows straight away whether the date is booked.
- Paying by card or link is faster than a bank transfer and manual confirmation.
- The confirmation lands in their inbox automatically.
- Deposit and cancellation terms are visible before they decide.
Example use cases
- An apartment takes a 30% deposit on a direct booking.
- An airport transfer takes a fixed deposit, with the balance paid to the driver.
- A beauty salon requires a deposit for long treatments or Saturday appointments.
Which sectors it's for
See what the booking management panel looks like
This feature works best as part of the admin panel: with bookings, CRM, payment status, calendar, notes and lead sources in one place.
See the panel demo for apartments, transfers, tours and clinicsFAQ
Can you take only a deposit rather than the full amount?+
Yes. The system can handle a fixed amount, a percentage of the booking value, or different rules for services, seasons and properties.
Can payment status change the booking status?+
Yes. After a successful payment a booking can move automatically from awaiting payment to confirmed.
System features for businesses in the Canary Islands
This feature works just as well on any island, but its use varies with the local market and seasonality — see examples for specific locations.
Related articles
See how this works in practice on the WebsiteOK blog.
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