Payment schedules and deposits

Taking the full amount at booking is simple, but it is not always right. Guests booking months ahead hesitate at a big upfront charge, and you carry the whole refund if plans change. A deposit now and the balance closer to arrival is the middle ground most properties settle on, and Stayblox handles the schedule for you.

Choose a split that fits your risk

There is no single correct split, only trade-offs. A common pattern is 30% at booking and the rest due a week or two before check-in. A higher deposit filters out casual bookings and covers more of your loss on a late cancellation. A lower one converts hesitant guests better. Peak weeks that always sell out can carry stricter terms than shoulder-season dates.

Set up the schedule

In your payment settings, create a schedule template with the parts of the stay and when each is due. Triggers can fire at booking, a number of days after booking, or a number of days before check-in. Once the template is active, every new booking gets its own schedule: the deposit is taken at checkout on your website, and the balance becomes due on the date you set.

What the guest sees

The guest pays the deposit as part of booking, with the full breakdown in front of them: what is paid now, what is due later and when. There is no surprise second charge, because the confirmation spells the schedule out. When the balance comes due, it is collected without you writing a single reminder email.

Bank transfers and cash still count

Not every guest pays by card. If you accept bank transfers or cash on arrival, record the payment on the booking when it lands and the outstanding balance updates. The booking's payment history stays complete no matter how the money moved, and the invoice at the end reflects all of it.

Check the whole flow once

Make a test booking on your own site and watch the schedule attach itself: deposit charged, balance dated, both visible on the booking. Ten minutes now saves an awkward conversation with a real guest later.

One wording tip for your confirmations: this deposit is the first part of the booking price, not a refundable damage hold. Say so plainly and checkout day stays free of refund debates.