Peak Season Booking Terms

Fair booking terms for Christmas, wedding season, prom season and other peak periods

Peak Season Booking Terms

This is a template - always read the linked guide first. BeautyKiln gives general information, not legal advice.

Use this template to set clear booking terms during your busiest periods - Christmas, wedding season, prom season, Valentine's Day, or any time you're fully booked weeks in advance. Fair terms protect your income without being unreasonable to clients.

Your Peak Season Terms

Business name: [YOUR BUSINESS NAME] Peak period: [e.g. 1 December to 31 December / Prom Season / Wedding Season] These terms apply from: [START DATE] to [END DATE]

Booking Confirmation

All appointments during [PEAK PERIOD] require a non-refundable deposit of £[AMOUNT / or PERCENTAGE e.g. 50%] to secure your booking. Your appointment is not confirmed until the deposit has been received.

Deposits can be paid by [BANK TRANSFER / CARD / CASH - list your accepted methods].

You'll receive a confirmation message once your deposit has been received and your appointment is booked.

Cancellation Policy

During [PEAK PERIOD], the following cancellation terms apply:

• More than [72/48] hours' notice: Your deposit will be held as credit toward a future appointment within [30/60/90] days. No refund.
• Less than [72/48] hours' notice: Your full deposit is forfeited. If the full treatment cost was paid in advance, only the deposit portion is forfeited and the remainder will be refunded.
• No-show (no contact): The full deposit is forfeited. You may be asked to pay in full in advance for future bookings.

We understand things come up. If you're unwell or there's a genuine emergency, please let us know as soon as possible and we'll do our best to help.

Rescheduling

• You may reschedule once with at least [72/48] hours' notice, subject to availability.
• Rescheduled appointments must take place within [14/30] days of the original date.
• A second reschedule will be treated as a cancellation (deposit forfeited).
• Rescheduling on the day of the appointment is treated as a cancellation.

Late Arrivals

• If you arrive up to [10/15] minutes late, we'll do our best to complete your treatment in the remaining time. The full price still applies.
• If you arrive more than [15/20] minutes late, we may need to cancel your appointment to avoid running late for other clients. This will be treated as a no-show.

No-Show Fee

If you don't arrive for your appointment and don't contact us, your deposit is forfeited. Repeated no-shows may result in being asked to pay the full treatment cost in advance for future bookings.

Consumer Rights Act Compliance Notes

These notes are for you - don't include them in what you send to clients.

• Your terms must be fair under the Consumer Rights Act 2015. A term that creates a significant imbalance to the consumer's detriment could be challenged.
• A non-refundable deposit is generally fair if it's a reasonable proportion of the service cost (typically up to 50%).
• Forfeiting a deposit for a no-show or very late cancellation is generally considered fair, as you've lost income.
• Offering credit rather than a cash refund for cancellations with reasonable notice is a good middle ground.
• Your cancellation window should be reasonable. 24-48 hours is standard; anything longer than 72 hours may be harder to justify.
• Always give the client a fair chance to see the terms before they book. Don't spring them on people after they've already committed.

Social Media / WhatsApp Announcement Template

Copy and adapt this for your social media or client messages:

[PEAK PERIOD] Booking Terms

Hi everyone! [PEAK PERIOD] is nearly here and my diary is filling up fast.

To make sure I can fit everyone in and keep things fair, I'm running my peak season booking terms from [START DATE] to [END DATE]:

• A deposit of £[AMOUNT] is needed to secure your appointment
• Cancellations with less than [48/72] hours' notice will forfeit the deposit
• Please arrive on time - late arrivals may mean a shorter treatment or cancellation

I know these are a bit stricter than normal, but last year I had [X] no-shows during the busiest week, which meant other clients missed out on appointments.

Thank you for understanding! Book early to get the time you want.

[YOUR NAME] x

Reminders Checklist

• Update your booking system with peak season terms
• Post announcement on social media at least [2-4] weeks before the peak period starts
• Send a message to regular clients
• Update your website or booking page
• Make sure your terms are visible before clients book (not just after)
• Set up automatic appointment reminders (24-48 hours before)
• Brief any staff on the policy

Prepared by: [YOUR NAME] Applies to: [PEAK PERIOD] Dates: [START DATE] to [END DATE] Last reviewed: [DATE]