Deposits: with or without

Sumerzé Help Center

When a provider takes payments in the app, they choose for each service whether you pay a deposit when you book (5% to 50% of the price) or no deposit at all. You always see which one before you confirm.

Deposit or no deposit: what changes

With a deposit

You pay part of the price when you book, plus the Sumerzé fee and card processing. The rest is paid after the appointment.
The provider's cancellation policy applies once they accept: cancel in time and the deposit comes back; cancel late and they may keep it.
If the provider cancels or doesn't show up, you get the deposit back in full.
If the provider never accepts your request, you get everything back.

No deposit

Nothing is charged when you book. Checkout shows "You pay today $0.00".
You pay the full price after the appointment: in the app, when the provider sends the final amount, or in person.
Cancelling costs nothing, and there is no deposit to refund.
The provider's cancellation policy is still shown, but it can't be enforced, because there is no deposit to keep.

For customers

The booking screen tells you which one applies: the deposit amount, or "No deposit. Pay after your appointment, in the app or in person."
On a no-deposit booking, your booking page says "No deposit for this booking" so you always know nothing was charged.
If you pay in the app after the appointment, the usual Sumerzé fee and card processing are added, you can add a tip, and you get a receipt, the same as any in-app payment.
Please still cancel as early as you can if plans change. Not showing up counts on your Sumerzé record, even without a deposit.

For providers

In the app, go to Services and add or edit a service. (You'll also see this during onboarding and when you send a quote.)
Under Deposit, move the slider. The first stop, all the way to the left, is No deposit. Every other stop is 5% to 50%. New services start at 25%.
Save. The change applies to new bookings. Bookings already made keep what was agreed.
After a no-deposit appointment, tap Mark as complete and choose Charge in app (the customer pays the full amount, plus any tip, in the app and it goes to your payouts) or Collect in person.

Before you choose No deposit

Your cancellation policy can't be enforced. If a customer cancels late or doesn't show up, there is no deposit to keep. You can still mark a no-show, which counts on the customer's record.
Some customers book more easily when there is nothing to pay upfront.
Sumerzé's fee only applies to money paid in the app. If you're paid in person, no Sumerzé fee is charged on that booking.
Services under $15 never take a deposit, whatever you choose.
Deposits need payouts set up (Profile › Payouts). Without payouts, every booking has no deposit and customers pay you directly.

Common questions

Is "No deposit" the same as a provider without in-app payments?

No. A provider who chose No deposit can still charge you in the app after the appointment. A provider without in-app payments can't, so you pay them directly.

Can I get a refund on a no-deposit booking?

Nothing was charged when you booked, so there is nothing to refund. If you paid in the app after the appointment and something went wrong, you can open a dispute.

Why do most providers ask for a deposit?

It protects their time: a deposit is what makes a cancellation policy work. That's why new services start at 25%.

Can the provider change the deposit after I book?

No. Your booking keeps what you saw when you booked.