A deposit is money paid before an appointment to secure it. On the day it comes off the price, so the client pays the balance. If they cancel late or do not turn up, the business keeps some or all of it, under rules the client agreed to when they paid. Deposits are common for long or expensive services, first visits, group and bridal bookings, and anything where the business orders product or blocks a large part of the day in advance.
The rules need to be written down and said before any money changes hands: how much, when it is due, when it is refunded and when it is kept. Ask for it when you confirm the booking, with a payment link or your bank details in the same message.
In practice
A hair salon asks for a flat $60 deposit on any appointment over two hours. A client books a $260 full head of foils with toner. She pays $60 when the booking is confirmed and $200 on the day. If she cancels with more than 48 hours' notice, the $60 is refunded or moved to a new date; with less, the salon keeps it.
Flat amounts are easier than percentages: easy to say, easy to check and easy to refund. Keep the deposit small enough that it feels like a commitment rather than paying in full up front. There is more on where to draw the line in no-shows and deposits.
In Glow Line
Write your deposit rule in notes and the assistant states it when a caller asks. It never takes a deposit or any payment details; you send your payment link when you confirm the time. See the answered line.