Reduce no-shows
How to reduce restaurant no-shows.
An empty table on a Saturday night is lost revenue you can’t get back. These are the steps that cut no-shows the most, and how Orbis Table handles each one for you.
1. Take a deposit when it matters
A card deposit is the single most effective way to stop no-shows. You don’t need one on every booking: require deposits for busy nights, large parties or special menus, and take them through Stripe at 2.5% + 20p. Deposits are available on Standard and above.
2. Remind guests, and make changing easy
Most no-shows are forgotten bookings, not rude guests. Branded confirmations go out by email on every plan, and on Standard and above reminders go by email and SMS before the booking.
Each reminder links to a page where the guest can confirm, change the time, add a note or cancel in one tap, so a table you would have lost goes back on sale.
3. Refill cancelled tables automatically
When a booking cancels, the waitlist offers the table to the next suitable guest by text, with a time limit so it never sits empty for long.
4. Know who doesn’t turn up
Track no-shows by guest and by service in reports, flag repeat no-shows on their profile, and use the banned guest list for the few who keep doing it.
- Deposits and prepayments through Stripe
- Email and SMS reminders with a self-service link
- Automatic waitlist offers for cancelled tables
- No-show history on every guest profile
Features you’ll use most
Deposits, SMS reminders and the waitlist are all included from Standard at £29 a month. Compare plans and prices
Questions
Frequently asked questions
What is the best way to reduce restaurant no-shows?
Combine a card deposit for busy services with reminders that let guests change or cancel easily. Together they turn forgotten bookings into either a guest who turns up or a table you can resell.
Should I charge a deposit on every booking?
Usually not. Most venues require deposits only for peak nights, large groups or special menus, so everyday bookings stay quick and simple.
How much do deposits cost to take?
Card deposits are processed through Stripe at 2.5% + 20p per transaction on Standard, Premium and Pro.
Do reminders really help?
Yes. Many no-shows are simply forgotten bookings. A reminder with a one-tap way to change or cancel gives you the table back in time to rebook it.
Keep reading
Related guides
See how Orbis Table works for restaurants, pubs, cafés, bars, hotel restaurants and restaurant groups, or follow the setup guide.
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