Home › Free tools › Cancellation policy generator

Cancellation policy generator

Write a short, fair cancellation policy for appointments and bookings: deposits, late cancellations and no-shows. Fill in your prices and notice period and copy the policy for your booking page, website and confirmation texts. It checks whether your fees look high against the price of the booking. It runs in your browser and nothing is stored.

How to use it

1. Set a notice period you can actually refill a slot in. For most appointment businesses, 24 or 48 hours is common.
2. Keep charges in proportion to what you lose: the tool flags any charge over half the booking price, and anything over the full price.
3. Show the policy before people book: on the booking page, in the confirmation text and on your website. A term customers never saw is hard to rely on.
4. Use a booking app that takes deposits and sends reminders; reminders prevent more no-shows than fees do. Compare apps in best booking apps.

Worked example

A dog groomer charging £45 a groom takes a £10 deposit, asks for 48 hours' notice, and charges £15 for a late cancellation and £25 for a no-show, both taken from the deposit first. The fairness check flags the £25 no-show charge as more than half the price, so the groomer can decide whether that matches what a lost slot costs or lower it.

The UK rules behind it

• Fair fees. The Consumer Rights Act 2015 lists, as a term that may be unfair, one requiring a consumer who decides not to go ahead to pay a disproportionately high sum in compensation or for services not supplied (Schedule 2, paragraph 5, checked 17 October 2026). An unfair term isn't binding on the consumer (section 62).
• Bookings by phone or online. Distance selling rules can give customers 14 days to cancel and require you to explain cancellation rights and deposit conditions before they book; there are exceptions, including for goods and services worth £42 or less (GOV.UK: distance selling). Check how they apply to your bookings.

More: best AI tools for salons · best AI tools for dog groomers · best AI tools for personal trainers · best AI tools for cafés · terms and conditions template

A starting point, not legal advice.

Questions

Is there a free cancellation policy generator?

Yes. This page writes a short deposit, late-cancellation and no-show policy in your browser, free and with no sign-up, and checks whether your charges look high against the booking price.

Can I charge customers for not turning up?

Yes, if the charge is in terms they saw before booking and it's fair. A charge that's disproportionately high compared with your loss may be an unfair term the customer doesn't have to pay.

How much notice should a cancellation policy ask for?

Enough time to refill the slot. Many salons, groomers and trainers ask for 24 or 48 hours. A longer period with a non-refundable deposit can look unfair if you can usually rebook the time.

Should a deposit be refundable?

It's fairest to refund it, or move it to a new booking, when customers cancel within your notice period, and to use it towards any late-cancellation or no-show charge when they don't.

Where should I put my cancellation policy?

On your booking page, in confirmation and reminder messages, and on your website, so customers see it before they book.