A no-show on a tint or PPF install is one of the most expensive things that can happen in a shop day: the bay sits empty for two to four hours that were already promised to someone else. The fix is simple and proven — collect a deposit at the moment of booking.
Why deposits work
A customer who has put money down shows up. A deposit converts a soft “I’ll be there” into a real commitment, and it filters out the tire-kickers who were never going to book. Shops that switch to deposit booking routinely cut no-shows dramatically.
How much to charge
A 25–50% deposit is the sweet spot — enough to create commitment, not so much that it scares off a legitimate customer. For a premium ceramic or full-front PPF job, a flat deposit (say $100–$200) works well and is easy to explain.
Make it painless
The deposit should be part of the booking confirmation, not a separate awkward ask. Modern tools collect it automatically when the appointment is created — card, Apple Pay, or a payment link by text. The customer books, pays the deposit, and the balance is due at pickup.
Frame it as a benefit
Tell customers the deposit reserves their install slot and locks their price. That framing turns a friction point into a feature. This is exactly how a purpose-built tint shop POS like SalesThumb handles booking — deposit collection is built into the flow, not bolted on.