Your day starts with a full schedule of expected appointments or boarding stays. But as time passes, some of those bookings become no-shows that eat at your morale (and profits). You're left with gaps in your schedule and expected revenue. And honestly? It can hurt your bottom line a lot over time.

That’s where deposit management comes in. 

Revelation Pets gives pet-care businesses a powerful toolset to manage deposits, ensuring your time and services are respected and your revenue is protected. But setting it up smartly is just as important as having the tool in the first place.

In this blog, we’ll unpack why deposits matter for your pet business and how Revelation Pets can take the headaches out of securing them. 

Why Should Pet-Care Businesses Care About Deposits?

A cat lays in front of an open laptop and credit cardsDeposits aren’t just about the money. They are critical in shaping customer behavior, reinforcing commitment, and securing your team’s hard-earned revenue. Here’s more on why they matter:

Reduce No-Shows

Customers who pay a deposit are far less likely to skip their appointment. It creates a sense of accountability, helping you avoid wasted time slots and empty kennels.

Secure Revenue in Advance

Even if a booking is canceled, you can retain the deposit, offering your business a financial cushion against last-minute changes or no-shows.

Streamline Payments

Deposits make final payment collection faster and simpler. When part of the fee is prepaid, you only settle the balance at checkout.

Create Professional Boundaries

Having a clear deposit policy shows customers that you run a professional operation. It signals fairness and transparency and sets the tone for the rest of the client relationship.

How Revelation Pets Makes Deposit Management Easy

Revelation Pets has a built-in deposit management system for pet-care businesses like yours. It gives you flexibility, control, and automation to apply deposits your way.

Here’s what makes it stand out:

  • Apply deposits manually or automatically to bookings
  • Track deposits directly in your daily and financial reports
  • Customize deposit requirements by service type (boarding, grooming, daycare)

Deposit ManagementThe system integrates seamlessly with your bookings, meaning you’re not juggling spreadsheets or chasing down payments by hand.

Setting Up and Managing Deposits in Revelation Pets

Step 1: Configure Your Deposit Settings

Before you start collecting deposits, decide how you want to apply them. Here’s how to set it up:

  1. Go to Account Settings → Online Payments.
  2. Scroll to the Deposit Settings section.
  3. Decide when deposits should be applied:
    • For all online bookings
    • For bookings where the customer chooses to pay online
    • For bookings over a certain length (number of days)

Step 2: Set the Deposit Amount

Choose whether you want to charge a fixed dollar amount or a percentage of the booking total. You can even set different rules for boarding, daycare, and grooming. For example:

  • Fixed Amount: $25 per booking
  • Percentage: 20% of the booking total

Step 3: Collect the Deposit at Booking or Checkout

Once you’ve configured your settings, deposits will be automatically prompted during the online booking (if you’ve enabled automatic collection). If you’re applying deposits manually (for example, over the phone or in person), you can do this directly in the booking record:

  1. Go to the Bookings screen.
  2. Select the customer’s booking.
  3. Click Apply Deposit and enter the amount you want to charge.
  4. Save the booking.

When a pet parent arrives for an appointment, Revelation Pets also makes applying the deposit against the final balance simple. 

Step 4: Track Everything in Reports

Deposits ReportUse your Daily Summary or Payments Reports to stay on top of deposits so you always know what’s been collected.

Deposits aren’t just an admin tool—they’re a business strategy.

Revelation Pets gives you the tools to make deposit management seamless, whether you’re a small grooming salon or a large-scale pet boarding facility. And with the steps outlined here, you can set it up confidently, knowing you’re building a more resilient, customer-focused business.

Ready to use deposits in your pet business? Get started with a free trial of Revelation Pets now!