How to Reduce No-Shows: SMS Reminders, Deposits & Easy Rescheduling

No-shows are rarely malicious. Life gets in the way — a client forgets, double-books, or something urgent comes up and they don't know how to let you know. The most common causes are simple: no reminder, no easy way to cancel or reschedule, and nothing invested up front.

You don't have to take our word for it — the data on appointment reminders is remarkably consistent across healthcare and service industries.

Start with the basics, which cost you nothing on GetaBooking. Every booking triggers a branded email confirmation, and automatic email reminders go out before the appointment — unless you switch them off.

The moment a client books, they get a professional, branded confirmation email with the date, time, service, location and an add-to-calendar link. A client who has your appointment in their calendar is far less likely to forget it.

Before the appointment, GetaBooking automatically emails a reminder with a one-click rebooking link. Email reminders are free and included for every customer — a solid baseline that catches the clients who do check their inbox.

Nothing reduces no-shows like a client having money on the line. When someone has paid — even a small deposit — they're invested, and they'll tell you if they can't make it rather than simply not turning up.

The easier it is for a client to manage their own booking, the less likely they are to ghost you. GetaBooking gives every booking site its own installable app your clients add to their home screen.

This is the one most businesses miss. When something comes up, a client faces a choice: contact you to move the appointment, or just not show. If rescheduling is awkward, too many pick the second option.

Email reminders catch the clients who check their inbox. SMS catches everyone else. A text lands on the lock screen and is almost always seen — a 98% open rate, read within about 90 seconds. It's the most reliable way to reach a client before their appointment, which is why it's the single biggest lever on no-shows.

GetaBooking SMS reminders are sent from your own business name (a custom sender, UK businesses only), so clients instantly recognise who the text is from. They send automatically — set them up once and we handle every booking.

You can configure up to two SMS reminders per booking, each at a timing you choose and with your own message. A typical setup is one 48 hours before (enough notice to reschedule if needed) and a second a few hours before (the final nudge). You decide the timing and wording.

SMS credits are bought in bundles of 100 for £7.99 or 500 for £35, and they never expire. A short reminder uses one credit (roughly 7p a text); longer messages may use more. Crucially, failed messages are never charged — you only pay for texts that actually send. Every message is tracked so you can see exactly what's gone out.