Charging a no-show fee is standard practice across most industries, particularly in the medical sector. Your own time and effort are financially compensated. You're not losing out on money you would have received from another client on the waiting list. You'll reinforce to clients the importance and value of your time.

Yes, you can legally charge for no-shows, provided you have a clearly stated and agreed-upon cancellation policy at the time of booking. For service-based businesses like hotels, restaurants, and salons, charging a no-show fee is a common way to recoup lost revenue from a time slot that can no longer be sold. To ensure these charges are enforceable, you must have the customer's explicit consent—often obtained by having them provide their credit card details and checking a box agreeing to your terms of service. The law typically requires these fees to be "reasonable" and "proportionate" to the loss incurred; for example, charging 100% of the service fee for a no-show might be challenged if it’s considered an "unfair penalty," whereas a 25% to 50% deposit or a flat $25 fee is usually seen as fair. In 2026, many booking platforms automate this process, allowing you to send an invoice or process the stored payment method immediately. If a customer disputes the charge, you must be able to provide proof of the booking and the policy they agreed to. It is also a best practice to send a "reminder" email or text 24 hours before the appointment to minimize no-shows entirely.