To require a deposit in Reservics, open the location you want, go to the Payments & Cancellation tab, turn on deposits, and set the amount. You can charge a flat fee or an amount per guest. Diners then pay through Shopify Checkout when they book, and the reservation only confirms after payment. Deposits are a Pro+ feature.
Before you start #
- Deposits are available on the Pro ($9.99/mo) and Advance ($19.99/mo) plans. The Free plan cannot charge deposits. See Pricing and plans to upgrade.
- Deposits are set per location, so each venue can have its own amount or none at all.
- The deposit currency comes from your Shopify shop currency setting. It is read-only inside Reservics, so set your store currency in Shopify first.
- Payment runs through Shopify Checkout, so your store must be able to accept payments.
How to set up a reservation deposit #
In your Shopify admin, open Reservics.
Go to Locations and click the location you want to charge a deposit for.
Open the Payments & Cancellation tab.
Turn on the deposit option and enter the deposit amount.
Decide how the amount is calculated:
- Leave Deposit per guest off for a single flat fee per booking.
- Turn Deposit per guest on to charge the amount multiplied by party size.
Set your refund window and any no-show fee if you want them (see No-show fees and refunds).
Save the location.
That is it. The next time a diner books at this location, the booking widget will send them to Shopify Checkout to pay the deposit before the reservation is held.
Flat fee vs. per-guest deposit #
Use the table below to choose how the deposit is calculated. The amount you enter is the same field in both cases. The Deposit per guest toggle decides whether it is multiplied by party size.
| Setting | How it is charged | Example (deposit set to $10) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deposit per guest off (flat) | One fixed fee per booking, no matter the party size | Party of 4 pays $10 | Casual deposits, simple no-show holds |
| Deposit per guest on | Amount x number of guests | Party of 4 pays $40 | Tasting menus, large tables, ticketed events |
What the diner sees #
- The diner fills out the booking form on your storefront widget and submits it.
- Because a deposit is required, Reservics sends them to Shopify Checkout to pay. Behind the scenes this is created as a draft order.
- While payment is pending, the reservation sits in Pending status and holds the seat.
- When the diner pays, the booking automatically moves to Confirmed and they receive a confirmation email.
- If they never pay, the seat is not permanently confirmed.
Diners book without creating an account, so the deposit is paid as a normal Shopify Checkout. For the diner-facing view, see Deposits and refunds explained.
Refunding a deposit #
You can view and refund a deposit from the Booking detail screen. Open Bookings, click the reservation, and use the deposit controls to issue a refund. Refunds are processed back through Shopify.
Whether a diner can cancel and get their own refund depends on the refund window you set on the same Payments & Cancellation tab. Staff can always cancel and refund eligible bookings from the admin. For the full policy options, including no-show fees, read No-show fees and refunds.
Frequently asked questions #
Can I take a deposit for table bookings on Shopify? #
Yes. Reservics lets you require a deposit per location, and diners pay it through Shopify Checkout when they book. The reservation only confirms once the payment goes through. Deposits are available on the Pro and Advance plans.
How do I charge a no-show deposit at my restaurant? #
Set a deposit on the location’s Payments & Cancellation tab so every diner pays upfront when booking. To discourage no-shows further, set a strict refund window or a no-show fee so the deposit is kept if a diner does not show or cancels late. Both refund windows and no-show fees are Pro+ features.
Can I charge a deposit per guest instead of a flat fee? #
Yes. Turn on the Deposit per guest toggle on the Payments & Cancellation tab. The deposit amount is then multiplied by the party size, so a $10 per-guest deposit charges a table of four $40. Leave the toggle off to charge a single flat fee per booking.
What currency is the deposit charged in? #
The deposit uses your Shopify shop currency. It is read-only inside Reservics, so change it in your Shopify store settings if you need a different currency. Reservics will then charge deposits in that currency at checkout.
Do I need a paid plan to charge deposits? #
Yes. Deposits are a Pro+ feature. The Free plan cannot charge deposits, while the Pro ($9.99/mo) and Advance ($19.99/mo) plans both include them. Paid plans come with a 14-day free trial.
What happens if a diner does not pay the deposit? #
The reservation stays in Pending status and holds the seat only until payment is expected. Without payment, the booking is never confirmed, so the table is not given away to a diner who has not paid.
