TL;DR: A med spa no-show fee should be 25-50% of the service price (never more), required at the time of booking via card-on-file, and acknowledged on your intake form. Below is the legally-reviewed boilerplate, the per-service fee structure, and the exact acknowledgment line your intake form should include. Have your attorney confirm enforceability for your state.
Recommended fee structure (per service)
| Service | No-Show Fee | Late Cancel (under 24h) |
|---|---|---|
| Consult only (free) | $25 | $25 |
| Botox / Dysport / Daxxify | $50 | $50 |
| Filler (single syringe) | $75 | $50 |
| Filler (full face) / Sculptra | $100 | $75 |
| Laser (single area) | $50 | $50 |
| Hydrafacial / Microneedling | $75 | $50 |
| BBL / Morpheus8 / Halo | $150 | $100 |
| Coolsculpting / Emsculpt | $150 | $100 |
Never charge more than 50% of the service price. Past that, chargeback rates spike and the policy backfires.
Policy text (paste into intake + booking confirmation)
APPOINTMENT POLICY
Your appointment time is reserved exclusively for you, and we deeply value your time as well as ours. To respect both, we ask that you:
1. Provide at least 24 hours' notice if you need to reschedule or cancel.
2. Cancellations made with less than 24 hours' notice will be charged a late-cancellation fee equal to {{late_cancel_fee}} or 25% of the booked service, whichever is greater.
3. Missed appointments without notice ("no-shows") will be charged a no-show fee equal to {{no_show_fee}} or 50% of the booked service, whichever is greater.
4. We collect a valid credit card on file at the time of booking.
5. Three or more no-shows or late cancellations in a 12-month period will require pre-payment in full to book future appointments.
6. Genuine emergencies will be handled with care — please reach out and let us know.
Intake form acknowledgment line
☐ I have read and agree to the {{spa_name}} Appointment & Cancellation Policy. I authorize the credit card on file to be charged for late-cancellation or no-show fees in accordance with this policy.
Frequently asked questions
Is it legal to charge a no-show fee?
Yes, when (a) the policy is disclosed in writing before booking, (b) the client acknowledged it (intake form signature/checkbox), and (c) you have a valid card on file with their authorization to charge.
Can I charge the full service price for a no-show?
Legally yes (with proper disclosure), practically no. Anything above 50% drives chargebacks, public complaints, and damaged reputation.
How do I enforce this without seeming aggressive?
Frame consistently: "It's how we protect your appointment slot — we never charge unless there's a missed appointment without notice."
Should I waive fees for emergencies?
Yes, on a case-by-case basis. Don't make it routine. Document the reason in the client's chart.
For the full no-show recovery system including the 3-text reminder cadence, see our complete guide to reducing med spa no-shows.
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