Cancellation policy
A cancellation policy sets out what happens when a client cancels or reschedules — how much notice is required and whether the payment is refunded. A clear policy, shown before payment, protects your time and sets expectations. Pair it with advance payment so late cancellations do not cost you the whole slot.
Why cancellation policy matters
A cancellation policy answers three questions before the client pays: how much notice they must give, what they get back if they cancel, and what happens if they do not show up. Many professionals in India avoid writing one because it feels unfriendly. A clear policy actually removes the awkward negotiation later, because everyone agreed to it at booking.
One simple structure: a full refund or free reschedule with 24 hours' notice or more, one reschedule and no refund inside 24 hours, and no refund for a no-show. Therapists, coaches and doctors often prefer offering a reschedule over a refund, so the client keeps the session and you keep the slot filled.
Write it in plain language, put it on every service before checkout, and repeat it in your welcome message. Apply it consistently, with room for genuine emergencies. On Book A Sloth, if you as the host cancel, the client is refunded in full, including the booking fee. Clients can reschedule themselves, so a late change can become a new time instead of a lost slot.
Example
A Chandigarh yoga instructor's policy reads "Free reschedule up to 12 hours before class, no refund after that", and she adds it to every service description on her booking page.
Related terms
Book A Sloth turns these into one link: a booking page with upfront payment over UPI, GST invoices and automatic reminders.