Restaurant Reservation Deposit Break-Even Calculator
Decide whether requiring reservation deposits makes financial sense for your restaurant by modeling no-show losses, deposit revenue recovered, and the net financial impact over a typical month.
About this calculator
Calculate how a reservation deposit policy affects your restaurant's revenue by comparing no-show losses with and without deposits collected.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does a deposit policy reduce no-shows?
Requiring a deposit gives guests a financial stake in honoring their reservation, which typically cuts no-show rates significantly compared to free reservations.
What if I don't know my exact no-show rates?
Use your point-of-sale or reservation system's historical data if available, or start with industry-typical estimates like 15-20% without deposits and 3-8% with deposits.
Should the deposit equal the full check amount?
Many restaurants use a partial deposit, often $10-50 per person, which is enough to deter casual no-shows without discouraging legitimate reservations.