Overview
The Deposit feature in CaptainBook.io allows you to offer your customers the option to pay in installments. This is especially useful for high-cost experiences, reducing payment friction and encouraging more bookings.
You have the flexibility to apply these settings at the experience level, meaning you can offer installment payments for some experiences while requiring full payment for others.
This guide will walk you through the steps to set up and customize the deposit functionality.
Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Navigate to the Experience Settings
Log in to your CaptainBook.io dashboard.
Go to the Experiences tab.
Select the experience you wish to modify by clicking Edit.
2. Enable Deposit Payments
Scroll down to find the section labeled Deposit Bookings.
You'll see an option that says "Accept bookings with a simple deposit payment".
Toggle the switch to ON to enable this option for the selected experience.
3. Configure the Deposit Amount
Once you enable deposit payments, additional fields will appear.
Deposit Value: Set the deposit value as a percentage of the total booking cost.
Full Online Payment Option: You can allow customers to choose whether to pay the full amount upfront or just the deposit.
The remaining balance will be collected from the customer on the day of the experience.
4. Set the Default Payment Option
Further down, you’ll find a radio button where you can choose which option to show first during checkout:
Full Payment (Default): The customer will see the option to pay the full amount first. They can still switch to paying only the deposit.
Deposit First: This option prioritizes the deposit. The customer must actively switch to Full Payment if they prefer to pay in full.
5. Force Deposit-Only Payments (Optional)
You can use the dropdown menu to force deposit-only payments.
When this setting is enabled, customers will only be able to pay the deposit during checkout. The remaining balance will be collected separately at a later time.
Flexibility at the Experience Level
These settings are adjustable for each individual experience, giving you the flexibility to offer installment payments for certain experiences, while requiring full payment for others. This allows you to tailor the payment process based on the specific needs of each experience.
Previewing the Customer Experience
Once the settings are configured, customers will see the new payment options in your booking widget:
Default Settings: Customers can choose between paying the full amount or just the deposit.
Deposit-First Setting: The deposit option is shown first, with the ability to switch to full payment.
Deposit-Only Setting: Customers can only pay the deposit, and the balance will be paid later.
Conclusion
Using the deposit feature at the experience level gives you the flexibility to manage payments as needed. Offering installment plans for higher-cost experiences can make them more accessible, while maintaining full control over how the final balance is collected.