1 · The friction
Sound familiar?
What venue owners tell us after a bad Friday.
“A full book, then empty tables”
One Melbourne venue lost nearly 100 covers in a single week of no-shows.
Source: Broadsheet, Dec 2025
“Diners hate our cancellation fee”
51% of Australians surveyed say restaurant cancellation fees are excessive.
Source: Money.com.au and Pureprofile survey
“They just forgot they'd booked”
Automatic reminders and easy ways to change a booking are the first recommended fixes.
Source: ResDiary ANZ report, 2025
“The book was full, the room wasn't”
Friday and Saturday no-shows hurt most, because those tables could have been sold twice.
Source: Pattern we see in venue bookings
2 · The numbers
No-shows, by the numbers
54%
Of ANZ venues surveyed were hit by no-shows in 2024
ResDiary ANZ report, 2025
$4,076
Estimated cost of no-shows per affected venue
ResDiary ANZ report, 2025
51%
Of Australian diners say cancellation fees are excessive
Money.com.au and Pureprofile
$15
Per person: the fee diners say is fair, on average
Money.com.au and Pureprofile
Venues are losing real money, and diners push back on heavy fees. The answer is usually in the middle: modest, clear and automated.
3 · Straight answers
The questions venue owners ask us
Do deposits scare people off?
Big, unexplained ones can. Diners say about $15 a head is fair, so start with deposits for groups and peak nights, and say why at booking time.
When should I take a deposit?
For groups above a set size and for set-menu or event nights, as recommended in ResDiary's report.
What should a reminder say?
The date, time, party size and one tap to change or cancel. Make cancelling easier than not showing up.
What's a normal no-show rate?
One index of recorded bookings puts the average at 2.33%, and 3.17% for busy venues. Track yours monthly.
Should I blacklist no-shows?
It may feel good, but it rarely fills the table. A waitlist and reminders do more.
Does Google booking help?
Reserve with Google lets diners book from your Google profile, commission-free, through a supported booking system.
Try it
What are no-shows costing you?
Move the sliders to match your venue.
Lost each week
$720
Lost each year
$37,440
Your numbers, not a benchmark. Doesn't count wasted prep or staff time.
4 · The decision
Deposit, card hold or neither?
No deposit if
Most tables are two to four people.
Most guests are regulars.
Your no-show rate is already low.
Take a deposit if
The booking is a large group.
It's a set menu or special event.
It's your busiest night of the week.
Avoid
Fees well above what diners see as fair, with no explanation.
Policies buried in small print.
Charging a loyal regular for one slip.
5 · In practice
What cutting no-shows usually looks like
Challenge
Bookings come in fine, but tables sit empty on busy nights and nobody follows up.
Action
Automatic reminders with one-tap cancel, deposits for larger groups only, and a waitlist for peak nights.
Result
4 weeks
Compare your no-show rate over four weeks before and after the change.
6 · Quick answers
More questions
Is a cancellation fee legal?
Venues can set one, but it must be clear when the diner books. Check consumer law guidance for your state.
Should I overbook to cover no-shows?
Only with good data on your own no-show rate by night, and a plan for when everyone turns up.