How to reduce restaurant no-shows
No-shows are among the most expensive costs a restaurant has — the table sits empty, staff are scheduled and ingredients are prepped. The good news: most no-shows can be prevented with a handful of measures that are simple to set up.
First, work out what a no-show costs you
An example: a table of four with an average spend of 600 SEK per person is 2,400 SEK in lost revenue. Two no-show parties a week comes to nearly 20,000 SEK a month — far more than a booking system costs. That's why no-show prevention almost always pays for itself.
The measures that actually work
- An SMS reminder the day before — the single most effective step, because guests actually see it in time.
- A cancellation link in the confirmation and reminder. The goal is to make cancelling easier than simply not showing up.
- A waitlist that can automatically fill the gap when someone cancels.
- Card capture at exposed times — the guest enters card details when booking.
- Deposits for large parties, where a no-show hurts most.
- A late-cancellation fee, with clear terms the guest accepts when booking.
When is card capture worth it?
Not everywhere. If you rarely see no-shows, reminders and cancellation links go a long way. Card capture and deposits make a measurable difference on Fridays and Saturdays, on holidays, and for parties over six — the occasions where a no-show is both more common and more expensive.
How Dinebase handles it
Email confirmation with a cancellation link is included in every plan. The Dinebase plan adds SMS reminders (2 SEK per SMS) along with the waitlist. Pro (1,700 SEK/month) also includes card capture, deposits and late-cancel fees — and SMS costs 1.50 SEK each.
Frequently asked questions
Can you charge guests who don't show up?
Yes, with card capture or a deposit — provided the terms are clear and accepted by the guest when booking. It's included in Dinebase Pro.
Is an email reminder enough?
Email works, but SMS is opened far more often close to the visit. Combining email at booking time with an SMS the day before gives the best effect.
How do we know if the measures are working?
Measure the share of no-shows per month before and after. In Dinebase you can see no-shows in the reports, so the effect is easy to follow.
Cut your no-shows
Start a free trial and turn on SMS reminders today — card capture and deposits are part of Pro.