No-show protection that charges late cancellations, not everyone
Bright Canoe protects studios from no-shows by holding the client's card at booking and charging it only when the free cancellation window ends, 24 hours before class by default. Clients who cancel in time pay nothing and the hold is released, so the studio never pays refund fees.
Today
Smart booking flow
New client request
I booked Saturday's 9 AM class but can no longer make it. Will I be charged?
Bright Canoe response
You can cancel free until Friday at 9 AM. After that, the studio's late cancellation policy applies.
24/7
Booking support
Less
Manual follow-up
How it works
What the client sees
Clear terms before booking lead to fewer disputes after class.
Policy shown before booking
The booking step states when free cancellation ends.
Rules accepted
The client ticks your studio rules, and the exact wording, time and IP address are stored with the booking.
Confirmation
The client gets a confirmation with the class details and your cancellation terms.
Automatic outcome
Cancel in time and the hold is released. Stay booked past the deadline and the card is charged.
How card holds and cancellation policies work
A hold (authorization) reserves the amount on the client's card without moving money. Bright Canoe turns it into a charge only if the client is still booked when free cancellation ends.
Hold at booking
The card is authorized when the client books a paid class. Nothing is charged yet.
Charge when the window closes
When free cancellation ends, the hold is captured automatically. Bookings made inside the window are charged right after confirmation.
Release on timely cancel
Cancel before the window closes and the hold is released with no fee, so there is no refund to process.
Your window, your rules
Set the free cancellation window from 0 to 168 hours under Policies & rules on the Classes page.
Terms locked per booking
Existing bookings keep the terms they were booked under, so changing the policy never surprises current clients.
Works with passes
When a client books with a pass, a timely cancellation returns the credit automatically.
No-show protection facts
- Default window
- 24 hours before class.
- Allowed range
- 0 to 168 hours, set by each studio.
- Timely cancellation
- Hold released, no charge, no refund fee.
- Late cancellation or no-show
- Hold captured when the window closes.
- Booked inside the window
- Charged right after confirmation.
- Policy changes
- Apply to new bookings only.
Card hold compared with charge-then-refund
| Capability | Bright Canoe | Charge up front and refund |
|---|---|---|
| Money moves at booking | No, only an authorization | Yes |
| Refund fees on cancellations | None, the hold is released | Processor fees are often not returned |
| Late cancel charged | Automatically when the window closes | Refund withheld manually |
| Client experience | No charge unless they miss the deadline | Charged for every booking, then waits for refunds |
No-show protection questions
How Bright Canoe handles cancellations, holds and fees.
Does Bright Canoe charge a client's card when they book a class?
No. The card is held at booking and charged only when free cancellation ends, 24 hours before class by default. If the client cancels in time, the hold is released and nothing is charged.
Can I set my own cancellation window?
Yes. Each studio sets a window from 0 to 168 hours under Policies & rules on the Classes page. Existing bookings keep the terms they were booked under.
What happens if a client books inside the cancellation window?
The booking is charged right after confirmation, because free cancellation has already ended.
Why hold a card instead of charging up front?
Charging up front means refunding every timely cancellation, and card processors often keep their fee on refunds. A hold moves no money until the deadline, so timely cancellations cost nothing.
Related Bright Canoe features
Stop paying for empty spots
Turn on card holds and a cancellation window that fits your studio.
Create Your Booking Flow