Should You Take Advance Payment for Group Bookings? Cancellation Policy Guide
Group bookings can make or break your weekend revenue, but last-minute cancellations hurt even more. The question isn't whether to take advance payment—it's how much and when. Most successful restaurants in Mumbai, Delhi, and Bangalore now charge 20-30% of the estimated bill as a group booking deposit for parties of 8 or more.
What Works in India
For groups of 8-12 people, ask for ₹500-₹1,000 per person as advance. For larger parties (15+), take 30% of the minimum guaranteed amount. Make it refundable if they cancel 48 hours in advance, but non-refundable for last-minute cancellations. This protects your Saturday night inventory while staying fair to customers.
Clear Cancellation Charges
- •48+ hours notice: Full refund minus ₹500 processing fee
- •24-48 hours: 50% deducted
- •Less than 24 hours: 100% forfeited
Put your party reservation policy clearly on your menu and booking confirmation. DineCard (dinecard.in) lets you add cancellation terms right on your QR menu so there's no confusion—₹99/month, works in Hindi and 15+ languages.
Create a QR code menu for your restaurant in 5 minutes with DineCard.
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