Every service business owner in Lebanon has lived this one: a client books your best Saturday slot, you turn two other people away, and then nobody walks through the door.
The fix is old, boring, and works everywhere in the world: a small deposit. What stops most Lebanese businesses is the how. No card terminal, no payment gateway, no bank account that clients trust. Here is the good news: your clients already carry the answer in their pocket.
Why a small deposit changes everything
A deposit is not really about the money. It is a commitment device: the moment a client sends even five dollars, the appointment stops being a maybe. Casual bookers filter themselves out before they cost you a slot, and serious clients barely notice.
Keep it small and always deduct it from the final price. The wording matters: this is a reservation, not a fee. Clients accept it instantly when the message is clear.
Whish is the deposit rail Lebanon already uses
Whish Money is wallet to wallet, instant, and already installed on your clients' phones. There is nothing to set up on their side and nothing to rent on yours. You share your Whish number, they send the deposit, you see it in your app.
The one operational headache is matching transfers to bookings. Solve it with a single rule: every client puts their name in the transfer note. Twenty transfers on a busy Friday stop being a puzzle.
Tip: Ask every client to write their name in the Whish transfer note. It is the difference between reconciling in seconds and playing detective with screenshots.
Three ways to run it, from manual to automatic
| Setup | How it works | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| DM + screenshot | You send your number in chat, client replies with a screenshot | Very low volume, a few bookings a week |
| Number on your booking page | Client books online, sees your Whish details and the exact amount right after | Most salons, clinics, courts, and studios |
| Automatic with Mawaeed | The booking page collects the booking, shows the deposit, the amount, your Whish details, and a WhatsApp shortcut to send the confirmation | Anyone who wants zero back-and-forth |
The policy that makes deposits feel fair
With Mawaeed, the whole flow is built in: you add your Whish number once, choose your deposit percentage, and every confirmed booking shows the client exactly how much to send, where, and with their name in the note. You get an email the moment someone books, with a reminder to check that the transfer arrived.
- State it up front: a small deposit confirms your booking and comes off your total.
- Free cancellation until a clear cutoff (12 or 24 hours works for most trades).
- Reschedule friendly: moving an appointment keeps the deposit alive. Ghosting does not.
- Put the policy on the booking page, not in an argument after the fact.
Mettez cela en pratique avec Mawaeed
Gratuit jusqu'à 50 réservations par mois. Une page de réservation soignée, des rappels automatiques et un agenda qui se remplit tout seul.