When Payment Happens Outside the Appointment: Why You Need More Than Checkout

From bridal packages to last-minute product orders, service pros often need flexible ways to get paid either before or after an appointment – or sometimes without one at all. Invoices aren’t just for accountants, they’re for any beauty or wellness business that wants to accept transactions beyond the card reader, while still getting paid professionally and on time. This article will explore the benefits of flexible invoicing and finding the right comprehensive payments solution for your business, plus, we’ll cover common invoicing scenarios, and the limitations of having a checkout-only mindset. 

Common scenarios where traditional checkout falls short

As a service-based business owner, you know how it typically goes: clients book their appointments, come in for their service, and pay for it at the end. But what about the transactions that don’t fit neatly into that traditional checkout flow? There are several situations where you may need to consider your payments process beyond the standard, in-person checkout. For example: 

• Prepaying for events/packages: Bridal packages, large group bookings, or multi-session service bundles that require upfront payment or a custom deposit.
• Selling bundles/products remotely: Clients purchasing skincare, haircare, tools, or other retail products remotely between appointments or for delivery.
• Charging for missed appointments: Collecting no-show fees or late cancellation charges from customers who didn’t leave a card on file.
• Custom jobs and services: Projects where payment isn’t collected on the spot, such as event styling or wedding makeup deposits. 
• Materials or special orders: Collecting payment in advance for special order items like hair extensions or bridal accessories.
• Client flexibility and convenience: Allowing loyal clients to pay later to speed up checkout or avoid interrupting their experience. 
• Clarity and comfort: Invoicing allows you to provide itemized breakdowns to your customers before paying, offering a level of transparency that can help build trust in your client relationships. Plus, clients can pay how they want from the comfort of their own devices. 

Why the "checkout-only" mindset limits your revenue and professionalism

If you only care about what happens during checkout, you’re missing the bigger picture. Running a checkout-focused operation means: 

• Missed opportunities for upfront payments, like appointment deposits or custom material orders. 
• Difficulty collecting no-show or cancellation charges professionally, forcing you to chase after flaky clients for fees.
• Inability to easily sell products or services outside of direct appointments, which means clients have no way to spend money at your business unless they’re physically there.
• Increased risk of errors and delayed payments from manually tracking unpaid balances.
• Reliance on informal payment apps like Venmo or PayPal, which can come off as unprofessional.
• Lack of clear, itemized breakdowns for custom services, which can lead to client disputes and undermine their trust.
• No flexible payment options to cater to clients’ preferences and encourage them to spend money at your business in the future. 

Flexible, branded invoicing & integrated payments can save time and elevate your brand 

An integrated platform handles all payment types seamlessly, including those outside the typical checkout flow. Branded invoices offer a polished alternative to informal billing methods, giving your business a more professional look and building trust with your clients. Invoices can empower business owners to create, customize, and deliver digital payment requests in a clear and efficient way for their clients, without the awkwardness of requesting Venmo or Zelle. 

And with the ability to track every invoice at a glance and send automated follow-ups, you can ensure you always get paid on time, reducing the amount of time and effort wasted chasing after payments. 

GlossGenius Invoicing: get paid on time, every time

GlossGenius Invoices gives you a simple, professional way to request payment – no booking required. Part of our all-in-one payments solution, Invoices gives you and your clients flexible options for payments outside the standard checkout flow and your payment processor’s purview so you always have a way to get paid, helping you grow your business with every transaction. 

Invoicing with GlossGenius is quick and simple: 

• Easy creation: Navigate to the Invoices page through the GlossGenius app and click "Create invoice”. Fill in all the required information (client name, date of service, items purchased, deposit, due date). 
• Flexible sending and payment: Once you’ve created your invoice, you can save as a draft or send directly to the client via text or email. The client receives a notification including a GG-hosted link they can follow to your branded website to send secure payments. 
• Effortless Management: You can filter your invoices by status, allowing you to easily search through and manage your payments, send reminders for upcoming payments due, or void invoices altogether. 

How GlossGenius Payments streamlines checkout and boosts efficiency 

Beyond invoicing, GlossGenius offers comprehensive payment solutions for just about everything. 

Flexible payment types

Whether it’s an in-person credit card swipe, dip, or tap, or digital wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay, GlossGenius accepts them all. With flexible hardware and point-of-sale (POS) capabilities, you can take payments from any device, whether that’s a phone, tablet, or computer (plus rebooking prompts automatically included at checkout, and Google review requests in every receipt). Drive more high-value bookings by offering Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) methods (Afterpay, Affirm, Klarna), or keep it even simpler with card-on-file payments.

Work in a smaller space or just prefer less hardware? You can also use Tap to Pay on iOS/Android, giving you the power to process transactions with just your phone – no hardware needed! There’s even a Quick Sale option for walk-ins and retail sales so you can process transactions fast and get back to your schedule. 

Instant payouts

Unlike most payment processors that make you wait 2-3 business days to get your hard-earned money, GlossGenius offers free, same-business-day transfers and instant payouts in under one minute.

Revenue protection

Protect your revenue with Deposits, custom cancellation policies, and 100% chargeback protection to help prevent fraudulent activity. Plus, GlossGenius is PCI compliant and offers live support six days a week. 

Financial insights

Gain important financial insights with all of your data synced across booking, reporting, and client profiles, giving you a clear view of revenue, costs, profitability, client spending, and more, all from one convenient platform. 

Embrace flexibility, maximize your earnings

When payments happen beyond checkout, your beauty business needs to be prepared. Do you want to tell your customers you can’t sell them a product unless they physically come into your salon? Do you want to risk your revenue by footing the bill for custom hair extensions only to have your client ghost you? GlossGenius’ comprehensive payments system and Invoices feature offer a solution for nearly every payment scenario, empowering beauty and wellness pros to handle each situation professionally and efficiently. 

With plenty of payment options to choose from, you can boost revenue for your business, improve your client relationships, and reduce your overall administrative burden, allowing you to focus on providing high-quality services. 

Ready to expand your payment flexibility and boost your business? Explore GlossGenius's integrated payment and invoicing features.

Disclaimer: This information is provided for general educational purposes only. For legal, cybersecurity, or compliance advice specific to your business or situation, please consult a professional.