I offer a free exploratory 30-minute consultation over video chat to all prospective clients. In part, it is a safety screening call, but it is also a chance for the new client to ask questions, tell me what they hope to get out of a session, and generally get more comfortable with me before we meet in person. I always try to be presentable and punctual to these consultations and plan my day around them. It frustrates me when I get a no-show. I am thinking about implementing a $30 deposit for the consultation. The $30 would go towards the session if the person decided to book with me, and they would get a refund if they chose not to have a session. If they were a no-show and wasted my time, they would lose the $30. Every few weeks, I get a no-show, and I consider implementing a deposit policy for consultations like this, but at the same time, I don't want to scare off good clients.