Payment scheduling defines when guests are charged after the initial payment.
It works together with your payment terms to control installment timing, due dates, and how remaining balances are collected.
How Payment Scheduling Works (Manual Payment Terms)
When you use partial payments, the total booking amount is split into:
An initial payment at checkout
One or more scheduled payments after booking confirmation
Each scheduled payment has:
A due date
A percentage of the total reservation cost
These payments are charged automatically based on your configuration.
✏️ Payment schedules can only be set using percentages, not fixed amounts.
How Aligned Mode Calculates the Schedule
If your booking policy uses an aligned payment schedule, you do not choose the installment percentages or dates. Hospitable calculates them automatically from your cancellation policy — so the payment schedule always matches your refund milestones.
What determines the initial payment
The amount due at booking is based on the highest refund percentage still available in your cancellation policy before check-in:
The initial payment is 100% minus that refund percentage.
Example: if guests can still get a 50% refund up to 14 days before check-in, the initial payment is 50%.
Example: if guests can still get a 60% refund up to 30 days before check-in, the initial payment is 40%.
Exception: when your cancellation policy includes a tier that offers a 100% refund before check-in (common with the Balanced template), the initial payment defaults to 20% at booking. The remaining 80% is scheduled on the date that 100%-refund window ends.
What determines the installment dates
Each remaining installment is scheduled to fall on the day a refund tier ends. For example, with a cancellation policy that offers a 50% refund up to 14 days before check-in, the second installment is scheduled for 14 days before check-in.
What's always included in the first payment
All guest and host fees and all retained taxes are collected with the first payment, regardless of its percentage. Later installments only cover the remaining accommodation payout.
Short-lead-time bookings
If the booking is made so close to check-in that a scheduled installment date has already passed — or if two installments would land within the minimum days required between payments — those installments are automatically merged into the first payment at booking.
Constraints
Aligned schedules can have a maximum of 3 installments.
Minimum 7 days between installments.
Minimum booking total of $100 for payment terms to apply (otherwise the full amount is collected at booking).
How the First Installment Amount Is Calculated
For Direct bookings with manual payment terms, you choose the percentage of the payout base that is due at booking. An initial payment is required, so the amount due at booking cannot be set to 0%.
The configured percentage applies to the payout base — the accommodation subtotal, before guest-facing fees and taxes are added.
The first installment also collects all fees and taxes upfront. This means the amount due at booking is often higher than what the configured percentage alone would suggest.
For example, if a host has a 10%/90% payment term configured:
10% is applied to the payout base (not the full reservation total shown to the guest)
All fees and taxes are collected with that first payment
The result is the amount actually due at booking — which will be higher than 10% of the displayed total
The security deposit (if configured) is a separate charge and is not included in any installment amount. Do not add the security deposit to an installment figure to explain a due amount.
How to Set Up Payment Scheduling
Go to Direct → Booking Policies
Open the booking policy you want to update
Go to the Payment schedule section
Select Set a custom payment schedule
Define your schedule:
Initial payment amount due at booking (at checkout)
The percentage due for each payment
When each payment is due, such as days before check-in
Set a grace period for missed payments
Click Save
Payment scheduling settings in Hospitable showing split payments, percentages, and due dates before check-in
Types of Payment Schedules
You can configure different scheduling approaches depending on your needs.
Single Future Payment
Guest pays a portion at checkout
Remaining balance is charged on a specific date
Multiple Installments
Guest pays part at checkout
Remaining balance is split across multiple scheduled payments
Full Payment at Checkout
No schedule is created
The total amount is charged immediately
When Payments Are Charged
Payments are charged automatically based on your schedule:
The first payment is collected after the booking is accepted
Future payments are charged on their scheduled dates
Charges are processed using the guest’s saved payment method
If a booking is cancelled:
Future scheduled payments are not charged
Payment Timing Rules
When configuring schedules, keep in mind:
Payment dates are based on your defined schedule (e.g., days before check-in)
All scheduled payments must occur before or during the stay
The full balance must be collected according to your configured timing
Payment schedules are applied at the time of booking and cannot be changed for existing reservations.
How Scheduling Affects Bookings
Pending bookings → No payments are captured
Accepted bookings → Payment schedule begins
If a booking is canceled:
Future scheduled payments are not charged
Refunds depend on your cancellation policy and collected payments
Also see: Direct Booking Refunds
What Guests See
During checkout, guests:
See the total booking amount
See how much is due immediately
See when future payments will be charged
This helps set clear expectations before they confirm the booking.
Direct booking checkout page showing payment breakdown with initial payment and scheduled future payments
What Happens If a Scheduled Payment Fails
If a scheduled payment fails:
The guest is notified
They can complete payment through the Guest Portal
A grace period applies (if configured)
If the payment is not completed within the grace period:
The booking may be cancelled
Refunds follow the cancellation policy
Guests can update their payment method and complete failed payments through the Guest Portal.
Key Things to Know
An initial payment is required for Direct bookings
Payment schedules cannot be configured with 0% due at booking
The initial percentage is applied to the payout base
Fees and taxes are collected with the initial payment
Remaining payments are charged automatically according to the configured schedule
Payment schedules cannot be changed after booking creation
In aligned mode, you don't choose percentages or dates, Hospitable derives them from your cancellation policy
Policies with a 100%-refund tier before check-in use a 20% initial payment; otherwise the initial payment equals 100% minus the highest before-check-in refund percentage