Calso is an AI business assistant built exclusively for hospitality venues. It handles phone calls, emails, stock ordering, scheduling, marketing, and more autonomously, using your venue's context and your tone of communication.

How much does Calso cost?

One flat monthly rate with unlimited actions, all integrations, and personal onboarding included — no per-seat pricing. See current pricing at calso.com.au/pricing.

Does Calso replace my POS system?

No. Calso integrates with your existing POS and booking systems. It reads data from them and acts on your behalf — it does not replace them.

How long does Calso take to set up?

Setup typically takes 1–2 hours with a dedicated 1-on-1 onboarding session. Calso starts handling tasks within the first week.

Is my venue's data safe with Calso?

Yes. Each venue's data is completely isolated. Calso does not use your business data to train shared AI models. All data is encrypted in transit and at rest.

What hospitality venues does Calso work for?

Calso works for restaurants, cafes, bakeries, bars, wine bars, brunch spots, catering operations, and any hospitality venue with 1–50 staff.

Can Calso handle phone calls for my restaurant?

Yes. Calso makes and receives phone calls on behalf of your venue using voice AI. It can negotiate with suppliers, confirm bookings, follow up invoices, and answer customer inquiries 24/7.

Does Calso support multiple locations?

Yes. Calso supports multi-location management from a single account.

When should Australian restaurants charge a deposit for bookings?

Charge deposits for large parties (8+ guests), peak trading periods (Christmas, Melbourne Cup week, ANZAC Day), public holidays with penalty rates, and special event bookings. These high-risk periods see 15-25% no-show rates. Deposits protect against lost covers and inflated labour costs during busy trading.

Are restaurant deposits legal in Australia?

Yes, deposits are legally enforceable under Australian Consumer Law and state contract law. The key requirement is transparency—your cancellation and deposit policy must be clearly disclosed on your website, booking platform, and verbally confirmed. Terms must be fair and not punitive to comply with ACL.

How much deposit should a restaurant charge in Australia?

Deposits typically range from 25-50% of the estimated bill or a fixed amount per person. For a $35 average spend, charge $10-20 per guest. Ensure the amount is reasonable and proportionate to your potential loss. Document your policy clearly to remain legally defensible under Australian Consumer Law.

What's the cost of no-shows to Australian restaurants?

No-shows cost venues 15-25% of reserved covers during peak periods. For a 100-seat restaurant at $35 average spend, that's $525-875 per night lost. On public holidays with penalty rates (150-200%), losses compound further—staff wages spike while tables remain empty, significantly impacting profitability.

How do I record restaurant deposits in my POS system?

Record deposits as income when received in your point-of-sale system—the ATO recognises them as taxable income. Track deposits separately from final payments for accurate reconciliation. When guests dine, offset the deposit against their final bill. This ensures proper accounting and tax compliance for your Australian restaurant.

Can restaurants keep deposits if customers cancel in Australia?

Yes, if your cancellation policy is clearly disclosed and reasonable. Typical policies allow free cancellation 48-72 hours before service, with deposits forfeited for late cancellations. Ensure your terms are fair, transparent, and compliant with Australian Consumer Law to avoid disputes and maintain customer goodwill.

Restaurant Deposit Policies in Australia: When & How

A deposit policy is a pre-payment or guarantee required at the time of booking to secure a table reservation. In Australia, deposits protect venues against no-shows and last-minute cancellations—especially critical during peak trading periods like Melbourne Cup week, Christmas, and ANZAC Day public holidays when penalty rates spike and lost covers hit hard.

Why Australian restaurants need deposit policies

The no-show problem is real

Australian hospitality venues lose an estimated 15–25% of reserved covers to no-shows and late cancellations during peak periods. For a 100-seat venue with a $35 average spend per cover, that's $525–$875 per night in lost revenue. Over Christmas trading or a busy Saturday, the damage compounds fast.

Public holidays make it worse. On Melbourne Cup Day, ANZAC Day, or Christmas Eve, your staff are on penalty rates (often 150–200% of base wage). An empty table costs you not just the food cost (typically 28–35% of revenue), but also the inflated labour cost of having staff on deck with nowhere to seat guests.

Legal standing in Australia

Deposits are legally enforceable under Australian Consumer Law (ACL) and state-based contract law, provided your terms are clear, fair, and disclosed at the time of booking. The key: transparency. Your cancellation and deposit policy must be visible on your website, booking platform, and verbally confirmed during the phone call or online booking.

There's no national "deposit law"—each state has nuances. Victoria, NSW, and Queensland all accept deposits as reasonable terms if they're not punitive or unconscionable. The ATO also recognises deposits as income when received, so track them in your point-of-sale (POS) system.

When to charge a deposit: the strategic approach

High-risk bookings

Charge deposits for:

Large parties (8+ guests). Group no-shows are statistically more common and costly.
Peak trading periods. Melbourne Cup week, Christmas (especially 20–24 Dec), New Year's Eve, Easter long weekend, school holidays.
Late bookings. Reservations made within 48 hours of the date—guests are more likely to cancel.
High-value bookings. Private functions, set menus, pre-ordered wine or catering.
Repeat offenders. If a guest has cancelled twice in 12 months without 48 hours' notice, flag them for a deposit on future bookings.

Low-risk bookings

You can skip deposits for:

Small tables (2–4 guests) booked 7+ days ahead during off-peak.
Lunch bookings (statistically lower no-show rates than dinner).
Regular customers with a clean cancellation history.

How much to charge: the maths

The standard approach

Most Australian venues charge 25–50% of the estimated spend per person, or a flat fee per table. Here's the logic:

Small table (2 covers, $35 pp). $20–35 deposit.
Medium table (6 covers, $45 pp). $70–135 deposit.
Large party (12 covers, $50 pp, private function). $300–600 deposit.

The deposit should be enough to hurt if they no-show, but not so punitive that it discourages bookings. Aim for the cost of your labour + food waste if that table had sat empty.

The counter-intuitive tactic: tiered deposits by cancellation window

Most venues charge a flat deposit. Instead, try sliding-scale deposits based on when they cancel:

Cancel 14+ days ahead: 0% deposit (full refund if they rebook).
Cancel 7–13 days ahead: 25% of estimated spend (non-refundable).
Cancel 2–6 days ahead: 50% of estimated spend (non-refundable).
Cancel <48 hours or no-show: 100% of deposit forfeited; balance charged to card.

This incentivises early cancellations (giving you time to resell the table) and is psychologically fairer to customers. It also reduces disputes—guests understand the sliding scale and are less likely to challenge a charge they agreed to.

How to collect and process deposits

Payment methods

Credit/debit card (online booking or phone). Fastest and most secure. Use a PCI-compliant processor (Square, Stripe, or your POS provider). Charge the card at booking confirmation—don't hold the card details and charge later, as this breaches ACL transparency rules.

Bank transfer (for large functions). Request a transfer to your business account within 24 hours. Get a written confirmation email.

Cash (in-person bookings). Risky for disputes. If you accept cash, issue a printed receipt with the cancellation policy and keep a copy. Many venues avoid this entirely.

Recording deposits in your system

Your POS or booking system must flag deposits clearly:

Tag the booking as "deposit paid" with the amount and date.
Set an automated cancellation deadline reminder (e.g., 48 hours before the booking).
Track forfeited deposits separately in your financial reporting—they're revenue, but they should be visible as a line item.

Calso's booking integration automatically logs deposit status and flags high-risk reservations (large parties, peak dates) so your team knows which bookings need monitoring.

Cancellation policy: what to include

Your written policy (on your website and booking confirmation) should state:

Deposit amount and payment method.
Cancellation deadline. "Cancellations must be made 48 hours before the reservation time to receive a refund." (Adjust to suit your venue.)
No-show consequence. "Failure to cancel and non-arrival will result in forfeiture of the deposit and may incur a charge for the full estimated spend."
Refund process. "Refunds will be processed to the original payment method within 5–7 business days."
Exceptions. "Deposits are non-refundable for cancellations within 48 hours. Exceptions may be made at the venue's discretion for emergencies."

Keep it clear and jargon-free. If a guest disputes a charge later, your written policy is your defence.

The psychology of deposits: how to pitch them without losing bookings

On the phone

Instead of: "We need a $50 deposit."

Say: "To secure your table for 8 on Saturday, we just ask for a $50 deposit—that's refundable if you let us know 48 hours ahead. If plans change, just ring us. Sound good?"

Framing it as a security measure (not a penalty) and emphasising the refund condition makes guests more likely to accept.

On your website

Add a small info box on your booking page:

Secure your booking. We hold a small deposit for tables of 8+ and all Friday–Saturday dinner bookings. This protects our team and ensures you get your preferred time. Deposits are fully refundable with 48 hours' notice.

Leading with your team's benefit (not the venue's profit) softens the message.

Peak-period tactics: Christmas, Melbourne Cup, Easter

Christmas (20–24 Dec)

Charge deposits on all bookings. Staff are on penalty rates (150–200%), and no-shows are historically high. Consider a 50% deposit for tables of 4+ and a 100% deposit for parties of 10+.

Melbourne Cup week (first Tuesday in November)

Many venues run set menus or pre-orders. Require a 50% deposit and lock in the menu 72 hours ahead. This gives your kitchen and suppliers (Bidvest, PFD, Countrywide) clear numbers for ordering.

ANZAC Day (25 April) & public holidays

Treat like Christmas. Charge deposits on all bookings; staff are on public holiday penalty rates. Be clear in your booking confirmation that the public holiday surcharge is non-negotiable.

Handling disputes and refunds

When a guest challenges a charge

Stay calm. Listen to their complaint.
Pull the booking record. Show them the cancellation policy they agreed to.
Offer a middle ground if warranted. If they cancelled 36 hours ahead (just outside your 48-hour window), consider a 50% refund as a goodwill gesture. It's cheaper than a chargeback fee.
Document everything. Keep the email exchange and booking confirmation on file.

Chargeback risk

If a guest disputes the charge with their bank, you'll face a chargeback fee (typically $15–30) plus loss of the deposit. Minimise this by:

Being crystal clear in your booking confirmation email: include the policy, the amount, and the deadline.
Responding quickly to disputes (within 3 days).
Offering a small refund if the guest is borderline (cancel at 45 hours instead of 48).

Where Calso fits in

Managing deposits across phone bookings, online reservations, and walk-ins is manual and error-prone. Calso's booking system automatically flags high-risk reservations (large parties, peak dates), logs deposit status, and sends cancellation reminders to guests 48 hours before their booking. This reduces no-shows, cuts disputes, and keeps your deposit revenue clean and traceable in your financials—so you can focus on service, not admin.

Want early access?

If you're managing bookings manually and losing covers to no-shows, Calso can help. Join the waitlist at calso.com.au/join for founding-venue access—limited spots available in your city, and you'll get a direct line to the team to shape how Calso works for your venue.

Restaurant Deposit Policies in Australia: When & How