A deposit is a partial payment collected at the time of booking to confirm your reservation. This guide explains when deposits are collected, how they apply to your balance, and what happens if you need to cancel.
When Is a Deposit Charged?
A deposit is required when:
You complete a booking through the online portal — payment is required to finalize the reservation.
A staff member takes a deposit from you at the time of booking.
If the property's product has no deposit policy configured, the reservation is confirmed without a deposit.
The deposit amount is set by the property. It may be a fixed dollar amount, a percentage of your total, or the first billing period of a recurring schedule.
How the Deposit Applies to Your Total
The deposit is a payment toward your total stay cost — not an additional fee.
Example:
Total reservation cost: $1,200
Deposit collected today: $300
Remaining balance: $900 (invoiced per the property's schedule)
How to View Your Deposit in the Portal
Log in to the Customer Portal.
Navigate to Reservations or Invoices.
Open the reservation or invoice to see a full payment breakdown including deposits paid and balance remaining.
Cancellation and Deposit Forfeiture
Whether your deposit is refundable depends on the cancellation policy for your reservation, which is displayed before you complete checkout. Review the policy before booking.
Scenario | Typical Outcome |
Cancelled before the policy deadline | Eligible for a full deposit refund |
Cancelled after the policy deadline | Deposit may be partially or fully forfeited |
No-show | Deposit is typically forfeited |
Sharper does not automatically issue refunds when a reservation is cancelled. Refunds are processed manually by property staff in accordance with the cancellation policy.
Questions About Your Deposit
If you believe a refund is owed or have questions about how your deposit was applied, contact the property directly. Staff can view your full payment history and process refunds through Sharper's payment tools.