The verdict in three sentences
No-shows (guests who book but never come) cost 10 to 20 % of revenue on busy nights of a full service. The most effective lever is the refundable Wave deposit of 2,000 to 5,000 FCFA/cover: it cuts the no-show rate from 15-25 % to under 8 %. A booking app with deposit, day-before SMS reminder and automatic waitlist costs 800,000 to 2,000,000 FCFA.
Anti-no-show levers and their effectiveness
Not all levers are equal: the deposit is the most deterrent, the SMS reminder the cheapest.
| Lever | Effect on no-show | Cost / implementation |
|---|---|---|
| None (free booking) | 15 - 25 % | 0 |
| Day-before SMS reminder | 12 - 18 % | ~10-25 FCFA/SMS |
| Click-to-confirm | 10 - 15 % | included in app |
| Imprint / 2,000 FCFA deposit | < 10 % | Wave fees ~1 % |
| 5,000 FCFA/cover deposit | < 8 % | Wave fees ~1 % |
| Auto waitlist | recovers tables | included in app |
The deposit is refunded or deducted from the bill when the guest shows: it only penalizes those who do not come.
Booking app cost and revenue impact
The gain is not just the deposit collected: it comes mainly from finally-filled tables.
| Item | 2026 ballpark (FCFA) |
|---|---|
| Booking app (planning, slots) | 600,000 - 1,200,000 |
| Wave/OM deposit module | 200,000 - 500,000 |
| SMS reminders + waitlist | 150,000 - 400,000 |
| Total | 800,000 - 2,000,000 |
| Revenue of one avoided no-show cover | 12,000 - 25,000 |
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Mini case study
Awa's restaurant in Almadies does 60 covers on Saturday night, average ticket 18,000 FCFA. With 20 % no-show, that is 12 lost covers, i.e. 216,000 FCFA/night. By introducing a Wave deposit of 5,000 FCFA/cover, no-show drops to 7 % (~4 covers), so 8 covers recovered = 144,000 FCFA/Saturday. Over 4 Saturdays, +576,000 FCFA/month: the app at 1,500,000 FCFA pays back in under 3 months.
FAQ
Won't a deposit scare off guests? No, if it is refundable or deducted from the bill. Serious guests accept it gladly; only phantom bookers are filtered out. The booking rate stays stable.
What deposit amount should I pick? Between 2,000 and 5,000 FCFA/cover depending on standing. The more in-demand the restaurant and the pricier the cover, the higher the deposit can be without friction.
Is the SMS reminder enough without a deposit? It helps (no-show from 25 % to ~15 %) but is not enough alone on very busy nights. Reminder + deposit gives the best result (< 8 %).
How does the automatic waitlist work? When a table frees up or a booking is cancelled, the app offers the slot to the next guest on the list via SMS and confirms the first reply. Tables do not stay empty.
Let's talk about your project. We build your booking app with Wave deposit, SMS reminders and waitlist to wipe out no-shows. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
