How to deal with no-show customers in local service work

No-show customers hurt more in local service work because the time slot is the product. I have had days where one missed appointment throws off fuel, payroll, and the next customer. The hard part is setting rules without sounding unfriendly. A small deposit, confirmation text, and a clear cutoff time have helped, but some markets push back on fees. For people doing local services, do you charge n…