A booking fee by SMS helps you confirm a direct reservation with a simple advance payment. You send a secure payment link by SMS, the customer pays in seconds, and you keep control without relying on marketplaces.
How it works
Follow an SMS payment link from creation to confirmation.
Create the payment link
Enter the phone number, identity, amount and memo.
PayLinker side
Ready to send
Customer side
Waiting
Phone number
Full name
Amount
Label
SMS sent to Lucy
PayLinker pushes the link as soon as you click “Send”.
PayLinker SMS
[PayLinker] – Your secure payment link:
paylinker.fr/abc
Please pay €189.00 for “Catering booking”.
PayLinker SMS
[PayLinker] – Your secure payment link:
paylinker.fr/abc
Please pay €189.00 for “Catering booking”.
The secure link lands directly on their phone.
Secure Stripe checkout
Amount charged
€189.00
Catering booking
Order paid
You receive €189.00 and the SMS link becomes the receipt.
Amount charged
€189.00
Catering booking
Sign up for free
Send SMS payment links and get paid with PayLinker + Stripe.
For direct reservations, the real issue is not the label but the policy: amount, deadline and cancellation terms need to be clear from the start.
A booking fee lets you confirm the date, protect your margin and stay in control instead of sending the customer to a marketplace.
difference between arrhes and deposits
Also review the online security deposit.
Many professionals collect booking fees directly to keep the customer relationship, margins and reservation terms in their own hands.
Sending the link by SMS means you avoid marketplaces while still being flexible. secure payment link.
Arrhes make the commitment tangible at the time of booking. In practice, they reduce last‑minute cancellations and set expectations from day one: a reserved date comes with a payment.
With PayLinker, it stays simple: you send an SMS payment link, the customer pays online and you get instant confirmation (useful for your team and your records).
In real life, it’s less about the label and more about clarity: amount, deadline, and conditions (cancellation, reschedule, refund). PayLinker helps you collect remotely and keep a clean audit trail; your terms remain yours.
If your main goal is reducing no‑shows, this page helps too: deposit by SMS.
To also match the “payment SMS” intent, keep it simple: “I’m sending you a payment SMS to pay the arrhes and confirm the booking.”
Then link to a page that explains the process: payment link, proof, flow, and conditions.
The payment is processed by Stripe and the funds land directly in your business account.
PayLinker does not set the deposit amount. Only the transaction pays your PayLinker commission and Stripe fees. 1 SMS = 1 credit.
Can I request a booking fee without a marketplace?
Yes, send the payment link yourself by SMS and keep the reservation in your own hands, without Airbnb, Booking or another intermediary.
Is the booking fee refundable?
You define your own refund policy and booking terms. Stripe sends the funds straight to your account once the payment is captured.
Does the customer need an account to pay?
No, they click the Stripe link and pay immediately.
Can I send the booking fee link by email?
Yes, email is free, but SMS uses 1 credit and ensures the link lands in the customer’s hands fast.
Is the payment secure?
Stripe secures every transaction and the funds go directly to your business account.
Send the booking fee by SMS, get paid online on a secure Stripe page, and keep a clean history without needing a terminal.
