Host Domination Deposit Payments

Accept Flexible Deposits and Automatically Manage Booking Balances

Requiring the full booking amount upfront can discourage guests, especially when they are planning an expensive stay or booking several months in advance. Host Domination Deposit Payments gives you a more flexible way to secure bookings by allowing guests to pay only a percentage of the accommodation price at the time of booking.

Designed exclusively for Host Domination Booking Engine PRO, this WordPress add-on allows you to create deposit rules for each individual calendar and also choose how the remaining balance should be managed.

You can decide whether the balance should be:

• Automatically charged to the card used for the deposit, X days before check-in
• Paid manually online by the customer through a secure payment link
• Paid in cash upon arrival directly at the property

This allows you to adapt the payment plan to the needs of each accommodation and provide guests with clear payment conditions from the moment they book.

Instead of requiring the full amount immediately, you can offer a simpler and more reassuring experience: pay a deposit today and manage the remaining balance according to the property's payment terms.

Increase Direct Bookings Without Giving Up Control of Payments

Guests are often more likely to book directly when the initial payment is more affordable and the payment terms are clearly explained.

A flexible deposit can reduce the financial commitment required at the time of booking, especially for:

• Long or expensive stays
• Bookings made several months in advance
• Families and large groups
• Seasonal properties and vacation rentals
• Guests comparing your direct website with major booking platforms

Host Domination Deposit Payments helps you provide the flexibility guests expect while still securing the booking through a real Stripe payment.

The guest confirms the booking by paying the required deposit, while you retain full control over the required percentage, the balance due date, and the method used to collect the remaining amount.

Set Deposit Rules for Each Booking Calendar

Not every accommodation requires the same payment conditions.

A luxury apartment may require a higher deposit, while a smaller room or shorter stay may require a lower percentage. For this reason, Deposit Payments allows you to configure rules individually for each calendar.

From the Payments section of Host Domination Booking Engine PRO, you can:

• Enable or disable deposit payments
• Select the calendars where deposits should be accepted
• Set the required deposit percentage
• Choose how the remaining balance should be paid
• Automatically charge the balance to the customer's card
• Allow the customer to pay the balance manually online
• Allow the balance to be paid in cash upon arrival
• Define how many days before check-in the payment should be made when required
• Use different payment rules for different accommodations

This calendar-specific system is ideal for property managers and hosts who manage multiple rooms, apartments, villas, or vacation rentals from the same WordPress website.

For example, you can require automatic balance collection 7 days before arrival for one property and allow cash payment at check-in for another.

Three Ways to Manage the Remaining Balance

Deposit Payments does more than simply divide the booking amount between a deposit and a balance. You can also decide how the remaining amount should be collected automatically or manually.

Automatic Card Charge

The customer pays the deposit through Stripe, and the payment method is prepared for the remaining balance.

For example, you can specify that the remaining balance should be charged automatically 7 days before check-in.

On the scheduled date, Deposit Payments automatically attempts to collect the remaining amount without requiring the customer to repeat the booking process.

If the booking is cancelled before the due date, the scheduled automatic charge is not processed.

If the bank requires additional authentication or the payment cannot be completed automatically, the customer can be directed to a secure online payment to complete the remaining balance.

Manual Online Payment

You can choose not to process any automatic charge.

The customer pays the deposit normally during the booking process and later receives a secure Stripe link to pay the remaining balance.

The link can be included in booking communications and payment reminders.

This option allows the property to set a precise due date while keeping the final payment under the customer's control.

Cash Payment Upon Arrival

If you prefer to collect the remaining balance directly at the property, you can choose Cash on Arrival.

The customer pays only the required deposit online. The remaining amount is clearly displayed as the balance due upon arrival.

In this mode:

• No automatic balance charge is processed
• No second online payment is required
• The remaining balance is shown in the booking summary
• The due date corresponds to the check-in date

This allows you to use Deposit Payments even when your property prefers to collect part of the booking amount online to secure the reservation and the remainder directly upon arrival.

Deposits Calculated Exclusively on the Accommodation Price

A booking total can include several different charges. In addition to the accommodation rate, guests may select cleaning services, breakfast, pet fees, transfers, or other Service Extras.

Deposit Payments keeps the calculation clear by applying the selected percentage exclusively to the Accommodation amount.

Tourist taxes, Service Extras, and other additional charges are excluded from the deposit calculation base.

Deposit Calculation Example

Suppose a booking includes:

• Accommodation: €500
• Cleaning service: €50
• Additional service: €30
• Total booking value: €580
• Required deposit: 30%

The deposit is calculated exclusively on the €500 accommodation amount:

€500 × 30% = €150 deposit

The guest pays €150 when confirming the booking. The remaining balance is €430, including the unpaid portion of the accommodation and the additional services.

The €430 balance will then be managed according to the method selected by the host: automatic charge, manual online payment, or payment upon arrival.

This prevents extra services and local charges from artificially increasing the deposit amount and provides both the host and the guest with a more transparent payment breakdown.

A Clear Payment Plan for Every Guest

Clarity is essential when accepting partial payments.

Guests should always know:

• The total booking value
• How much they need to pay immediately
• How much remains to be paid
• When the remaining balance is due
• How the balance will be paid
• How much has already been paid

Deposit Payments displays this information directly during the booking and payment process.

Before proceeding to Stripe, the guest can see the deposit amount to be paid and the balance that will remain after the payment.

Once the deposit has been successfully paid, the summary can clearly display:

Deposit paid: €150 Remaining balance: €430 Balance method: Automatic card charge Scheduled date: 10/10/2026

or:

Deposit paid: €150 Remaining balance: €430 Balance method: Cash on arrival

No unclear calculations and no unexpected payment conditions after the booking has been confirmed.

Secure Deposit and Balance Payments via Stripe

Deposit Payments works with the Stripe integration available in Host Domination Booking Engine PRO.

When a deposit rule is applied, the add-on automatically adjusts the Stripe Checkout amount so that the guest pays only the configured accommodation deposit instead of the full booking total.

When Automatic Charge mode is used, the initial payment can also prepare the payment method for the remaining balance.

The Stripe payment description includes important booking information such as:

• Deposit percentage
• Deposit amount
• Remaining balance
• Selected balance payment method
• Balance payment due date
• Booking reference information

This creates a consistent payment record and makes it easier to understand what each transaction refers to when reviewing payments in Stripe.

Keep Guests Informed After Payment

The payment experience does not end when the guest leaves Stripe.

After the deposit has been successfully paid, the booking confirmation clearly distinguishes between the amount already paid and the amount still outstanding.

This information is also included in the confirmation email.

The confirmation can display:

• Total booking amount
• Accommodation amount
• Deposit percentage
• Deposit successfully paid
• Remaining balance
• Selected balance payment method
• Due date or scheduled charge date

If the balance is charged automatically, the customer is informed of the scheduled date.

If the balance must be paid manually online, the customer can receive the corresponding payment link.

If the balance must be paid in cash, it is clearly indicated that the remaining amount will be due directly upon arrival.

Automatic Protection for Last-Minute Bookings

Deposit payments should not be available when the balance payment deadline has already passed.

For example, if your rules require the balance to be paid or charged seven days before arrival, a guest booking only three days before check-in should not be able to use that specific partial-payment option.

Deposit Payments automatically checks the balance due date before applying partial payment.

When required by the configured rules, bookings made too close to the arrival date continue to use the standard full-payment checkout.

This prevents guests from confirming last-minute bookings with a balance that is already overdue.

Designed for Vacation Rentals, Hotels, and Property Managers

Host Domination Deposit Payments is suitable for many types of accommodation businesses, including:

• Holiday apartments
• Vacation rentals
• Villas and holiday homes
• Bed & Breakfasts
• Guest houses
• Boutique hotels
• Room rentals
• Property management businesses
• Multi-property booking websites

Whether you manage a single apartment or multiple accommodation calendars, you can create payment conditions that suit your business model.

Why Offer Partial Payments?

Flexible deposits can make your direct booking website more competitive compared with OTAs and major booking platforms.

Guests gain greater payment flexibility while you continue to secure every booking through your own website.

With Deposit Payments, you can:

• Reduce the upfront cost of a booking
• Make more expensive stays easier to confirm
• Encourage bookings made well in advance
• Offer clearer and more professional payment terms
• Apply different deposit strategies to different properties
• Automatically charge the remaining balance before check-in
• Allow manual online payment of the remaining balance
• Allow the balance to be paid in cash upon arrival
• Keep additional services outside the deposit calculation
• Provide transparent payment summaries
• Keep full payment active for last-minute bookings when necessary
• Strengthen your direct booking strategy

The result is a simpler booking process for guests and a much more flexible payment system for the accommodation provider.

Simple Configuration Directly from WordPress

Deposit Payments integrates directly into the payment settings of Host Domination Booking Engine PRO.

There is no separate platform to manage and no need to learn how to use an external booking dashboard.

To configure the add-on:

1. Activate Deposit Payments.
2. Open the Payments tab in Host Domination Booking Engine PRO.
3. Enable the deposit payment option.
4. Select the calendars where deposits should be available.
5. Enter the required percentage for each calendar.
6. Choose the balance method: automatic, manual online payment, or cash on arrival.
7. When applicable, choose how many days before check-in the remaining balance must be paid or charged.
8. Save the payment settings.

The configured rules are then automatically applied to eligible bookings.

Designed for Host Domination Booking Engine PRO

This add-on is designed specifically for the Host Domination ecosystem and directly uses the booking information already managed by Booking Engine PRO.

It uses the booking calendar, accommodation amount, arrival date, Stripe payment settings, and customer email information already available in your booking system.

There is no need to create duplicate properties, reconnect calendars, or manage payment rules through a separate service.

Requirements

• WordPress
• Host Domination Booking Engine
• Host Domination Booking Engine PRO
• Active Stripe configuration for online payment methods
• Valid Deposit Payments add-on license

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I enable deposits only for selected calendars?

Yes. You can choose exactly which calendars should accept deposit payments and configure different percentages for different accommodations.

Is the deposit calculated on the full booking total?

No. The deposit percentage is calculated exclusively on the Accommodation amount. Service Extras, tourist taxes, and other additional charges are excluded from the deposit calculation base.

Can I choose how the remaining balance will be paid?

Yes. For each calendar, you can choose between automatic card charge, manual online payment, or cash payment upon arrival.

How does the automatic charge work?

The guest pays the deposit through Stripe, and the remaining balance is scheduled to be automatically charged to the card according to the number of days before check-in configured by the host.

Can I allow the customer to pay the remaining balance online manually?

Yes. You can use the manual online payment mode. The customer pays the deposit at the time of booking and can later complete the remaining balance through a secure Stripe payment link.

Can I require the remaining balance to be paid in cash upon arrival?

Yes. In this case, the guest pays only the deposit online. The remaining balance is displayed as an amount to be paid directly at the property during check-in.

What happens if a booking with an automatic balance charge is cancelled?

The automatic charge should not be processed for bookings that have been cancelled before the scheduled balance date.

What happens if the automatic charge fails?

If the payment cannot be completed automatically or the bank requires additional authentication, the customer can complete the remaining balance through a secure online payment.

What happens with last-minute bookings?

When the payment plan deadline has already passed, Deposit Payments can keep the standard full-payment checkout active.

Will guests see the remaining balance?

Yes. The booking and payment summaries clearly display the deposit paid, the amount still outstanding, and the selected balance payment method.

Are deposit details included in the confirmation email?

Yes. After the deposit has been successfully paid, the confirmation sent to the customer includes the essential payment breakdown and information about the remaining balance.

Does the add-on work with Stripe?

Yes. Deposit Payments is designed to work with the Stripe integration available in Host Domination Booking Engine PRO.

Can different properties use different payment terms?

Yes. Each calendar can have its own deposit percentage, due date, and balance management method.

Offer Greater Flexibility to Your Guests

A direct booking should be simple, secure, and transparent.

With Host Domination Deposit Payments, guests can confirm their stay without having to pay the full booking amount immediately.

You can create different deposit rules for each accommodation and freely choose how to manage the remaining balance: automatic card charge, manual online payment, or cash payment upon arrival.

Protect last-minute bookings, keep Service Extras outside the deposit calculation, and clearly communicate every amount due to the customer.

Add flexible deposit payments to your WordPress booking system and make your direct booking experience more competitive, professional, and suited to the needs of your property.