How Do I Collect Unpaid Court Bookings Without Chasing Cash?
Spot unpaid holds on peak courts, see what players still owe, and prefer online pay so the desk is not a cashier. Smash takes 0% commission; Stripe fees still apply.
· By Smash Team · 3 min read
Friday evening is booked solid, but half the slips at the desk still say “pay later.” Staff chase cash between games while a peak court sits blocked by an unpaid hold. That is not a no-show problem. That is money stuck in receivables while inventory is already spoken for.
Online court booking for clubs should collect when the slot is taken, not after the match. Smash helps club owners see what is owed, move more volume online, and keep checkout optional with 0% Smash commission (Stripe fees still apply).
This guide goes deeper than the weekly scorecard. For the Monday pulse next to utilization and soft hours, see how club owners use weekly metrics to fill courts. Here the focus is collecting unpaid court bookings, not selling memberships.
See unpaid holds before peak fills
Unpaid holds block courts the same way paid ones do. Smash shows how many bookings still have a balance and how much is due, so you treat that list as receivables, not a polite reminder pile.
Know the number before Friday rush, then decide who to chase and which slots should not be held on goodwill alone.
Prefer online pay so the desk is not a cashier
Smash shows the online versus pay-at-venue mix over recent bookings. If most volume still clears at the counter, every busy night turns staff into cashiers.
Raising the online share means balances clear when players book, and the desk focuses on play, not envelopes. You can still allow pay at venue for walk-ins. The goal is a clear default for app bookings so peak courts are not held on IOUs.
Keep Smash at 0% commission when players pay online
Online payments are optional. When you want checkout in the app, Smash helps you connect payments in Settings and let players pay when they book.
Smash charges 0% commission on those court-booking payments. Standard Stripe processing fees still apply. Bookings can stay free of online pay until you flip the switch.
Players pay when they book, not after the match
With online payments on, Smash offers players a checkout step in the app. They confirm the court, amount, and card without asking the desk to invent a total mid-rush.
That is commission-free padel booking on Smash’s side of the fee: no Smash cut on the payment, only the card processor’s fee. If you are comparing marketplace cuts versus your own booking system, read booking system vs marketplace for padel clubs or the full comparison.
What that replaces at the front desk
| Old way | With Smash |
|---|---|
| Peak courts held with “pay when you arrive” | You see count and amount still owed |
| Staff collect cash between matches | More volume clears online at booking time |
| Guess how much still arrives at the till | Online versus venue mix over recent play |
| Marketplace cut on every card payment | 0% Smash commission; Stripe fees only |
No invented recovery rates here: the win is fewer unpaid holds on scarce evening courts, and a desk that is not the club ATM.
Ready to collect court bookings without the chase?
Online payments are optional on Smash club plans that support them. Check club pricing, then open the Smash Club Dashboard. Still weighing marketplaces versus your own checkout? Start with booking system vs marketplace or browse guides for club owners.
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