📌 Overview
Cancellation policies help set clear expectations for families and provide structure around how cancellations and refunds are handled. Having the right policy in place helps protect your business, build trust with customers, and ensure a smooth experience for everyone.
In this guide, you'll learn how to create and manage your cancellation policies, including how to apply them to your schedules, update or archive them as needed, and answer common questions about how they work.
Create a Cancellation Policy
Navigate to Listings
Open Cancellation Policies
Click New Policy or Get Started
Write a Policy Name
Write a Policy Description
Check your policy preview to the right of the policy builder
Press Save Policy
Once saved you can edit and archive cancellation policies accordingly. Use the pencil icon to edit a policy and the square icon to archive a policy.
If you're scheduling an activity, you can also build a cancellation policy within the Schedule builder.
Add Cancellation Policies to Appointments & Scheduled Activities
Feature Update:
Existing cancellation policies can now be used with Appointments in the same way it is used with Semesters or Camps.
If you need to add a cancellation policy to a scheduled activity or appointment, please visit the following articles to learn more:
Steps to Archive or Unarchive a Cancellation Policy
Navigate to Listings
Open Cancellation Policies
Make sure you're in the Active tab
Locate the Active Policy you wish to archive
Press the square Archive icon
Once saved you can edit and archive cancellation policies accordingly. Use the pencil icon to edit a policy and the square icon to archive a policy.
Steps to Unarchive a Previously Archived Cancellation Policy
Navigate to Listings
Open Cancellation Policies
Make sure you're in the Archived tab
Locate the Archived Policy you wish to unarchive
Press the square Unarchive icon
Once saved you can edit and archive cancellation policies accordingly. Use the pencil icon to edit a policy and the square icon to archive a policy.
Cancellation policies FAQ
How do I create a cancellation policy?
Check out this article to learn how to create your first cancellation policy in Sawyer.
What should I include in my cancellation policies?
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Every business is unique — therefore, your cancellation policy shouldn’t look exactly the same as those that belong to your peers.
At a minimum, an effective cancellation policy should:
Establish an allowable cancellation time frame (ex. 48 hours notice is required to cancel a drop-in class, 7 days notice is required to cancel a summer camp)
Define a consequence (ex. $25 charge missed drop-ins or a $10 late cancel charge)
Clearly communicate expectations, both in written and verbal communication
Be shared with customers during the registration experience, on your website, and in your physical location
Here is a great resource for learning more about the why behind offering cancellation policies!
Can I create different cancellation policies for different scheduled activities?
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Yes! We’ve made it easy to create unique cancellation policies for different activities. Why? Sometimes, you may need to have different policies for camps, drop-ins, events, and semester-long classes.
Please note: Cancellation policies in Sawyer can only be added to semesters, drop-ins, camps, and events. Right now, parties, appointments, and memberships all have their own cancellation policy setup.
How do I set a cancellation policy for Appointments? Parties? Memberships?
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Cancellation policies created in Listings only apply to camps or semesters. Parties, memberships and appointments all have their own cancellation policy sections on each package, plan, and type set up.
Why should I have a cancellation policy?
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A cancellation policy is a way to protect yourself from lost business and revenue. You don’t have to have one - but we advise creating one and communicating it with clients to reduce your number of no-shows and allow you more time to fill open activity and appointment spots when customers do cancel.
Can you help me add my current cancellation policy to Sawyer?
How is this different from my waiver?
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Waivers are something that you can include during the registration process using Form Fields. Cancellation policies are displayed before customers book on your widget and the Sawyer Marketplace at the activity level.
Where does a customer see the cancellation policy? Do they receive a record of it in order confirmation emails?
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Cancellation policies surface on provider widgets and the Sawyer Marketplace under Class Experience. Cancellation policies will also appear on a customer’s order during the checkout summary on both the provider side and customer side.