Styling is a service different then sewing. I have different packages, this particular one is basically just a styling overview. Colors, body shape, hair styles...and figuring out what your style is already and what you want to look like and marrying that together to make you look your best. I also have personal shopping, going to your home and packages that include tailoring...and the cost goes up from that initial fee. It's not exactly just a "Oh hey you're a pear, and you need a fit and flare dress." It's more like, "Here's your measurements, and we can see that you have such a tiny waist in the numbers. Looking at the pictures we took, you can see where when we accent it, it draws attention to how lovely your figure is, but it needs to be balanced to bring out how tiny that waist really is." with examples of clothes that fit into their style already, just updated and more chic then perhaps they are wearing right now.
And I point out that most higher end department stores offer personal shopping and alterations done on site if needed. I also have done it for personal styling boxes to help them figure out why something works or doesn't work and help them make those choices have a better box.
It's just a different skill set then sewing, but kind of goes in with the alteration/design side.
As to doing it from your home, yes I understand not wanting people to just show up and appointments are necessary for that. You can also set aside a corner of your room for fitting, or have a screen to block off the cutting/sewing area...or just have the appointment in a different room all together. If they don't make the appointment then it's no great loss in your time, which was kind of my awkward way of pointing it out before.
There are also programs that you can get that email/text/call reminders for appointments and you can make a reply necessary to keep it. While they do cost, you can also schedule part of your time to do it yourself. When I did my apprenticeship, I found that it didn't matter which option was used by the tailor I worked for...paying someone else to do it or the company...but a text worked the best. I would go via pay, but only because I'd get the reply to confirm appointment and I hate my phone (doesn't matter if it's text or voice, lol). My drawback to it is that I use an actual agenda/diary for appointments and I'd have to put them into an online calendar to make it work.
But I did bring this up with a friend of mine who does appointment only special occasion work (she is no longer working from home, but did when she started). We have different business models to begin with, and she said that on her website she mentioned the cancellation fee on the FAQ, appointment page and booking page and paid for booking software where she grabs the credit card information. There is a check box you have to accept that shows you read her policy ($50 for no show or cancel less then 3 days, the amount of time the appointment is and the fact that if you're late for it she won't be able to accommodate the time overage). Her confirmation email also states store policies (like only 3 additional people allowed in for the appointment) and a time line of how long to expect the whole process to take and that there's at least 3 more appointments plus a way to cancel the appointment as well as her contact information. The fee is applied to an order you make within 60 days of the missed appointment, with some restrictions, so it's basically an incentive to make it there on time.
And you do get an idea of who will no show and who won't when you're working. Stuff like this weeds them out better.
I think there's several ways you can go about reducing no shows, regardless of if you have a stand alone shop, work from home, have appointment only based work...or a myriad of other options out there.
Not that my opinion amounts to much, haha, but I'd leave most of it automated and pay for someone to do a website, booking program and SMS reminders. And if I charged for missed appointments, I would go this way certainly, even though I live in a really small, rural town. Kind of goes to the old thing of spend money to make money. I also take myself way too seriously, lol. It's not just sewing, it's not just an alteration, it is a lifestyle, baby. I take the vapidness of fashion to a whole new level of insane.