A deposit does two jobs at once. It puts working cash in your pocket before you spend on materials or time, and it filters out the people who were never going to pay. Both of those protect you.
Why it works
When someone pays up front, they have skin in the game. The job moves from "maybe" to "booked." You stop financing other people's projects out of your own account, and you start every job already partly paid.
- It covers your materials and setup costs.
- It confirms the client is committed, not just browsing.
- It sets the tone: this is a real agreement, with real terms.
The client who hesitates at a deposit is the same client who will hesitate at the final invoice. Better to learn that on day one.
How to ask without flinching
Name it plainly and early, before the work starts. A simple line works: "I take 30 to 50 percent up front to book the job and cover materials, with the balance due on completion." Put it in the estimate so it is agreed before anyone lifts a tool.
Send a proper invoice for the deposit, not a vague request. A hosted pay link with a card option turns "I'll send it over" into money in the account today. The rest becomes a clean final invoice when the work is done.
Pick a number and stick to it
For most small jobs, 30 to 50 percent up front is normal and fair. For long or material-heavy work, stage it: deposit, a middle payment, then the balance. The exact split matters less than having one and using it every time.
Set your standard deposit this week and add it to your next estimate. Consistency is what turns a deposit from an awkward ask into simply how you work.