Should you charge a deposit?

Deposits protect you on bigger jobs, but ask for too much and you scare customers off. Here is when to take one and how much to ask for.

When a deposit makes sense

Take a deposit when a job ties up real money or time before you get paid: expensive materials, a multi-day project, custom orders, or a new customer you have not worked with. For a quick $150 service call, a deposit is overkill. For a $6,000 install, going in with nothing is a risk.

How much to ask for

A common range is 25 to 50 percent up front. A frequent split is a third at signing, a third partway through, and a third on completion for larger projects. If materials are a big part of the job, it is reasonable to ask the customer to cover materials up front and bill labor on completion.

How to present it

Put the deposit on the estimate so it is agreed before work starts, not sprung at the last minute. Frame it as normal ("a 40% deposit secures your spot and covers materials"), because it is. Most customers expect it on bigger work. Give a receipt for the deposit and subtract it clearly on the final invoice.

A quick word on trust

A deposit is not just protection, it is a small commitment that filters out people who were never serious. Customers who balk at a reasonable deposit on a big job are often the same ones who go quiet at payment time.