[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":644},["ShallowReactive",2],{"content-\u002Fblog\u002Fhow-to-take-a-deposit-before-starting-work":3},{"_path":4,"_dir":5,"_draft":6,"_partial":6,"_locale":7,"title":8,"description":9,"createdAt":10,"updatedAt":10,"primaryKeyword":11,"author":12,"tags":15,"takeaways":20,"related":24,"faq":43,"readingTime":62,"body":67,"_type":638,"_id":639,"_source":640,"_file":641,"_stem":642,"_extension":643},"\u002Fblog\u002Fhow-to-take-a-deposit-before-starting-work","blog",false,"","How to take a deposit before starting work (2026)","How much deposit to ask for, what the contract should say, refundable versus credited, and how to collect it the moment a client accepts your proposal.","2026-10-12T18:00:00.000Z","how to take a deposit before starting work",{"name":13,"role":14},"Simon Dziak","Founder, Workspace369",[16,17,18,19],"deposits","proposals","contracts","getting paid",[21,22,23],"Ask for the deposit at the moment of acceptance, with the amount stated in the proposal, so it never feels like a second negotiation.","Decide in advance whether the deposit is a credit toward the final invoice or a non-refundable booking fee, and write the same answer in the proposal and the contract.","Pick a percentage you can explain by naming the cost it covers: reserved time, materials, or a contractor.",[25,28,31,34,37,40],{"title":26,"path":27},"Proposal accepted, signed and paid in one sitting","\u002Fblog\u002Fget-proposal-signed-and-paid-in-one-sitting",{"title":29,"path":30},"Deposit calculator","\u002Ftools\u002Fdeposit-calculator",{"title":32,"path":33},"Deposit invoice guide","\u002Flearn\u002Fdeposit-invoice",{"title":35,"path":36},"Security deposit invoice","\u002Fblog\u002Fsecurity-deposit-invoice",{"title":38,"path":39},"How to write a proposal","\u002Flearn\u002Fhow-to-write-a-proposal",{"title":41,"path":42},"Freelance contract template","\u002Ftools\u002Ffreelance-contract-template",[44,47,50,53,56,59],{"question":45,"answer":46},"How much deposit should I ask for before starting work?","Many freelancers and studios ask for 25 to 50 percent on projects under a few thousand dollars, and use a smaller first payment plus milestones on larger work. The right number is the one that covers the cost you take on at kickoff and that you can explain in a sentence.",{"question":48,"answer":49},"Is a deposit refundable?","That is a contract decision, not a default. Some deposits are credited toward the final invoice and refunded if you cancel before starting. Others are a non-refundable booking fee for reserved time. Whichever you choose, state it in both the proposal and the contract, and have a lawyer review wording for your jurisdiction.",{"question":51,"answer":52},"What is the difference between a deposit and a retainer?","A deposit is a portion of a known project fee paid upfront. A retainer is a recurring payment for ongoing availability or work. Mixing the two in one document confuses clients, so label each clearly.",{"question":54,"answer":55},"When should I ask for the deposit?","At acceptance. If the proposal states the amount and the accept button collects it, the client decides and pays in one motion. Asking by separate email days later adds friction and lets the project cool.",{"question":57,"answer":58},"Can Workspace369 collect a deposit when the client accepts a proposal?","Yes. You can require a deposit as a percentage or a fixed amount, and the client sees an \"Accept and pay\" button that goes to Stripe Checkout. Deposit on acceptance, proposals, signing and Stripe payments are on every plan starting at Cadet ($29\u002Fmonth) once Stripe is connected, and you can also send a deposit invoice with a payment link.",{"question":60,"answer":61},"Can online booking pages take a deposit?","Yes. Booking pages can require a deposit or full payment through Stripe before a booking is confirmed. Booking pages are available from the Specialist plan.",{"text":63,"minutes":64,"time":65,"words":66},"6 min read",5.07,304200,1014,{"type":68,"children":69,"toc":624},"root",[70,78,92,99,104,110,115,151,156,162,167,272,285,291,296,306,316,326,331,337,342,376,389,395,400,405,414,420,425,439,460,480,485,491,500,521,529,534,542,547,553,586,592,613,619],{"type":71,"tag":72,"props":73,"children":74},"element","p",{},[75],{"type":76,"value":77},"text","Starting work before money moves is the most common way a good project turns into a bad month. A deposit fixes the incentive problem: the client has committed, you have covered your startup cost, and both sides treat the start date as real.",{"type":71,"tag":72,"props":79,"children":80},{},[81,83,90],{"type":76,"value":82},"This guide covers how much to ask for, what to put in writing, and how to collect the payment at the point of acceptance. It sits alongside the ",{"type":71,"tag":84,"props":85,"children":87},"a",{"href":86},"\u002Flearn\u002Fdeposit-invoice\u002F",[88],{"type":76,"value":89},"deposit invoice guide",{"type":76,"value":91},", which covers the invoice mechanics.",{"type":71,"tag":93,"props":94,"children":96},"h2",{"id":95},"quick-answer",[97],{"type":76,"value":98},"Quick answer",{"type":71,"tag":72,"props":100,"children":101},{},[102],{"type":76,"value":103},"Ask for 25 to 50 percent of the project fee, name the cost it covers, state whether it is credited or non-refundable, and put the same wording in the proposal and the contract. Collect it when the client accepts, not afterward. If you cannot collect it at acceptance, send a deposit invoice the same hour with a payment link, and do not book the start date until it is paid.",{"type":71,"tag":93,"props":105,"children":107},{"id":106},"why-take-a-deposit-at-all",[108],{"type":76,"value":109},"Why take a deposit at all",{"type":71,"tag":72,"props":111,"children":112},{},[113],{"type":76,"value":114},"A deposit does three jobs:",{"type":71,"tag":116,"props":117,"children":118},"ul",{},[119,131,141],{"type":71,"tag":120,"props":121,"children":122},"li",{},[123,129],{"type":71,"tag":124,"props":125,"children":126},"strong",{},[127],{"type":76,"value":128},"Filters.",{"type":76,"value":130}," A client willing to pay a first amount is meaningfully more committed than one who nods on a call.",{"type":71,"tag":120,"props":132,"children":133},{},[134,139],{"type":71,"tag":124,"props":135,"children":136},{},[137],{"type":76,"value":138},"Funds the start.",{"type":76,"value":140}," Stock images, a contractor, software seats, reserved days: costs arrive before the first deliverable.",{"type":71,"tag":120,"props":142,"children":143},{},[144,149],{"type":71,"tag":124,"props":145,"children":146},{},[147],{"type":76,"value":148},"Sets the tone.",{"type":76,"value":150}," You are a business with terms. That helps when the same client later asks for scope creep.",{"type":71,"tag":72,"props":152,"children":153},{},[154],{"type":76,"value":155},"It also protects clients. A clear deposit with a clear credit rule beats a vague \"we will invoice at some point.\"",{"type":71,"tag":93,"props":157,"children":159},{"id":158},"how-much-to-ask-for",[160],{"type":76,"value":161},"How much to ask for",{"type":71,"tag":72,"props":163,"children":164},{},[165],{"type":76,"value":166},"There is no universal number, but there are sensible ranges:",{"type":71,"tag":168,"props":169,"children":170},"table",{},[171,195],{"type":71,"tag":172,"props":173,"children":174},"thead",{},[175],{"type":71,"tag":176,"props":177,"children":178},"tr",{},[179,185,190],{"type":71,"tag":180,"props":181,"children":182},"th",{},[183],{"type":76,"value":184},"Project type",{"type":71,"tag":180,"props":186,"children":187},{},[188],{"type":76,"value":189},"Typical first payment",{"type":71,"tag":180,"props":191,"children":192},{},[193],{"type":76,"value":194},"Then",{"type":71,"tag":196,"props":197,"children":198},"tbody",{},[199,218,236,254],{"type":71,"tag":176,"props":200,"children":201},{},[202,208,213],{"type":71,"tag":203,"props":204,"children":205},"td",{},[206],{"type":76,"value":207},"Small fixed-fee job under about $2,000",{"type":71,"tag":203,"props":209,"children":210},{},[211],{"type":76,"value":212},"50%",{"type":71,"tag":203,"props":214,"children":215},{},[216],{"type":76,"value":217},"50% at delivery",{"type":71,"tag":176,"props":219,"children":220},{},[221,226,231],{"type":71,"tag":203,"props":222,"children":223},{},[224],{"type":76,"value":225},"Mid-sized project",{"type":71,"tag":203,"props":227,"children":228},{},[229],{"type":76,"value":230},"30 to 50%",{"type":71,"tag":203,"props":232,"children":233},{},[234],{"type":76,"value":235},"Milestones, final at delivery",{"type":71,"tag":176,"props":237,"children":238},{},[239,244,249],{"type":71,"tag":203,"props":240,"children":241},{},[242],{"type":76,"value":243},"Large or long project",{"type":71,"tag":203,"props":245,"children":246},{},[247],{"type":76,"value":248},"20 to 30%",{"type":71,"tag":203,"props":250,"children":251},{},[252],{"type":76,"value":253},"Milestone schedule tied to deliverables",{"type":71,"tag":176,"props":255,"children":256},{},[257,262,267],{"type":71,"tag":203,"props":258,"children":259},{},[260],{"type":76,"value":261},"Event or date-based service",{"type":71,"tag":203,"props":263,"children":264},{},[265],{"type":76,"value":266},"Enough to reserve the date",{"type":71,"tag":203,"props":268,"children":269},{},[270],{"type":76,"value":271},"Balance before the date",{"type":71,"tag":72,"props":273,"children":274},{},[275,277,283],{"type":76,"value":276},"Use the ",{"type":71,"tag":84,"props":278,"children":280},{"href":279},"\u002Ftools\u002Fdeposit-calculator\u002F",[281],{"type":76,"value":282},"deposit calculator",{"type":76,"value":284}," to translate a percentage into dollars for your typical quote. Then test the number with one question: what specific cost does this cover? If the answer is \"reserved calendar time for six weeks,\" a 50 percent deposit is easy to defend. If you cannot name it, lower it.",{"type":71,"tag":93,"props":286,"children":288},{"id":287},"credited-versus-non-refundable",[289],{"type":76,"value":290},"Credited versus non-refundable",{"type":71,"tag":72,"props":292,"children":293},{},[294],{"type":76,"value":295},"This is where most deposit disputes come from, so decide before you write the proposal.",{"type":71,"tag":72,"props":297,"children":298},{},[299,304],{"type":71,"tag":124,"props":300,"children":301},{},[302],{"type":76,"value":303},"Credited deposit.",{"type":76,"value":305}," The deposit is a down payment. It is subtracted from the final invoice. If the client cancels before you start, you refund it, or you keep a stated portion for the reserved time.",{"type":71,"tag":72,"props":307,"children":308},{},[309,314],{"type":71,"tag":124,"props":310,"children":311},{},[312],{"type":76,"value":313},"Non-refundable booking fee.",{"type":76,"value":315}," The deposit buys the reservation. You keep it if the client cancels, because you turned other work away. It works best when you have a visible waitlist or a fixed date.",{"type":71,"tag":72,"props":317,"children":318},{},[319,324],{"type":71,"tag":124,"props":320,"children":321},{},[322],{"type":76,"value":323},"Hybrid.",{"type":76,"value":325}," Refundable until a cutoff date, then non-refundable. Clear dates beat vague language like \"reasonable notice.\"",{"type":71,"tag":72,"props":327,"children":328},{},[329],{"type":76,"value":330},"Whichever you pick, give it a plain label. \"Deposit (credited to final invoice)\" and \"Booking fee (non-refundable)\" are different documents.",{"type":71,"tag":93,"props":332,"children":334},{"id":333},"what-the-contract-should-say",[335],{"type":76,"value":336},"What the contract should say",{"type":71,"tag":72,"props":338,"children":339},{},[340],{"type":76,"value":341},"Keep these points in your contract and make the proposal summarize them in one line:",{"type":71,"tag":343,"props":344,"children":345},"ol",{},[346,351,356,361,366,371],{"type":71,"tag":120,"props":347,"children":348},{},[349],{"type":76,"value":350},"The deposit amount, or percentage and base.",{"type":71,"tag":120,"props":352,"children":353},{},[354],{"type":76,"value":355},"The due date, ideally \"on acceptance.\"",{"type":71,"tag":120,"props":357,"children":358},{},[359],{"type":76,"value":360},"Whether it is credited toward the final invoice.",{"type":71,"tag":120,"props":362,"children":363},{},[364],{"type":76,"value":365},"What happens if the client cancels before work starts, and after.",{"type":71,"tag":120,"props":367,"children":368},{},[369],{"type":76,"value":370},"What happens if the project is paused by the client for a long time.",{"type":71,"tag":120,"props":372,"children":373},{},[374],{"type":76,"value":375},"Which entity the client is paying, and how receipts are issued.",{"type":71,"tag":72,"props":377,"children":378},{},[379,381,387],{"type":76,"value":380},"Start from the ",{"type":71,"tag":84,"props":382,"children":384},{"href":383},"\u002Ftools\u002Ffreelance-contract-template\u002F",[385],{"type":76,"value":386},"freelance contract template",{"type":76,"value":388}," and have a lawyer review any clause where your local rules matter. Enforceability depends on where you and your client are, so treat this as practical structure rather than legal advice.",{"type":71,"tag":93,"props":390,"children":392},{"id":391},"ask-at-acceptance-in-the-proposal-itself",[393],{"type":76,"value":394},"Ask at acceptance, in the proposal itself",{"type":71,"tag":72,"props":396,"children":397},{},[398],{"type":76,"value":399},"The strongest place to ask is on the proposal, in the same motion as saying yes. A line like \"Deposit of 40% ($1,600) due on acceptance\" removes a later conversation.",{"type":71,"tag":72,"props":401,"children":402},{},[403],{"type":76,"value":404},"In Workspace369, a proposal can require a deposit as a percentage or a fixed amount. When the client taps Accept, the button reads \"Accept and pay\" with the amount, and the payment goes through Stripe Checkout. The proposal is recorded as accepted once the payment completes. If you attach a contract, it is sent automatically after acceptance, and the client opens it from a \"Continue to sign the contract\" button on a second page with an email code.",{"type":71,"tag":406,"props":407,"children":413},"blog-illustration",{":height":408,":width":409,"alt":410,"src":411,"srcSet":412},"670","1200","The accept dialog asking to accept the proposal for $4,800 with a drawn signature, next to a booking calendar for picking a time.","\u002Fimages\u002Fblog\u002Fgenerated\u002Fdeposit-before-starting-work-accept-and-pay.webp","\u002Fimages\u002Fblog\u002Fgenerated\u002Fdeposit-before-starting-work-accept-and-pay-800.webp 800w, \u002Fimages\u002Fblog\u002Fgenerated\u002Fdeposit-before-starting-work-accept-and-pay.webp 1200w",[],{"type":71,"tag":93,"props":415,"children":417},{"id":416},"what-to-say-if-the-client-hesitates",[418],{"type":76,"value":419},"What to say if the client hesitates",{"type":71,"tag":72,"props":421,"children":422},{},[423],{"type":76,"value":424},"Some pushback is normal. Short, calm replies work best:",{"type":71,"tag":426,"props":427,"children":428},"blockquote",{},[429],{"type":71,"tag":72,"props":430,"children":431},{},[432,437],{"type":71,"tag":124,"props":433,"children":434},{},[435],{"type":76,"value":436},"\"Can we pay after delivery?\"",{"type":76,"value":438}," \"I schedule work against the deposit, so the start date is held once it is paid. I am happy to split the balance into milestones if that helps.\"",{"type":71,"tag":426,"props":440,"children":441},{},[442],{"type":71,"tag":72,"props":443,"children":444},{},[445,450,452,458],{"type":71,"tag":124,"props":446,"children":447},{},[448],{"type":76,"value":449},"\"Why 50 percent?\"",{"type":76,"value":451}," \"It covers ",{"type":71,"tag":453,"props":454,"children":455},"span",{},[456],{"type":76,"value":457},"the contractor \u002F the reserved weeks \u002F the license",{"type":76,"value":459},", which I commit to before day one.\"",{"type":71,"tag":426,"props":461,"children":462},{},[463],{"type":71,"tag":72,"props":464,"children":465},{},[466,471,473,478],{"type":71,"tag":124,"props":467,"children":468},{},[469],{"type":76,"value":470},"\"Is it refundable?\"",{"type":76,"value":472}," \"It is credited to your final invoice. If you cancel before I start, ",{"type":71,"tag":453,"props":474,"children":475},{},[476],{"type":76,"value":477},"your rule",{"type":76,"value":479},". It is in section 4 of the contract.\"",{"type":71,"tag":72,"props":481,"children":482},{},[483],{"type":76,"value":484},"Do not reduce the number on the spot. Offer a different structure, such as milestones, instead.",{"type":71,"tag":93,"props":486,"children":488},{"id":487},"collecting-a-deposit-in-practice",[489],{"type":76,"value":490},"Collecting a deposit in practice",{"type":71,"tag":72,"props":492,"children":493},{},[494],{"type":71,"tag":495,"props":496,"children":499},"img",{"alt":497,"src":498},"Optional add-ons on a proposal, with Copywriting ticked and Photography art direction and a care plan left unticked.","\u002Fimages\u002Fblog\u002Fscreens\u002Fproposal-optional-add-on-ticked.webp",[],{"type":71,"tag":72,"props":501,"children":502},{},[503,505,511,513,519],{"type":76,"value":504},"The screenshot above shows how the deposit is derived from the client's selection. Pair that with ",{"type":71,"tag":84,"props":506,"children":508},{"href":507},"\u002Ffeatures\u002Fquoting\u002F",[509],{"type":76,"value":510},"proposals and quoting",{"type":76,"value":512}," for setup, and with ",{"type":71,"tag":84,"props":514,"children":516},{"href":515},"\u002Ffeatures\u002Fpayments\u002F",[517],{"type":76,"value":518},"online payments",{"type":76,"value":520}," for connecting Stripe.",{"type":71,"tag":72,"props":522,"children":523},{},[524],{"type":71,"tag":495,"props":525,"children":528},{"alt":526,"src":527},"Deposit required to accept, $4,800 or 40% of the $12,000 total paid via Stripe, and the accept dialog with a drawn signature and Continue to payment.","\u002Fimages\u002Fblog\u002Fscreens\u002Fproposal-accept-and-pay-deposit.webp",[],{"type":71,"tag":72,"props":530,"children":531},{},[532],{"type":76,"value":533},"For service businesses with a booking page, a deposit can also be collected before a time slot is confirmed.",{"type":71,"tag":72,"props":535,"children":536},{},[537],{"type":71,"tag":495,"props":538,"children":541},{"alt":539,"src":540},"Booking details with a $450 total and $150 due now, the 30-minute slot hold note, and Pay & Book Now.","\u002Fimages\u002Fblog\u002Fscreens\u002Fbooking-page-deposit-due-now.webp",[],{"type":71,"tag":72,"props":543,"children":544},{},[545],{"type":76,"value":546},"Booking pages are listed from the Specialist plan. They let a client pick a service and a time, and they have no contract step, so use them for appointments rather than project scopes.",{"type":71,"tag":93,"props":548,"children":550},{"id":549},"deposit-follow-up-checklist",[551],{"type":76,"value":552},"Deposit follow-up checklist",{"type":71,"tag":116,"props":554,"children":555},{},[556,561,566,571,576,581],{"type":71,"tag":120,"props":557,"children":558},{},[559],{"type":76,"value":560},"The proposal states the amount and the due date.",{"type":71,"tag":120,"props":562,"children":563},{},[564],{"type":76,"value":565},"The contract says whether the deposit is credited, and what happens on cancellation.",{"type":71,"tag":120,"props":567,"children":568},{},[569],{"type":76,"value":570},"Stripe is connected and you have run a test payment.",{"type":71,"tag":120,"props":572,"children":573},{},[574],{"type":76,"value":575},"The start date is held only after the deposit clears.",{"type":71,"tag":120,"props":577,"children":578},{},[579],{"type":76,"value":580},"You send a receipt and a short \"what happens next\" message.",{"type":71,"tag":120,"props":582,"children":583},{},[584],{"type":76,"value":585},"If the client does not pay in two business days, you send a single reminder with the link.",{"type":71,"tag":93,"props":587,"children":589},{"id":588},"which-plan-do-you-need",[590],{"type":76,"value":591},"Which plan do you need",{"type":71,"tag":72,"props":593,"children":594},{},[595,597,603,605,611],{"type":76,"value":596},"On Workspace369, proposals, public proposal signing, branding, Stripe payments and deposit on acceptance are on every plan from Cadet at $29 a month; booking pages are Specialist and up. You can also send a deposit invoice with a payment link if you would rather bill the deposit separately. See ",{"type":71,"tag":84,"props":598,"children":600},{"href":599},"\u002Fpricing\u002F",[601],{"type":76,"value":602},"pricing",{"type":76,"value":604}," for the current matrix. For the invoice-based variant, read the ",{"type":71,"tag":84,"props":606,"children":608},{"href":607},"\u002Fblog\u002Fsecurity-deposit-invoice\u002F",[609],{"type":76,"value":610},"security deposit invoice guide",{"type":76,"value":612},".",{"type":71,"tag":93,"props":614,"children":616},{"id":615},"final-recommendation",[617],{"type":76,"value":618},"Final recommendation",{"type":71,"tag":72,"props":620,"children":621},{},[622],{"type":76,"value":623},"Choose a number you can justify, choose whether it is credited, write it twice (proposal and contract), and collect it at the moment of yes. Everything else is wording.",{"title":7,"searchDepth":625,"depth":625,"links":626},2,[627,628,629,630,631,632,633,634,635,636,637],{"id":95,"depth":625,"text":98},{"id":106,"depth":625,"text":109},{"id":158,"depth":625,"text":161},{"id":287,"depth":625,"text":290},{"id":333,"depth":625,"text":336},{"id":391,"depth":625,"text":394},{"id":416,"depth":625,"text":419},{"id":487,"depth":625,"text":490},{"id":549,"depth":625,"text":552},{"id":588,"depth":625,"text":591},{"id":615,"depth":625,"text":618},"markdown","content:blog:how-to-take-a-deposit-before-starting-work.md","content","blog\u002Fhow-to-take-a-deposit-before-starting-work.md","blog\u002Fhow-to-take-a-deposit-before-starting-work","md",1792025511485]