How to ask for a deposit before you start
You blocked out the week. You turned down another job to make room. Then the client goes quiet, or changes their mind halfway, and you are left with nothing for the days you already gave.
A deposit stops that. It is not a sign you distrust anyone. It is how a booking becomes real for both sides.
- A deposit is normal. Say it early, plainly, and only once.
- 50% up front and 50% on delivery is a common split. 30% and 100% have their place too.
- Put the deposit on the quote, not in a separate conversation.
- Send two invoices: the deposit when they say yes, the balance when you deliver.
- If they say no, offer another way to share the risk, not a discount.
Why a deposit is normal
Think of anyone who books time: a photographer for a wedding, a caterer for a party, a venue for a launch. They all take money to hold the date. Your time works the same way.
A deposit does three things for you:
- It confirms the booking. Paying something is a stronger yes than "sounds great, let's go".
- It covers what you spend early. Props, travel, software, a day you could have sold to someone else.
- It shares the risk. If the project stops halfway, you are not the only one who loses.
Our guide on how to invoice a brand covers the rest of getting paid, from the first invoice to late payers.
How much to ask: 30, 50 or 100%
There is no single rule. Set your defaults once, so you never have to decide under pressure.
| Situation | Deposit | Balance |
|---|---|---|
| New client, normal job | 50% | 50% on delivery |
| Repeat client you trust | 30% | 70% on delivery |
| Small job | 100% | None |
| Rush job | 100% | None |
| Long project | 30% | Stages, then the rest |
How to choose:
- 50% is the easy middle, often called 50/50 payment terms. Clients understand it at once.
- 30% suits bigger budgets or clients you already know.
- 100% suits small or fast work, where two invoices are more trouble than they are worth.
- Stages suit long projects. Deposit to start, then a payment at each milestone, then the rest on delivery.
You can also ask for a fixed amount instead of a percent. A tour guide might ask USD 50 per group to hold a date, whatever the group size. A designer might ask USD 300 to start any branding project.
The words to use
The hardest part is usually the first sentence. Here are words you can copy. Change the details, keep them short.
On your rate card or page, as a term:
Deposit: 50% to book your date, the rest on delivery.
In the message that sends the quote:
Hi Sam,
Thank you for the brief. Here is the quote for the three videos, valid until Friday.
To book the dates, I take a 50% deposit, USD 300, and the remaining USD 300 is due when I deliver. Once the deposit is in, I will send the first draft within seven days.
Any questions, just reply here.
Mia
What makes these work:
- They state it as how you work, not as a request for permission.
- They give the amount, not only the percent. Nobody has to do the maths.
- They link the deposit to something the client gets: a date, a start, a draft.
- There is no apology. "Sorry, but I need..." invites a no.
Deposit and balance on one quote
The deposit should never be a surprise. Put it on the quote, so the client agrees to the total and the split in one yes.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Brand video, up to 60 seconds | USD 400 |
| Two extra hooks for ads | USD 100 |
| Usage in paid ads, 30 days | USD 100 |
| Total | USD 600 |
| Deposit, 50%, due to book | USD 300 |
| Balance, due on delivery | USD 300 |
Then, once the client accepts:
- Send the deposit invoice the same day. Start when it is paid.
- Send the balance invoice the day you deliver. Show the total, the deposit already paid and what is left.
- Send a receipt for each payment. Our freelance receipt template shows how to write one for a deposit and one for the balance.
Our guide on how to write a quote a client says yes to covers scope, timing and the "valid until" date.
In Piku, you add the deposit when you write the quote: one deposit plus the rest, as a whole percent or as an amount. The client accepts from a link, and each part becomes its own invoice with its own pay link and PDF. They pay by card or mobile money, and a receipt sends itself when each part is paid. See how quotes and invoices work.
What if they say no
Some clients will push back. Large companies sometimes have rules against paying before work starts. Ask what they can do instead.
Options that still protect you:
- A purchase order before you start. It is the company's written promise to pay, and its finance team needs it anyway.
- A shorter payment term. Payment within 7 or 14 days of delivery, not 60.
- Stages. Split the work into parts, each invoiced when it is delivered.
- A cancellation fee in writing. If they stop the project after you start, a set part of the price is still due.
A reply you can use:
I understand. If a deposit does not work on your side, could we split it into two stages instead? I would invoice the first video on delivery, then the other two. That way you only pay for what you have.
Know your line, too. If a new client will not pay a deposit, will not agree a short term and will not put anything in writing, that tells you how the end of the project may go. It is fine to say no to the job.
If they do agree but then pay late, have your follow-up ready. Our payment reminder templates cover what to send at each step.
Questions
Is it rude to ask for a deposit?
No. It is a normal part of booking someone's time. Say it once, plainly, in your terms and on the quote, and most clients simply pay it.
How much deposit should a freelancer ask for?
Many ask for 50% up front and 50% on delivery. Smaller or repeat jobs can take 30%. Very small jobs, rush jobs and new clients abroad can be paid in full before you start.
Should the deposit be refundable?
Decide before you send the quote, and write it down. Many freelancers keep the deposit if the client cancels after work has started, because that time is already booked.
Do I send one invoice or two?
Two. One for the deposit when the deal is agreed, one for the balance when you deliver. Each gets its own number and its own receipt.