If you sell your time — as a contractor, agency, photographer, consultant or tradesperson — a deposit is one of the simplest ways to protect your business. It secures the booking, covers your early costs, and quietly filters out clients who were never serious. Here's how to take one, and how to bill the balance without an awkward chase.
Why take a deposit at all?
- It secures the commitment. A client who's paid something is far more likely to show up and follow through.
- It protects your cash flow. You're often buying materials or blocking out time before you see a penny — a deposit covers that gap.
- It reduces your risk. If a project stalls, you're not left completely out of pocket.
How much deposit should you ask for?
There's no universal rule, but common ranges are:
- 25–50% for services and project work, depending on your up-front costs.
- A fixed booking fee for appointments and events, where the goal is simply to secure the slot.
- 50%+ where you're ordering materials or committing significant time before delivery.
Whatever you choose, state it clearly up front — in your quote or agreement — so the deposit is expected, not a surprise.
How to collect a deposit
The smoothest way is the same way you'd take any payment: send a request the client can pay by card in a couple of taps. Avoid asking for a bank transfer if you can — it adds friction and delay right at the moment the client is keenest. A branded "pay your deposit" link or invoice keeps it professional and fast.
Billing the balance later
This is where a lot of businesses lose time. When the work is done, you want to bill the remaining balance immediately, while goodwill is high — not dig up the original numbers and rebuild an invoice. The trick is to track the deposit against the total from the start, so the balance is ready to send the moment you finish.
The easy way with CrexiPay
CrexiPay is built for exactly this. You collect a deposit on your own Stripe account, and CrexiPay tracks the total, the amount paid and the balance still due. When the job's done, you bill the remaining balance with a single click — no re-entering anything, and the client pays by card just like the deposit. Both payments settle straight into your own Stripe account.
Take a deposit on every job that warrants one, make it easy to pay, and keep the balance ready to send. It's a small habit that protects your time, your cash flow and your sanity.