Deposit

An upfront partial payment (typically 25-50%) collected before starting a project or service, protecting your time and confirming client commitment.

Deposits prevent ghosting, protect against non-payment, and fund early project costs. A prospect who will not pay a deposit is signalling either financial difficulty or low commitment. Both are red flags.

You require a 50% deposit to book your service. Of 20 prospects who received a proposal, 12 pay the deposit and confirm. 8 do not, saving you from doing £4,800 worth of work for clients who might not pay.