How Much Deposit Should You Actually Ask For?
A common rule is 25-50% upfront, with the exact figure depending on how much you need to spend on materials before you start. If a job is mostly labour with little material cost, a smaller deposit or none at all is reasonable. If you're ordering a kitchen, a boiler, or custom materials, a deposit that covers those costs protects you from being out of pocket if the customer cancels.
When Should You Ask for the Deposit?
Ask at the point the customer accepts your quote, before you order materials or book the job into your schedule. Waiting until the day of the job to raise it feels awkward and can come across as an afterthought, whereas including it as a standard line in your quote makes it feel like normal business practice rather than a special request.
How Do You Ask Without Sounding Unsure of Yourself?
State it plainly as a term, not a question. Something like "a 30% deposit secures the booking and covers materials, with the balance due on completion" reads as confident and normal. Avoid over-explaining or apologising for asking, since that can make customers wonder if there's a reason to be cautious.
What Should You Do If a Customer Pushes Back?
A small amount of pushback is normal and usually resolves once you explain it covers materials, not profit. Persistent refusal to pay any deposit at all is a different signal, and it's often worth treating as a reason to be cautious about taking the job, particularly for anything involving a meaningful materials outlay.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it normal to ask for a deposit as a tradesperson?
Yes, it's standard practice, especially for jobs involving materials you need to buy upfront. Most customers expect it and won't be put off by a reasonable request.
What if a customer refuses to pay a deposit?
That's usually a warning sign. Genuine customers rarely object to a fair deposit, so hesitation here is worth paying attention to before you commit time and materials.
Should the deposit amount change for bigger jobs?
Yes, scale it to materials cost rather than job size. A job with expensive materials needs a bigger deposit than a similarly priced job that's mostly labour.