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Blog » Business Tips » Here’s What You Need to Know About Requesting Deposits on Invoices

Here’s What You Need to Know About Requesting Deposits on Invoices

Updated on January 17th, 2022
Deposits

Requesting upfront payment on an invoice is a fairly standard practice. A deposit allows you to secure engagement with your client and gives you a bit of working capital to get started. It simply makes sense. The question is, should you always request upfront payment from clients or are there times to forego it? That said, here’s everything you need to know about requesting deposits on invoices.

Advantages of Requesting a Deposit

Provides Upfront Working Capital

Deposits are very useful because it provides you with upfront working capital to confidently begin the project. For longer projects this can be especially useful. Let’s say the project goes on a bit longer than expected and you realize you’re short to pay some of your bills. You’re not going to ask the client to pay you early as that looks unprofessional. If you ask for payment upfront it gives you a bit of breathing room in case things get pushed back.

Improves Working Relationship With The Client

When you ask for a payment upfront from a client it will ensure they are fully invested in the project from the start. When your client has money on the line they’ll do whatever it takes to make the project successful. Whether it’s by providing input or external resources you can use all the help you can get. If a client has no money down then other projects that have their finances tied up will take priority. Remember…money talks.

Gives You Leverage Upon Project Completion

Hopefully your clients are easy-going and make payments on time. If that isn’t the case then you’ll want to have some leverage once the project is complete. If you request a deposit on the project then your client is highly incentivized to complete payment so they can receive the goods and or services rendered. With no money on the line your client will likely take their time to make payments or even worse not pay at all.

When to Request a Deposit

New Clients with No Relation

Nowadays remote work is becoming increasingly popular. Often times you’ll never meet your clients face to face. That said it creates a bit of insecurity when it comes to payment. This where deposits come into play. For any new client that has no prior relation to you it’s always best to request a deposit.

Long-Term Projects

When invoicing a client for a long term project it’s typically a good idea to request a deposit. Consistent cash flow is imperative for any businesses survival regardless their size. That said, requesting a deposit on long term projects will provide you with enough upfront cash to stay afloat during the course of the engagement.

When a Deposit Isn’t Necessary

The Client is a Reputable Company or Referral

This is the only time when a deposit is not necessary with new clients. If your client is a reputable company or they were referred to you by a friend you can be confident there won’t be issues with payment. However you should always trust your instinct when it comes to client engagements.

You’ve Developed a Strong Working Relationship With Your Client

As your clients start coming back for more business your relationship with them will surely improve. Sending invoices and completing payments typically cause the most friction between client and contractor. That said you should try to limit the number of times you bill your client. If you’ve developed a strong working relationship with your client and they have a good record of on-time payment, then its probably okay to save payment until the end.

Final Thoughts

Requesting deposits on invoices definitely has it’s clear benefits. However they aren’t always necessary depending on the client and task at hand. When requesting a deposit it’s really up to you as to how much you’re going to charge upfront. If you have your suspicions about the client you can charge as much as 50%, however if you’re that worried it’s probably best to ditch the client all together. That said, make sure you reference this article the next time you’re looking to request a deposit on an invoice.

Chalmers Brown

Chalmers Brown

I'm Chalmers Brown and former CTO of Due. I'm a big fan of technology and building financial products that help people better their lives. I have a passion for financial products that help people. I build complex financial infrastructure protocols that help scale financial companies. They are secure and support millions of customers worldwide.

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