Deposit calculator

Taking a deposit is the single biggest change most tradespeople can make to get paid on time and stop funding jobs out of their own pocket. This calculator works out the deposit to take and the balance left on completion. Here is how much to take, how to set it, and how to ask without the awkwardness.

How much deposit should you take?

A quarter of the total is a fair, standard deposit for most trade work. It covers your initial materials and books the job in without feeling heavy to the customer. Push it higher, up to half, when you're buying a lot of materials up front, so you're never out of pocket before you start.

• Standard job: around 25% on acceptance.
• Materials-heavy job: up to 50%, so the stock is paid for before you order it.
• Small job: a fixed amount is often clearer than a percentage.

On a £2,400 patio, a 25% deposit is £600 taken the moment they accept, which pays for your slabs and aggregate before you lift a spade, leaving £1,800 due on completion.

Percentage or fixed amount?

Both work, and the calculator does either. A percentage scales neatly with the size of the job, so it stays fair whether you're quoting £400 or £4,000. A fixed amount can be simpler for the customer to grasp on a smaller job. Pick whichever your customers find easiest, and use it consistently so your quotes all read the same way.

Why a deposit matters

A deposit does three jobs at once, and each one saves you money or hassle later.

• It covers your materials. You order the stock with their money, not yours.
• It filters out time-wasters. Someone who won't put anything down for a job they say they want has told you something useful before you've given up a Saturday.
• It books the job in. A paid deposit turns a "maybe" into a real commitment, so you're not left with a gap in the diary.

Put it on the quote and ask up front

The easiest time to agree a deposit is before the work starts, on the quote itself. Spell out the deposit and when the balance is due, so there's nothing to negotiate later. A single line does it: "25% deposit to secure the booking, balance due on completion." When it's written down and they've accepted, asking for it isn't a confrontation, it's just following what you both agreed. Our quote generator puts the deposit right on the quote, and there's more on the wider system in should you take a deposit as a tradesperson.

Be clear on what the deposit covers

Say plainly what the deposit is for and whether it's returnable. Many trades make the deposit non-refundable once materials are ordered, which is fair, but only if the customer knew that up front. Keeping it clear on the quote protects you and reassures them, and it heads off the awkward conversation if a job falls through after you've bought the stock.

Staging payments on bigger jobs

For a large job that runs over several weeks, a single deposit and a final balance can leave a lot riding on the end. Stage it instead: a deposit on acceptance, one or two payments at agreed points as the work progresses, and the balance on completion. It keeps your cashflow steady and means you're never a long way out of pocket. Agree the stages on the quote so there are no surprises.

From deposit to balance

Once the deposit is in and the job's done, you invoice for the balance. Do that in a tap with our invoice generator, which deducts the deposit automatically, and read how to get paid faster to keep the whole cycle tight.

Working it out here is the first step. When you're taking deposits on every job, Snapquo collects the deposit the moment a customer accepts and signs your quote, then invoices the balance with it already deducted, so the money side looks after itself.

This tool and guide are for general guidance, not legal advice. Deposit terms, including whether a deposit is refundable, depend on your contract and the circumstances. Set your terms clearly and take advice if you're unsure.