Payment
Why freelancers should take a deposit before kickoff
A deposit isn’t distrust. It’s how solo freelancers fund the first week of work and filter clients who never intended to pay.
Before you quote: Run intake with the free Client Intake Cheat Sheet so the deposit sits next to clear scope and a real decision-maker.
What a deposit actually buys
- Calendar priority for this project
- Shared skin in the game
- Cash to cover discovery and setup hours
How much
Common patterns: 30–50% to start, remainder on delivery or milestones. Pick one default and put it in every proposal so you’re not renegotiating from scratch.
How to ask (one sentence)
“Kickoff starts after a X% deposit — I’ll send a simple invoice with the proposal.” Say it early. Surprises create friction; defaults create trust.
If they push back
- “Pay when happy”: Offer a smaller paid discovery instead of free start.
- “Net 60”: Keep the deposit; discuss terms only for the remainder.
- “We’ve never done deposits”: That’s a preference, not a law. Hold the line or walk.
After the deposit clears
Send welcome, asset list, and kickoff time. The Client Onboarding Kit ($19) covers that sequence. Use the Proposal Pack ($17) so payment terms are visible before they say yes.
Related: Prevent scope creep · Follow-up sequence