How to Politely Ask Clients For an Upfront Deposit (Free Samples Included)

Asking for a deposit upfront is a great strategy followed in many industries, and you should do it too.

Starting a business is exciting, but landing your first clients and gaining their trust can be tricky. Deposits might seem like a way to celebrate securing a deal and ensure you work with serious customers. 

However, asking for money upfront, especially when you’re new, can feel a little awkward. 

But fret not! 

In this guide, we’ll explore some professional ways to request deposits online and we will also know, when, and which clients you should ask for deposits. This will not only benefit your business but also leave a positive impression on your clients, creating a smooth and successful experience for everyone involved.

What is Meant by an Upfront Deposit?

An upfront deposit refers to a payment made in advance before goods or services are provided. It’s typically a portion of the total cost, to secure a service or product.

How to Politely Ask for a Deposit (Free Samples included)

To ask for a deposit upfront is a challenging approach. But no more now, we are with a step-by-step guide on how to politely ask for a deposit. Also, we do have readymade samples to help you get ahead:

Have a look:

1. Define how much and why you need it

When it comes to learning how to ask for a deposit in a contract, be precise about how much you need for an upfront fee and why. 

First, you need to determine the price of your services. Then according to the calculated price, figure out how much upfront payment you can ask for. Next, mention these figures in the project contract, and stand firm.

No matter how much deposit you ask for, be prepared to explain why you need that fixed amount so that your customers can understand the whole deal without any discrepancies.

2. Decide what happens if the project gets canceled

Remember that your projects won’t always go as planned. However, if your client abandons the project in the middle, you’ll want to protect your company. And, of course, you should be reimbursed for the total amount of effort you put into the job since you earned it.

Therefore, include a clause in the upfront payment terms of the contract stating that any funds received are non-refundable if the project is dropped midway for any reason.

This clause in the contract is essential since it will help you avoid wasting time and resources only to have the client cancel the project and refuse to pay you.

3. Think win-win for your client

Another way to get paid upfront is to inform clients that a 25% deposit amount is required to begin the project. You can offer them a 12-month credit card installment facility for them to pay off the 25%.

This is a win-win for both parties because it ensures that you get your deposit amount in advance. And your customer won’t have to feel financially stressed at the same time.

4. Request a direct deposit of money upfront via email

When you ask for deposit payments from your client, it is standard procedure to send an invoice. This shows clients how much the total cost of the project is and how much they must pay in advance.

However, you cannot simply send an invoice without any context. Instead, include an email outlining:

• Initial deposit amount
• Due date
• Preferred Payment Method

Recommended: Read this blog to know how to collect payment from customers who won’t pay.

Or

Watch this:

Free Email Templates to Ask for Deposits Upfront

Here are a few email samples to help you get started with it and learn what to do next:

Why you should ask for a deposit?

Asking for payment upfront from a new or existing client has many advantages. Here are the following:

1. Improves cash flow

Asking for upfront deposit payments from existing or new clients is one of the best strategies to improve your cash flow and can help foster consistent working capital.

When you ask for an upfront payment before a job starts, it ensures you have good cash flow and can cover your expenses before the job is done.

This strategy is especially advantageous when it comes to long-term projects or larger projects that experience delays. 

When you have sufficient funds, you can structure your project payment plan, and a feasible budget, clear your pending bills, and even cover unexpected costs, like repairs.

2. Provides funds for materials and supplies

Generally, service providers must cover the cost of materials and other supplies associated with each job.

For example:

If you are providing lawn care services, you will need to have lawn care equipment and appropriate professionals to complete a project.

As a result, requesting an upfront payment is a great way to avoid paying for such costs by emptying your wallet before a job is completed. This prevents your cash flow from being strained by client-specific expenses.

3. Reduce non-payments

Unpaid invoices can be a real pain in the neck if you are a small business owner. In addition to worrying about paying your expenses, you also need to come up with a strategy for getting paid from any customers who continue to avoid clearing their overdue invoices.

Therefore, asking for an advance payment ensures that the client is involved in the project from start to finish. Clients who have already paid for a portion of a job are less likely to miss future payments.

4. Filter out non-paying clients

If a client isn’t paying for services upon deposit request, it only suggests that you might struggle to collect unpaid bills down the road. This is why filtering out such clients early on and rejecting them is easier than trying to figure out how to fire them later.

Asking for a deposit is always reasonable when it comes to troublesome clients. You might feel uncomfortable rejecting a new project when a client is unwilling to pay the deposit in advance.

But you’ll end up saving yourself from financial stress and won’t waste time running after them to collect bills after the payment deadline.

Now that you understand why asking for upfront payment is important, let’s learn the polite way to ask for money from new and existing clients.

When should you ask for upfront payments?

There are some appropriate times to ask for a deposit and understanding that will increase your chances of getting one. So keep these things in mind.

1. Ask for a deposit before the project begins

Deposits are generally requested and received prior to the start of a project. Consider it an upfront payment to assist you in covering the project-related expenses. 

Unless it’s specified in your payment terms of the contract and the client is made aware in advance, requesting deposits midway through a job is a terrible practice.

2. Request a deposit from new clients

Many business owners only ask for deposits from new clients. It makes no sense to request a deposit from an existing client unless you’re starting work on a new job with them that will cost a fortune or take a long time to finish.

3. Determine risky projects

Some projects or clients are riskier to work with given their history. Thus, it is a smart move to ask for a deposit in such instances. This will greatly reduce your risk and increase your chances of getting paid appropriately.

4. Abide by state law

There are various restrictions on the types of deposits that service businesses can demand from customers in each U.S. state. Verify your state’s prerequisites or ask your bookkeeper before deciding on a fixed amount or portion to ensure you’re abiding by the law.

How much to charge?

The amount you charge for a deposit is determined by several variables, including the cost of the project and the job site.
However, there are a few standards used by small business owners to determine job deposits:

• 20-50% of a job’s total cost
• 50% of any project worth more than $1000
• $250 as a standard payment which is non-refundable
• 100% of the material costs

Conclusion

As we’ve discussed earlier, you can send invoice emails to clients to obtain your deposits before the job starts. 

However, preparing multiple invoices for your client can be time-consuming and challenging when there are several details to take care of.

Here comes InvoiceOwl-an online invoicing software!

With InvoiceOwl, you can create customized and professional invoices without errors in minutes. You can send them to your clients anytime from anywhere.

InvoiceOwl also lets you track these invoices and helps you get paid faster. 

Isn’t that convenient?

Go for our for our FREE trial today and experience the rich services we offer to our clients!