Hot take: contracts are worthless without a deposit upfront

Ngl I used to just send over a contract and start working right after they signed it. Then last year a client in Austin ghosted me after I finished a $2,500 website build. They owed me zero because I hadn't taken any money upfront. Now I ask for 50% before I touch anything. Has anyone else gotten burned by not taking a deposit?

2 comments

2 Comments

garcia.wren2d ago

You took zero upfront and got ghosted" that's exactly what happened to me too. I had a client in Austin who paid exactly zero after I finished a whole $2,500 website build. They just stopped answering my emails and texts. Now I won't touch anything without 50% down at least. It's not just about protecting yourself from non-payment either. That deposit shows the client is serious and actually has skin in the game. If they balk at putting something down, that's a red flag that they might waste your time later. I've had way fewer problems since I started doing it this way.

mason.drew2d ago

Feel like I see this a bit differently. @garcia.wren, I get where you're coming from, but a good contract and a willingness to chase what you're owed can do the same thing a deposit does. I had a client try to stiff me once, sent a polite but firm letter demanding payment and they paid up within a week. A deposit can scare off some good clients too, the ones who just prefer to pay everything at the end.