Changed my mind about deposits after a $1,200 ghost in Seattle

Tbh I always thought asking for 50% up front felt pushy, but after a client vanished with a finished 40 page deck, I saw the difference in my bank account over 3 weeks. Now I collect half before starting, has anyone else had the same flip after getting burned once?

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1 Comment

mason_murray81d ago

Tacking on a 15% rush fee or a late penalty clause to the contract helped me way more than the deposit honestly. After getting ghosted once, I realized the 50% only covers your time if they bail early, but the last 20% is where the real money sits. Now I make them pay that before I send the final file, and if they drag their feet, the deadline moves with it. Seen way too many people skip that part and still eat the loss on the back end.