Pro tip: That one chat with a retired freelancer changed how I handle deposits

I was complaining last week to this older guy at a coffee shop about a client who ghosted me after $800 worth of work. He just laughed and said "you let them owe you that much without a deposit?" Then he told me he always got 50 percent upfront no exceptions for 20 years. It really hit me different because I always thought asking for half would scare people off. But he showed me a spreadsheet where his repeat customers actually preferred it because it locked in their spot on his calendar. Now I'm thinking of switching to a 50 percent deposit rule myself. Has anyone else made this switch and seen clients push back? I'm in Austin by the way.

3 comments

3 Comments

jesse_smith101mo ago

Sat through that same kind of wake up call myself. 50% upfront is the only way to go, the good clients don't even blink.

sethm5828d ago

The "don't even blink" part is key but I think people miss why. Its not that they're rich and don't care about money. Good clients know their time is worth more than haggling over terms. I had a guy once email me back in under 5 minutes with a "sure, send the invoice" after I asked for half up front. Meanwhile the ones who push back hard? They're always the ones who nickel and dime you on every change order later. Its like a filter for who respects your workflow.

charlie1981mo ago

Wait, "don't even blink"? That's wild. @jesse_smith10 are you saying they just hand over 50% like it's nothing? I'd probably drop my coffee if someone did that without a single question.