1. Require a deposit before work begins so verbal interest becomes a real financial commitment.

2. Use the deposit to separate serious clients from people who are only shopping around.

3. Treat payment of the deposit as the official start of the project.

4. Use deposits to reserve your time and protect the opportunity cost of turning away other work.

5. Let the deposit cover early expenses such as software, contractors, materials, research or setup.

6. For many small professional-service projects, a 50% deposit can make sense.

7. For larger or longer projects, consider a 25% to 33% deposit followed by milestone payments.

8. If the job requires major out-of-pocket purchases, make sure the deposit covers those costs.

9. Consider stronger deposit requirements for first-time clients whose payment habits are still unknown.

10. You may offer different terms to long-term clients who have a proven record of paying reliably.

11. Use milestone billing so you are paid as the work progresses instead of waiting for one large final payment.

12. Document the deposit amount, remaining balance and payment schedule before work starts.

13. State clearly when the deposit is due and when work will begin.

14. Include cancellation and refund terms in your written agreement so expectations are clear.

15. Do not carry all of the financial risk while the client carries none.