How much to ask for

The standard deposit for trade work is 25–50% of the job total, and "one third up front" is a common, easy-to-explain default. The exact figure should be driven by one practical question: does it cover the materials you have to buy before you start?

You should never be financing a client's materials out of your own pocket. If a job needs $1,800 of equipment and supplies up front, your deposit needs to cover at least that, regardless of what percentage it works out to. For equipment-heavy jobs — a water heater, an HVAC system, a panel and gear — that can push the deposit toward the higher end or even beyond a flat percentage.

For labour-heavy jobs with little upfront material cost, a smaller deposit (or none on small jobs) is reasonable, since your exposure before starting is low.

When to require a deposit — and when not to

Deposits are not for every job. Use this as a rough rule:

  • Small jobs (under ~$1,500) — usually no deposit needed. Invoice due on completion or on receipt. Asking for a deposit on a quick service call just adds friction.
  • Larger jobs (over ~$1,500) — take a deposit. It covers materials and confirms the client is serious.
  • Large or multi-day jobs — consider staged or milestone payments instead of one deposit: a payment up front, one at the mid-point, and the balance on completion. This keeps cash flowing and limits your exposure on long jobs. See Contract Invoice Payment Terms.
  • Custom-order or special-order materials — always take a deposit covering the full cost of non-returnable items before ordering.

The deposit is as much a filter as a financing tool. A client who is serious about a real job rarely objects to a reasonable deposit; one who pushes back hard on a fair deposit for a large job is sometimes telling you to be cautious.

Handling pushback and collecting cleanly

If a client hesitates, explain it plainly: the deposit covers the materials you buy specifically for their job, and it is standard practice. Framing it as normal — because it is — defuses most concern. For genuinely cautious clients, milestone payments can feel safer than a single large deposit while still protecting you.

However you structure it, make the deposit easy to pay and put it in writing on the estimate so there are no surprises. Fieldpaid can include a deposit line and a card payment link on the quote, so the client can pay it on the spot and the job is confirmed before you order a thing.

Related reading: Contract Invoice Payment Terms · How to Get Paid Faster as a Contractor · How to Write a Contractor Estimate