Upfront deposit
The slice of the fee you collect before work starts. It books the slot, filters out tire-kickers, and means you are never fully unpaid.
See it
What it is
An upfront deposit is money collected before any work starts, typically 25 to 50 percent of a project fee, or the first full month on a retainer. It does two jobs at once: it funds the beginning of delivery, and it is a commitment test. A client who will not send a deposit was never going to be a joy to invoice at the end.
Reach for it on every new client and every fixed-price project. Standard shapes: 50/50 (half to book, half on delivery), 50/25/25, or a non-refundable booking fee that reserves specific calendar dates and is credited against the final fee. Say in writing whether it is refundable and what it is credited against, because 'deposit' means something slightly different to every client and to some accountants.
Gotcha: the deposit is not profit. It is cash for work you still owe, so spending it as a cushion for the month is how studios end up delivering last quarter's project on this quarter's empty account. Also write 'work begins on receipt of the deposit', not on signature, or you will be three days into a build while chasing a wire transfer.
Ask AI for it
Write the deposit and payment schedule section for a fixed-price project contract. Terms: 50 percent non-refundable booking deposit due on signature, work begins only once the deposit clears, remaining 50 percent invoiced on delivery at net 15. Include what the deposit reserves (named calendar dates), that it is credited against the total fee, what happens to it if the client cancels or goes silent for 30 days, and one sentence on rescheduling and how much notice that needs. Plain English, under 200 words, numbered clauses.