How Much Deposit Should a Freelancer Charge?

A deposit protects you from doing work that never gets paid for. Here is how to think about it.

How much?

A common range is 25-50% upfront. For new clients or large projects, lean toward 50%. For small or repeat work, 25% (or none) may be fine. The deposit should at least cover your time and any costs if the client disappears.

When to require one

• New clients you have not worked with before
• Large or long projects
• Work with upfront costs (materials, software, subcontractors)
• Custom work that you cannot resell

How to handle the balance

Show the deposit on the invoice and make the remaining balance obvious. Many freelancers invoice the deposit first, then the balance on delivery. Be clear in writing about what each payment covers.

Track deposits cleanly

InvoiceApp has a deposit field that records what was paid upfront and shows the remaining balance automatically - so both you and the client always know what is owed.