Free UK tool
Deposit and stage payment calculator
Money taken up front is money you never have to chase. Enter the job total, pick a payment plan such as 25/25/50, and see exactly what to invoice at each stage. Edit the stages to match your job.
A common split for refurbishments: deposit, first day on site, completion.
Payment schedule
| Stage | Amount | Paid so far |
|---|---|---|
| Deposit on booking (25%) | £1,625.00 | £1,625.00 paid so far |
| First day on site (25%) | £1,625.00 | £3,250.00 paid so far |
| Balance on completion (50%) | £3,250.00 | £6,500.00 paid so far |
How much deposit should you take?
There is no legal maximum, but a deposit should be proportionate. A good rule is to cover what you have to spend before you start: materials ordered for that customer, skip hire, or anything made to measure. For most domestic jobs that lands between 10% and 30%.
| Type of job | Common structure |
|---|---|
| Call-outs and small repairs | No deposit. Payment on completion by card or transfer |
| One to three day jobs | 10% to 25% deposit, balance on completion |
| Kitchens, bathrooms, refurbishments | 25/25/50 or 30/40/30 |
| Made-to-measure or special-order items | Deposit covering the materials, often 30% to 50% |
| Extensions, heat pumps, solar, re-roofs | Deposit then stage payments tied to milestones |
Tie each stage to something the customer can see, such as “first fix complete”, rather than a date. It makes the request feel fair and avoids arguments about progress. Our guide on deposits and stage payments goes into more detail.
Questions
How much deposit should a tradesperson take?
Most UK trades take between 10% and 30%. Enough to cover materials you have to buy or order in for that customer is a sensible guide. On larger or longer jobs, split the rest into stage payments tied to visible milestones rather than taking a very large deposit.
What is a 25/25/50 payment schedule?
A quarter of the price as a deposit when the job is booked, a quarter on the first day on site, and the remaining half on completion. It is common for kitchens, bathrooms and other refurbishments of a week or more.
Is it normal to pay a builder in stages?
Yes. For jobs longer than a week or two, stage payments protect both sides: the customer only pays for progress they can see, and the tradesperson is not funding weeks of labour and materials. Agree the stages in writing before work starts.
Can a homeowner cancel and get their deposit back?
If the contract was agreed at the customer's home or online rather than at your premises, a consumer normally has 14 days to cancel under the Consumer Contracts Regulations. If they ask you in writing to start within that period and then cancel, they pay for the work done so far. Make sure your quote or terms explain the cancellation right.
Should a deposit include VAT?
If you are VAT registered, a deposit is normally a payment on account and VAT is due on it when you receive it, so invoice the deposit including VAT. Check with your accountant for your circumstances.
Take the deposit the moment they accept
With QuoteChase, the customer accepts your quote online. Raise a deposit invoice for any percentage in one tap, add a card payment link so they can pay there and then, and convert the balance to its own invoice when the job is done. Raise standalone invoices for any stages in between.
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General information, not legal or tax advice. Consumer cancellation rights depend on how and where the contract was made. Ask a solicitor or accountant about your own situation.