Yes. You're perfectly entitled to ask a customer for a deposit before starting, and for materials-heavy jobs you probably should. There's no legal cap for trade work, but a deposit needs to be fair, agreed in writing up front, and clearly tied to what it covers — typically materials and securing the booking.
Funding a job out of your own pocket and hoping you get paid at the end is how a lot of tradespeople end up out of pocket. A deposit shifts that risk, and most reasonable customers expect it.
When a deposit makes sense
- Materials-heavy jobs — if you're ordering a boiler, timber, units or tiles, a deposit means you're not buying them on credit for someone who might pull out.
- Booking in a date — a deposit commits the customer and protects you against no-shows that leave a gap in your diary.
- New customers — until you've worked with someone, a deposit is a fair way to share the risk.
How much is reasonable?
There's no legal limit for trade work, but common practice is:
- A deposit that covers your materials cost, so you're never funding stock for a stranger.
- Often around 25% to 50% of the total for larger jobs, sometimes split into stage payments.
- For very large or long jobs, staged payments against milestones rather than one big deposit.
Put it in writing
State the deposit clearly on your quote: the amount, what it covers, when it's due, and whether it's refundable. Getting the customer's written acceptance turns it into part of your contract, so there's no argument later.
Are deposits refundable?
It depends what you've agreed and what's happened. If you've already bought materials or turned down other work, it's fair to keep enough to cover your loss. If the customer cancels before you've spent anything, holding a large non-refundable deposit can be challenged — especially by a consumer. Spell out the position in your terms so everyone knows where they stand.