About Kobrado › Guides
Asking for a deposit before starting a job
A deposit covers materials and shows the client is serious. The amount is your call, and it has to be clear on paper from the start.
Put it on the estimate
Show the deposit on the estimate the client accepts. Kobrado has a deposit field: the estimate prints the amount as “Deposit due on acceptance”.
Check your state’s rules
Some states limit the deposit a contractor can take on home improvement work, or require written contracts above a certain amount. Check the rules where you work. This page is not legal advice.
When it is paid
Keep a record of it. When you bill the finished job, show what was already paid, so the final bill does not surprise anyone.
Questions
Should the deposit be a percentage or an amount?
Either, as long as it is written on the accepted estimate. Many contractors tie it to the cost of materials.
What if the client cancels after paying the deposit?
Decide this before the job and write it in the notes of the estimate.
Kobrado does not provide tax, legal or accounting advice. You set your own tax rates.