It all started with a deposit…
All of my projects get scheduled once the 50% deposit has been received. I have placed essential words in bold. The promise of a deposit isn’t a deposit. At any given time, I have half a dozen projects waiting for the deposit. Some will arrive, and others will not.
Cash flow is very important for a small business. Projects can run for weeks or months, so I need money to operate.
Deposits keep my client invested throughout the process.
Deposits minimize the chance of non-payment.
Another reason I don’t schedule without a deposit is that things just happen. Even the best intentions don’t guarantee a project will come to fruition. I have had people be persistent for progress images when they have been told that I don’t schedule without a deposit and their deposit hasn’t arrived. This can go on for weeks, and when their emails stop and I follow up, I’ll get comments like, “Oh, that project fell through .”This happens more often than you might think.