Asking for a deposit is the single fastest way to stop funding your customers' jobs out of your own pocket — and to weed out the time-wasters. The question is how much, and how to ask without scaring the customer off.
The rule of thumb
There's no law setting a deposit amount in South Africa — it's whatever you and the customer agree. But most trades land in these ranges:
- Small jobs, mostly labour (handyman, a service call): often no deposit, or a small call-out fee.
- Standard jobs with materials (a geyser, a tiling job, a paint job): 30%–50% up front to cover the materials.
- Big material-heavy jobs (solar, a re-roof, custom steel or joinery): 50%–70%, because you're buying expensive kit before you start.
The principle: your deposit should at least cover what you have to spend before you've earned a cent — the materials, the equipment, the sub-contractor. Never be out of pocket waiting to be paid.
Deposit vs progress payments on big jobs
On a long job — a building project, a big install — don't try to carry it on one deposit and a final bill. Structure it: a deposit to start, then progress payments at agreed stages (e.g. on delivery of materials, at first fix, on completion). It keeps cash flowing to you and keeps the customer's risk low at every step. (See how the quote-to-invoice flow works.)
How to ask so they pay gladly
Frame the deposit as normal and in their interest, not as you not trusting them:
"To lock in your slot and order the materials, I take a 40% deposit up front — R3,600 — and the balance on completion. I'll send you a pro forma now so you've got it in writing."
Three things make that work: it's in writing, it's tied to a reason (slot + materials), and it comes on a professional document — not a number in a WhatsApp. A scribbled figure feels dodgy; a branded quote or pro forma with a clear deposit line feels like a real business.
BlitzBooks adds a deposit % to any quote and turns it into a pro forma in a tap.
Try it freeUse a pro forma to collect it
The clean way to request a deposit is a pro forma invoice — it looks official, gives the customer something to load for payment, and isn't a tax invoice yet (so there's no VAT headache until the real invoice). When the deposit lands, you start. When the job's done, you issue the tax invoice for the balance.
The bottom line
Match the deposit to your up-front spend, put it in writing on a proper document, and tie it to a reason. Do that and deposits stop feeling awkward — they become the thing that keeps your business solvent and your customers committed.
Deposits, pro formas and invoices in one app
Set a deposit on any quote, send a branded pro forma to collect it, then convert to a tax invoice for the balance — all from your phone.
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