Should You Pay a Deposit to a Tradesperson?

When a deposit is fair

A tradesperson ordering materials on your behalf may reasonably ask for those materials to be paid for up front — they should not be out of pocket for your job. A deposit of 10–25% of the total is normal for this purpose.

Paying for labour before any work is done is different. Legitimate tradespeople rarely ask for the full balance in advance. Stage payments tied to completed milestones are the safest structure for both sides.

How to protect your money

Always get a written receipt or invoice for any deposit, stating what it is for (materials, booking the start date) and that it is refundable or deductable from the final balance. Pay by bank transfer or card where possible so you have a trace and, for cards, possible chargeback protection.

Avoid large cash deposits. If a tradesperson insists on a large cash deposit with no paperwork, treat it as a warning sign.

• •Get a receipt that states what the deposit covers.
• •Agree in writing that the deposit comes off the final bill.
• •Never pay the full balance before work starts.
• •Stage the remaining payments to completed, inspected milestones.