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Deposit request generator

Write a clear, friendly message asking a customer for a deposit: what it's for, how much, when it's due, how to pay and when it's refunded. Works for trades, weddings and events, bookings and holiday pet sits. It shows the deposit as a share of the total and flags anything that looks high. It runs in your browser and nothing is stored.

How to use it

1. Ask for the deposit when the customer accepts the quote or booking, not weeks later.
2. Say what the deposit covers and what happens if they cancel. That stops most arguments before they start.
3. For larger jobs, use stage payments rather than a big deposit: try the stage payment schedule.
4. Agreed the job in the customer's home, online or by phone? Include the cancellation notice. The quote generator adds it to quotes.

Worked example

A kitchen fitter quotes £6,800 and asks for a £1,500 deposit to order the units, about 22% of the total, due by Friday 30 October. The email says what it covers, gives the £5,300 balance, the bank details and the refund term, and, because the contract was agreed in the customer's home, the 14-day cancellation notice.

The UK rules behind it

• Fair terms. A term requiring a consumer who decides not to go ahead to pay a disproportionately high sum in compensation or for services not supplied may be unfair (Consumer Rights Act 2015, Schedule 2, paragraph 5, checked 18 October 2026), and unfair terms aren't binding on the consumer (section 62).
• Contracts agreed away from your premises. For contracts agreed in the customer's home you must give a 14-day cancellation notice; if you don't, they can cancel for up to 12 months. Contracts of £42 or less are exempt (GOV.UK: doorstep selling).
• Online and phone bookings. You must tell customers the conditions for any deposit, and how and when they can cancel, before they book (GOV.UK: distance selling).

More: quote follow-up generator · payment terms for trades · cancellation policy generator · payment reminder generator · invoice template

A starting point, not legal advice.

Questions

How do I ask a customer for a deposit?

Say what it's for, the amount, when it's due, how to pay, what the balance is and what happens if they cancel. Send it when they accept the quote, in writing.

How much deposit can a tradesman ask for?

There's no fixed legal amount. Keep it in proportion to your real costs, such as materials ordered for the job. For big jobs, stage payments are fairer than one large deposit.

Are deposits refundable in the UK?

It depends on your terms and the circumstances. A term keeping a deposit that's disproportionately high compared with your loss may be unfair. If the contract was agreed in the customer's home, online or by phone, they may have a 14-day right to cancel.

Should I take a deposit by bank transfer?

Bank transfer is common and cheap. Tell customers you will never change your bank details by email, so they can spot invoice fraud.

Can I text a deposit request?

Yes. Keep it short, include the amount, due date and how to pay, and follow up in writing with the full terms.