Why take a deposit
A deposit does two jobs. It pays for materials you have to order before you start, so you're not out of pocket if the job falls through, and it tells you the customer is serious about the date you've kept free for them.
There's no set amount in law. Ask for enough to cover what you'll spend before the first day, mainly materials ordered for that job, and say what it's for. A customer can see why £600 is needed for a bathroom suite ordered in their name; a round number with no reason is harder to agree to.
Put it on the quote
Agree the deposit in writing before you order anything. The quote should say:
- How much, and what it covers. "Deposit £600 towards the suite and tiles, ordered once this is paid."
- When it's due, and that you'll order materials and confirm the start date once it's in.
- How the rest is paid. The balance on completion, or stage payments for a longer job (see payment terms).
- How to pay, with your bank details and a reference, or a payment link.
- What happens if they cancel, including their right to cancel below when it applies.
Take off the deposit on the final invoice and show it as a line, so the customer sees what's left to pay. The free invoice template has room for it.
A homeowner's 14 days to cancel
This is the part most trades miss. Under the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013, a homeowner can usually cancel within 14 days of agreeing the job, for no reason, and get their money back, if the job was agreed:
- At their home, or anywhere that isn't your business premises, such as when you price it up on the driveway and they say yes; or
- At a distance, by phone, email, WhatsApp or a link, without meeting you at your premises.
Most trade jobs are agreed one of those two ways. When the right applies:
- Tell them about it in writing. Give the cancellation information and a cancellation form before they're bound. For a job agreed at their home this has to be on paper, or by email or another lasting form if they agree. The regulations include model wording and a model form you can use.
- If you don't, the 14 days can stretch to up to 12 months, and for a job agreed at their home, not giving the information is a criminal offence.
- Refund the deposit within 14 days if they cancel in time, the same way they paid.
- To start inside the 14 days, get their request in writing (a text or email they send counts as a lasting record). If they then cancel, they pay for the work done up to that point.
When it doesn't apply
- Jobs agreed at your own business premises, like a showroom or shop.
- Jobs agreed at their home where the price is £42 or less.
- Urgent repairs they called you out for, though extra work or parts beyond the urgent repair are covered.
- Goods made to the customer's own specification, such as a made-to-measure kitchen or bespoke units.
- Business customers, such as landlords with a company, letting agents and shops.
Read the rules for yourself in the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013, regulations 27 to 38, with the model wording in Schedule 3. Your local Trading Standards can advise on a particular job.
Wording you can adapt
For the quote:
To book your start date, please pay a deposit of £600 towards the suite and tiles. Once it's in, I'll order them and confirm the date. The balance of £1,650 is due when the work is finished. If you'd like me to start within 14 days, please reply to say so.
When the deposit arrives:
Thanks, your deposit of £600 is in. The suite and tiles are ordered and I'll see you on Monday 9 November at 8am.
Deposits in Knockround
In Knockround, add a deposit to the quote and it shows with your bank details, so the customer can pay it by transfer when they accept. The quote goes by WhatsApp, text, email or a link, the customer taps Accept and the job moves to Booked. When the work's done, the invoice has a Pay button for Apple Pay, Google Pay or card.
Try it on the jobs board demo, with made-up customers. It's free for 7 days with no card needed, then £19.99 a month.
Written by the Knockround team and checked against the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 on legislation.gov.uk on 29 October 2026. This is a guide, not legal advice.