Getting paid
Deposit vs stage payments for a trades job
Choose deposits or stage payments according to the work, cash commitments and agreement, not a universal percentage.
The short answer
Choose deposits or stage payments according to the work, cash commitments and agreement, not a universal percentage.
Choose deposits or stage payments according to the work, cash commitments and agreement, not a universal percentage. A deposit may address an initial commitment; stage payments may suit work delivered over time. Both need clear terms and correct records.
Explore the wider invoicing and getting paid guides for the steps around this decision.
Compare the practical choices
| Approach | Decision to document |
|---|---|
| Deposit before work | What it secures, amount, timing and applicable terms |
| Stage payment | The defined stage and when payment becomes due |
| Payment on completion | How completion and the agreed bill are established |
For consumer work, use current CCPC guidance and appropriate advice. Do not assume a deposit is automatically non-refundable or that a label overrides consumer rights.
An illustrative project arrangement
An example project requires materials before the first visit and has separately agreed delivery stages. The business and customer define the payments and what each relates to. The office records amounts received without treating them as proof all work is complete.
| Record | Keep separate |
|---|---|
| Agreement | Scope, stages and payment conditions |
| Receipt | Actual amount and date |
| Work | Completed stage and remaining scope |
| Invoice/balance | Correct document treatment and remaining amount |
Check deposit and invoice treatment with the accountant. Cash received and profit earned are not interchangeable measures.
JobDiary connects work, invoices and part-payment records. This guide does not promise an automated stage-billing function or legally approved payment terms. Use the supported record and a properly reviewed agreement so both parties can understand the work and money position.
Connect this to the next step
Continue with How to invoice on the day a job is finished. If the next issue is elsewhere in the workflow, use How to spot jobs that were completed but never invoiced.
See the JobDiary product tour to check how the product supports this work. Use the current product description and a trial to verify the fit for your business.
Sources and scope
Source scope reviewed on 1 October 2026. Worked examples are illustrative; they are not market averages or customer results.
When it is in JobDiary.
The method above is the point. This is what it looks like when the diary is doing it for you.
See how it works| Time | Job | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 08:30 | 7 The GreenMow, edge, hedge | Done |
| 09:15 | 23 Seabury DriveMow, weed | Done |
| 10:00 | 9 Brookfield LawnMow, feed | In progress |
| 11:05 | 12 Castle ParkMow, hedge rear | Next |
| 12:00 | 31 Church RoadMow | Scheduled |
| 13:15 | 18 The RiseMow, edge, bins out | Scheduled |
Product screens use demonstration data.
What this guide is based on
JobDiary was developed around a real Co. Louth trades operation with2 vans and live business records since 2025. This guide provides an editorial framework; worked examples are illustrative. Product screenshots use demonstration data.
