How much of a deposit is normal before work begins — and when a deposit demand is a warning sign.
A reasonable deposit secures your spot and lets a professional buy materials. An unreasonable one — a large share of the total, demanded in cash, up front — transfers all the risk to you. The size and form of the deposit tell you a lot.
— WikiQuestions editorial guidance
Table of Contents
What a Normal Deposit Looks Like
Deposits vary by trade and job size, but a modest percentage tied to securing the work or materials is typical. A demand for a large fraction of the total up front is a warning sign, as covered in 7 Red Flags That Apply to Every Trade.
Cash-Only Is the Real Red Flag
However large, a deposit demanded in cash removes your paper trail and recourse. Traceable payment protects you — a theme in How to Spot a Contractor Scam: The Complete Playbook.
Tie Payment to Progress
Beyond the deposit, payments should follow completed work, not precede it. Structures that protect you are in Payment Schedules That Protect You.
The Deposit Scam
The classic con takes a deposit and vanishes. How it works and how to avoid it is in The Deposit Scam: How It Works and How to Avoid It.