Deposit Terms

What it does

• A deposit buys your calendar, not the deliverable.
• The clause states the amount, the trigger and the refund position.
• Work starts when the deposit clears, not when it is promised.

How to use it

1. Call it a reservation fee if the project has a long lead time.
2. State what the deposit covers: calendar, not hours.
3. Set the start date from the cleared date, not the signature date.
4. Keep the refund rule to one sentence in the agreement.

Safety notes

• A refundable deposit is not a commitment.
• Do not begin work on a promised deposit; begin when it clears.