It is extremely important to secure a deposit from your client when agreeing to complete a job, such as a web site, the reason? Well here are a few:

A deposit will;

• create confidence between you and your client ensuring you will complete the job
• cover your initial costs
• motivate you to complete the job to a high standard

How much should I ask for a deposit?

This is really a matter of preference, personally I ask for 40% for the following reasons:

• if I ask for any less it does not cover my start up costs and feel that I am working for nothing
• if I ask for any more than 40% I feel demotivated as the final pay of is less than I have already received
• 40% is a substantial deposit, it secures a moral confidence between myself and the client that I will do the work.

You could ask for 20% or 30% deposits, but again this is up to you, however, I would strongly discourage asking for 50% or more as a deposit as it not only demotivates you to do the work, it also can agrivate your client asking for such a high deposit.