How much should a deposit be?

For most trades, 25% covers materials or reserves calendar time. For larger jobs with expensive parts, 50% is standard. Above $10k, some pros invoice progress payments (30/30/40) instead of a lump deposit.

Are deposits refundable?

That's a contract question, not an invoicing one. Glo Invoice lets you refund a deposit any time from the invoice — but whether you're obligated to refund depends on your terms. Put your cancellation policy in the invoice notes.

Does the customer need a Glo Invoice account?

No. The pay link opens a public checkout — card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, or ACH. No signup, no login.

How is the balance tracked?

The deposit invoice is linked to the original estimate. When you send the final invoice, Glo Invoice pre-fills the total minus what's already paid.

Deposit invoicing that actually gets funded before you show up

The single biggest reason small jobs go sideways is starting work before the deposit clears. A deposit invoice fixes that: the customer sees a real bill with a real pay link, taps it, and you get an email that the money's on its way.

Glo Invoice lets you take a deposit off a job or estimate without recreating anything. One tap, choose the percentage or amount, and the customer gets a text with the pay link.

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How Glo Invoice does it

Deposit off an estimate — one tap

Turn any approved estimate into a deposit invoice for 25%, 50%, or a custom amount. The rest of the balance stays queued for a progress or final invoice. Nothing typed twice.

Preset 25% / 50% / 100% or type a custom amount
Balance auto-tracked against the estimate total
Customer sees deposit and remaining balance side-by-side

Card, Apple Pay, ACH — customer chooses

Deposits should be frictionless. Glo Invoice pay links accept card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and ACH bank transfer. The customer isn't sent through a signup wall.

One-tap payment on mobile
ACH for larger deposits (lower fees)
Instant confirmation to your phone

Refund-ready receipts

Every deposit generates a real receipt customers can screenshot or forward to accounting. If a job is cancelled, refund the deposit right from the invoice — Glo Invoice logs the refund and keeps your books straight.

How it works

Step 1
Estimate or bill first
Send the estimate — or skip straight to a deposit invoice if the customer's already committed.
Step 2
Pick the deposit amount
25%, 50%, or a custom dollar amount. Glo Invoice calculates the balance automatically.
Step 3
Customer pays by text
One-tap pay link goes over SMS. Card, Apple Pay, or ACH — customer picks.
Step 4
Start the job
You get an instant notification the deposit cleared. Balance stays queued for the final invoice.

Built for jobs that need money down

Any trade where the customer needs skin in the game before you order parts, block off calendar time, or drive out to the site.

Contractors Landscapers Event planners Photographers Movers

Frequently asked

Related in Glo Invoice

Estimate software How to accept credit card payments Progress billing Retainer invoicing Payment tracking Late fee calculator

Get the deposit before the drive out

Send your first deposit invoice in under a minute. 14-day free trial. Card required — cancel anytime before it ends.

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