Deposit invoice template
A deposit invoice bills part of the job price before work starts. It shows the full project total, the deposit amount or percentage, the due date, and states that the deposit will be subtracted from the final invoice.
A filled-in example
Deposit due before materials are ordered. It will be credited on your final invoice.
Bayview Tile and Bath
office.bayview@example.com · (555) 010-4127
Invoice
INV-1042-D
Bill to
Carmen Ruiz
Due
October 20, 2026
Amount due
$4,350.00
| Description | Qty | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 30% deposit on bathroom remodel, Estimate #1042 (project total $14,500) | 1 | $4,350.00 |
- Total
- $4,350.00
Deposit due before materials are ordered. It will be credited on your final invoice.
Make your deposit invoice
Enter the job total and the deposit, and the invoice shows the deposit due now. Download a free PDF.
Your business
Invoice
INV-0001
Bill to
Client name
Due
October 21, 2026
Amount due
$4,350.00
| Description | Qty | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 30% deposit on bathroom remodel, Estimate #1042 (project total $14,500) | 1 | $4,350.00 |
- Total
- $4,350.00
Deposit due before materials are ordered. It will be credited on your final invoice.
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How do I invoice a deposit and then the balance?
Send two invoices. The first bills the deposit as soon as the client accepts the estimate. The second, sent when the work is done, lists the full job and subtracts the deposit already paid, so the client pays only the balance.
On the deposit invoice, show the project total so the client sees what the deposit is part of, then a single line such as '30% deposit on bathroom remodel, Estimate #1042.' On the final invoice, list every line from the job and any approved changes, then 'Less deposit received' with the date and amount. Use the same estimate or project number on both so the payments are easy to match.
In Invoicefy, an accepted proposal becomes an invoice in one click and you can add a deposit to it. Payments are recorded as cash, check, bank transfer or other, so you can see what is still owed. For a single deposit invoice without an account, use the free generator.
| Deposit invoice | Final invoice | |
|---|---|---|
| When to send | When the client accepts the estimate | When the work is complete |
| Line items | One deposit line tied to the estimate | Every job line plus approved changes |
| Amount due | The deposit only | Job total minus the deposit paid |
| Due date | Before work starts or materials are ordered | Your normal terms, such as on receipt or Net 15 |
How much should a deposit be?
There is no single standard. The deposit usually reflects what you spend or give up before the client pays anything, such as materials, special orders or a date you hold for them. The amounts below are examples only, not rules.
Some states limit how much a contractor can collect before starting work on a home, and some set rules for how deposits must be handled. Check your state's rules before you choose an amount for home improvement work.
| Job example | Example total | Example deposit | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small repair or punch list | $400 | None, or materials only | Little up-front cost |
| Interior painting | $4,800 | $500 | Books the date and buys paint |
| Wedding photography | $5,000 | $1,500 retainer | Holds a date you can't resell |
| Bathroom remodel | $14,500 | $4,350 (30%) | Covers tile, fixtures and scheduling |
| Special-order cabinets | $9,000 | 50% of the item cost | Material can't be returned |
What should a deposit invoice say?
Keep the wording short and specific. Name the project, the estimate it comes from, the amount and what happens to the money.
Example wording: 'This invoice is for a 30% deposit on the bathroom remodel described in Estimate #1042, accepted on March 3. Work is scheduled to begin March 17 once the deposit is received. The deposit will be credited on your final invoice.'
If the deposit is nonrefundable, or refundable only under certain conditions, say so in plain words, and make sure it matches your contract and your state's rules.
Questions people ask
Not quite. A proforma invoice is a preview of a future bill and usually doesn't ask for payment. A deposit invoice is a real request for part of the price now. See Proforma Invoice: What It Is, Example and Template for when each one fits.
It depends on your state and what you sell. In some places tax is due when payment is received, in others when goods are delivered. Ask your accountant or state tax agency, and treat the deposit and final invoice consistently.
Your estimate or contract should say what happens. A common approach keeps enough of the deposit to cover materials already bought or time already reserved and refunds the rest. State rules may limit what you can keep on some home improvement jobs.
Yes. Long jobs often use a deposit on acceptance and then progress payments at milestones. Each one is its own invoice, and the final invoice subtracts everything already paid. See Progress Billing for Contractors: How It Works, Examples for how to set milestones.
Yes. Give every invoice a unique number, and reference the estimate or project number on both the deposit and final invoices so your records and the client's line up.
Take the deposit before you start.
Put the deposit on the invoice in Invoicefy, send the link, and on Pro your client pays it by card or PayPal. Free to start.
