<b>New to deals? Start here: the deposit</b>

<b>New to deals? Start here: the deposit</b>

A deposit is part of your fee paid <i>before</i> you start working. It protects you from doing a full job for a brand that vanishes at invoice time.

Why it matters: the most dangerous moment is between "yes" and "paid." A deposit closes that gap and tells you the brand is real.

Example: $1,200 deal, 50% deposit. You collect $600 before filming, $600 after the post goes live. If they ghost, you're not wiped out.

For a new brand you've never worked with, deposit isn't rude — it's standard.

Your move: make it a habit. "I require 50% upfront to lock the date, balance on delivery." Brands that argue this hard are the ones you most needed it from.