Is a deposit invoice a real invoice?

Yes. It has its own number and is recorded like any other invoice.

Is a deposit refundable?

Only if your agreement says so. State it in the contract, not just the invoice.

Do I charge tax on a deposit?

In many countries, yes: tax is often due when payment is received. Check the rule where you're registered.

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Ask for 50% before you start. How to invoice a deposit, and then the balance

Souptik Debnath · 14 October 2026 · 5 min read

Quire

Half now.Half on delivery.

Deposits · 5 min read

Short answerSend a deposit invoice before work starts for an agreed share of the fee, often 30–50%, with its own number and a short due date. When the work is done, send the final invoice for the full fee, subtract the deposit already paid, and show the balance due.

The client who pays half up front is the client who answers your emails. A deposit does three things at once: it proves they're serious, it pays for your first weeks, and if the project is cancelled, you've already been paid for the work you did.

It costs you one extra invoice.

How much to ask for

50%: common for new clients and design or build projects.
30%: for larger projects with milestones after it.
100% upfront: small jobs, rush work, or a client who has paid late before.

The deposit invoice: one line, due now

It's a normal invoice with its own number. One line: "Brand and website, 50% deposit, $3,000." Make it due on receipt or within a few days, and say work starts once it's paid. Put the deposit in your agreement first so it isn't a surprise.

The final invoice: full fee, minus what they paid

Show the full fee, then Deposit paid −$3,000, then Balance due $3,000. Quote the deposit invoice's number so accounts can match the two. In Quire, enter the deposit paid and the amount due updates itself.

From signed agreement to deposit invoice in one click

If you write the agreement in Quire, the deposit is already in it. Bill from this creates the deposit invoice; the next time, it creates the balance. Both carry "Per agreement C-001". More on structuring the rest of a project in hourly vs fixed-price invoicing.

Questions

Is a deposit invoice a real invoice?: Yes. It has its own number and is recorded like any other invoice.
Is a deposit refundable?: Only if your agreement says so. State it in the contract, not just the invoice.
Do I charge tax on a deposit?: In many countries, yes: tax is often due when payment is received. Check the rule where you're registered.

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