There’s a mutual element of trust in every business transaction. But everyone has some skin in the game. At the time we complete your project, whether one day or several months, we will be much more invested in you than you are in us. A deposit ensures that you are serious about proceeding so that we can keep a place for you on our list, and that you will be able to pay your final bill once the project is complete. The level of deposit we will accept depends on several factors. Certain materials we order are special order and cannot be returned. Many projects have a long duration, and we need to be able to keep paying bills and payroll every week. Sometimes there is a lengthy payment process, such as when a mortgage company and/or insurance company is involved. They will require paperwork and often third party inspections before they release payments. We are a small business, not a bank.  So down payments help build trust while also allowing us to keep our lights on and focus on providing the best customer experience there is.