How to Collect a Deposit Using Progress Payments
Bolster doesn't have a dedicated "deposit" button — instead, deposits are handled naturally through your payment term type. Every payment term type supports collecting upfront money; the method is just slightly different for each.
👉 Different job setups = slightly different ways to collect that upfront payment
👉 End goal is always the same: get paid before work starts
Why Deposits Matter
Before you start a job, you usually need to:
- Pay for materials
- Lock in the project with the client
- Cover upfront costs (planning, setup, etc.)
Bolster lets you handle all of that through your normal payment flow — no extra steps.
The Simple Idea
A deposit = whatever you choose to bill first.
That could be:
- Materials
- A percentage of the job
- A full stage or phase
Option 1: Bill Materials or Specific Items (Most Flexible)
If you want to control exactly what the deposit includes:
- Go to Progress Payments
- Select the items you want paid upfront (materials, setup, etc.)
- Approve them
- A payment request is automatically sent
Fastest Way (Recommended)
Use Quick Billing → “Bill all materials”
This:
- Pulls material costs from the entire job
- Bundles them into one payment request
- Lets you collect everything upfront in one click
Option 2: Set a Percentage Deposit
If you prefer a standard deposit (like 20% upfront):
- Set up your payment terms as percentages
- Make the first payment your deposit
- Choose the percentage (10–30% is common)
Example:
- Job total: $50,000
- Deposit (20%): $10,000
👉 That first payment becomes your deposit automatically
Option 3: Use the First Stage as Your Deposit
If your job is organized by stages:
- Put all upfront items in the first stage
(materials, planning, setup, etc.) - Approve those items
- The system sends a payment request
👉 That first stage acts as your deposit
Important:
All items in that stage must be approved before the payment request is sent.
Option 4: Use the First Phase as Your Deposit
Same idea as stages, just organized differently.
- Put upfront costs in your first phase
- Approve everything in that phase
- Payment request is triggered
👉 First phase = deposit
What the Client Sees
You can control how the deposit appears:
- Simple total only (cleanest for deposits)
- Show item names (no pricing breakdown)
- Show full breakdown
- Show item-by-item (for detailed jobs)
Most contractors keep deposits simple:
👉 Just the total + due date
What Happens After You Collect the Deposit
Once the deposit is paid:
- You continue billing as work progresses
- Each approval creates a new payment request
- Everything flows normally
Important Rules to Know
- There is no separate deposit feature
→ It’s just your first payment - You control the deposit by what you approve first
- “Bill all materials” is the fastest way to collect upfront costs
- If you’re using stages or phases:
→ All items must be approved to trigger payment - Once you send a deposit invoice, it’s locked
→ It won’t change, even if the job changes later
Choosing the Right Approach
- Want to collect materials upfront → Bill items or use “Bill all materials”
- Want a simple percentage → Use a % deposit
- Running jobs by schedule → Use first stage
- Running jobs by phases → Use first phase