Payment Guide
How to Send Deposit & Balance Payment Links — UK Freelancer Guide
Learn how to take deposits upfront, collect the remaining balance later, and automate the full payment process. Perfect for trades, freelancers, and any business needing staged payments.
If your business requires a deposit upfront and the remaining balance later , this guide shows you the best way to collect both payments quickly and professionally. Staged payments are common across UK trades, freelancers, creatives, and service businesses — but most payment apps don't make it easy.
Whether it's a cleaning job, a tattoo appointment, a dog boarding service, a driving instructor, or a wedding deposit — taking a deposit helps secure commitment and reduces cancellations.
In this guide, you'll learn:
- How deposits + balances work
- When to request a deposit (and how much)
- How to send a deposit link and a balance link separately
- Why deposits reduce cancellations dramatically
- How Simply Link automates both payments and reminders
What Are Deposit & Balance Payments?
A deposit payment secures the booking or service. The client pays part of the total upfront. The balance payment is paid at a later date — usually on the job day, after completion, or before the event.
Businesses use staged payments to:
- Secure commitment from clients
- Reduce cancellations and no-shows
- Cover upfront costs (materials, travel, time)
- Protect yourself from last-minute dropouts
Deposits dramatically increase reliability — clients with money down are far more committed.
Who Uses Deposit & Balance Payments?
This payment model is extremely common across UK service businesses.
- Tattoo artists
- Photographers & videographers
- Tradespeople (plumbing, electrics, building)
- Wedding & event services
- Dog groomers & pet boarders
- Hairdressers & beauty therapists
- Driving instructors
- Freelancers & consultants
If your work requires commitment, preparation, or booking a time slot, deposits are essential.
How to Take a Deposit Payment Manually (Traditional Method)
Most payment providers don't have a simple "deposit + balance" feature, which forces you to do everything manually:
- Create a payment link for the deposit amount
- Send it to the client manually
- Track whether they paid
- Send the balance link later for the rest of the payment
- Chase them if they don't pay (awkward)
This works — but it's slow, messy, and easy to make mistakes.
A Better Way: Send Deposit & Balance Links Instantly with Simply Link
Simply Link makes deposit + balance payments incredibly simple. You can create both links in seconds — with automatic reminders built-in.
- Create a deposit link instantly (e.g., £20 upfront)
- Generate a balance link for the remaining amount (e.g., £80 later)
- Automatic reminders for both deposit *and* balance
- Full payment tracking — see when each link was opened
- No awkward chasing — Simply Link handles reminders
This gives your business a professional, reliable payment flow — without any admin.
Need help creating your first payment link? Learn how to create payment links in seconds.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much should I charge for a deposit?
Most UK businesses charge 10–50% depending on preparation costs and the likelihood of cancellations.
Can clients pay the balance early?
Yes — if they have the link, they can pay anytime.
What happens if a client never pays the balance?
You'll see their full activity history (opens, reminders sent). This makes follow-up easier and more professional.
Can I customise deposit amounts?
Yes — Simply Link allows any amount for both deposit and balance.
Do deposit links expire?
You choose how long they're active for.
Related Guides
Continue learning with these related guides:
Create a Payment Link in Seconds
Learn how to create payment links manually and with Simply Link.
Read guideHow to Chase Late Payments Automatically
Automate payment reminders and reduce late payments.
Read guideHow to Get Paid Faster as a Freelancer
Stop chasing payments and start getting paid in days instead of weeks.
Read guideHow to Request a Deposit Professionally
Learn how to ask clients for a deposit professionally, with UK-specific examples.
Read guideStart Sending Deposit & Balance Payment Links
Create professional deposit links in seconds — with automatic reminders for both payments.
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