calculator

Material Deposit Calculator

Set a deposit that funds early project costs without overreaching.

Who it is for: UK self-employed tradespeople and small trade contractors.

What you get: Suggested deposit range, the amount, and the cost you still carry.

How this calculation works

This tool runs in your browser. No data is sent to our servers. Below are the assumptions used.

The deposit is justified by costs you actually incur early, plus a small allowance for customer risk.
Suggestions are capped at 50% because higher domestic deposits are usually resisted and can undermine trust.
Consumer cancellation rights and any contractual terms still apply regardless of the deposit taken.

Your figures

Live

Money you spend before being paid£2,280.00
Materials £2,100.00 + early subcontractors £0.00 + hire £180.00.
That as a share of the job35.6%
Early outlay ÷ job value. This is the honest justification you give the customer for the deposit.
Suggested deposit40.6%
Cost share 35.6% plus a 5-point allowance for a first-time domestic customer.
Deposit amount£2,600.00
40.6% of £6,400.00.
Cost still funded by you£0.00
Early outlay less the deposit. You carry this for roughly 0 days beyond your supplier terms.

Deposits should be proportionate to costs you genuinely incur early. Taking money far in advance of any work can undermine trust and, for consumer contracts, cancellation rights still apply.

How this is worked out

The deposit is justified by costs you actually incur early, plus a small allowance for customer risk.
Suggestions are capped at 50% because higher domestic deposits are usually resisted and can undermine trust.
Consumer cancellation rights and any contractual terms still apply regardless of the deposit taken.

Results are planning aids based on figures you enter. They are not financial, tax or legal advice, and no price is guaranteed to be accepted.

Hypothetical worked examples

To help you understand the outputs, here are illustrative examples generated using the same logic.

Illustrative example 1: A sole trader working 30 billable hours per week with £18,000 in annual overheads needs to recover £11.54 per hour before any profit is added. If they want a £35,000 target owner pay before personal tax, the true hourly rate rises to around £28–£32 based on the inputs entered.

Illustrative example 2: A small team with a van, premises and two employees requires a higher day rate to cover shared operational costs. The calculator shows the break-even point clearly so the business owner can set a rate that covers all costs before profit is considered.

Disclosed partner offer

The account or card most trades use for this

A referral reward is not a recommendation. Check the terms and decide on the numbers you have just worked out.

Business bank account

Free Tide business account with invoicing and payment links — plus up to £200 with code REFER200, subject to the qualifying steps and Tide's live terms.

£200 free cash when you open a Tide business account with code REFER200

Referral codeClick to copy

Claim £200 free Tide referral code REFER200

T&Cs apply. £75 free when you complete transactions of £100 within 30 days, and another £125 free when you deposit at least £5,000 in a Tide Instant Saver within 7 days. Affiliate link.

Where this fits

Paperwork that goes with it

A one-page justification for the deposit you are asking for, in the customer's language.

Material Deposit Worksheet