Get paid before each phase starts

Split one freelance project fee into a deposit, milestones, and a final balance—then copy payment terms that make every checkpoint clear.

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Payment schedule

Live result

CurrencyTotal project feeExpected payment fee 3.5%

Choose a starting schedule

DepositDue when the booking is confirmed

%$1,200.00

Milestone paymentDue after the first agreed phase is approved

%$900.00

Final paymentDue before final files, access, or launch

%$900.00

Expected net after payment fees$2,895.00The schedule totals 100% of $3,000.00. Tax is not included.

CLIENT-READY PAYMENT TERMS

Total project fee: $3,000.00. Payment schedule: 40% deposit ($1,200.00) — due when the booking is confirmed; 30% milestone payment ($900.00) — due after the first agreed phase is approved; 30% final payment ($900.00) — due before final files, access, or launch. Work begins after the deposit is received. Each next phase begins after the previous milestone and payment are confirmed. Final files, access, or launch are released after the final balance clears.

Your figures stay in this browser. Estimates only—not financial, tax, or legal advice.

01PROTECT CASH FLOW

Do not leave the whole fee until the end

A payment schedule reduces the amount of completed work sitting unpaid. Tie each payment to an objective event: booking confirmation, an agreed phase approval, a working version, or the release of final files.

Short project: a 50% deposit and 50% before final delivery may be enough.
Medium project: a deposit, one milestone, and a final balance spread risk more evenly.
Longer project: two milestone payments can keep cash flow aligned with completed work.

02TIE MONEY TO PHASES

Make the payment boundary the scope boundary

Before each next phase begins, confirm what was completed, what was approved, and whether payment cleared. If the client adds a deliverable after a phase closes, quote it separately or place it into a later phase.

Each checkpoint should state

1. Deliverables completed in the phase 2. Approval needed from the client 3. Payment amount and due trigger 4. What begins after payment 5. What counts as a separate change request

03WRITE THE TRIGGERS

Percentages are not enough on their own

“40% / 30% / 30%” tells the client the amounts but not when they become due. Add a clear trigger for every payment and state what is withheld until the final balance clears. Avoid vague wording such as “when the client is happy.”

04中文快速說明

將收款時間同工作階段綁定

先收訂金先開始；完成並確認一個階段後，收到該期款項先進入下一階段；尾數收妥先交付最終檔案、帳戶權限或正式上線。每個付款節點都要寫清楚金額、觸發條件同未付款時會暫停嘅工作。

Common questions

What payment schedule should a freelancer use?

There is no universal split. A short, low-risk project may suit 50% upfront and 50% before delivery. Longer projects often benefit from a deposit, one or two milestone payments, and a final balance tied to clear phase approvals.

Should the final payment be due before delivery?

Many freelancers make the final balance due before releasing final files, production access, publication, or launch. State the trigger, amount, and due date in writing before work begins.

Do milestone payments help with scope creep?

They can create clear checkpoints. Each checkpoint can confirm completed deliverables, approval, payment, and whether a new request belongs in the current phase or needs a separate quote.

Are my project figures stored?

No. The calculator runs in the browser and does not submit your project fee, schedule, or copied payment terms to this website.