Summe — invoice maker for creatives and freelancers

• Every new client, before you know how they pay.
• Jobs where you book crew, kit, travel or materials in advance.
• Dates you block in your calendar and can’t sell twice.
• Long projects, where waiting until the end leaves you unpaid for months.

30–50% of the total is common for creative work. Half is usual for short jobs; on long projects, a smaller deposit followed by stage payments is easier for the client to approve.

Write in your quote whether the deposit is refundable if the client cancels, and agree it before you start. The invoice should match what you agreed.

• Say clearly that it is a deposit, and which quote it refers to.
• The percentage and the amount, and the full price of the project.
• A short due date: on receipt, or before the start date.
• Your payment details, and a Pay now link if you use one.
• Tax as on any invoice. In many countries tax is due on the deposit when it is paid; if in doubt, ask your accountant.

On delivery, send the final invoice for the rest. It should show the full price, the deposit already paid and the balance due, so the client’s accounts match yours.

In Summe Pro, a quote turns into a deposit invoice and then a final invoice: same client, same lines, the next number.

A deposit secures the booking. Stage payments split a long project into parts, for example on booking, halfway and on delivery. A retainer is a fixed amount every month for ongoing work.

For retainers, Summe Pro can repeat the invoice every month with the next number.

• Ask for the deposit in the quote, not after the client says yes.
• Don’t book crew or start work until the deposit is paid.
• Keep the same lines in the quote, the deposit and the final invoice.
• Send a friendly reminder the day after the due date.

Yes. On Free you can write the deposit as a line on a normal invoice. The automatic quote → deposit → final invoice flow comes with Pro.

30–50% is common. Half suits short jobs; on long projects, a smaller deposit plus stage payments is easier to approve.

It depends on what you agreed. Write your cancellation terms in the quote so both sides know before work starts.

Usually yes, as on any invoice. The rules depend on your country, so check with your accountant if you’re not sure.

Yes, with Pro. Paste your Stripe, PayPal or Wise link and it becomes a Pay now button on the PDF.

Yes. Free has unlimited invoices with no account and no card. Pro is one payment, no subscription, and adds the extra designs, quotes, deposits and reminders.