Advance payments build trust when terms are clear — and destroy it when they are not. The template terms below protect your cash flow AND the customer's confidence.
The deposit structure (the standard that works) - Small orders (under PKR 25,000): 50% advance, 50% on delivery - Medium (25k–150k): 40% booking / 40% mid-milestone / 20% handover - Large/custom (150k+): 30% / 30% / 30% / 10% final after acceptance Percentages vary by industry; the PRINCIPLE never does: no 100% upfront (scares buyers), no 100% on delivery (attracts non-payers).
The milestone language (what 'done' means) Every milestone needs a definition in writing: 'Design milestone = homepage + inner page mockups delivered for review. Two revision rounds included. Additional rounds: PKR X.' The dispute is always about the word 'done' — define it before the money moves.
The refund rules (stated before, applied after) - Client cancels before work starts: advance refunded minus a fixed processing % - Cancels mid-milestone: completed milestones retained, unstarted refunded - Client-caused delay (content not provided, approvals pending) 30+ days: project may be invoiced to date Fair, boring, in writing — the three properties that make refunds non-emotional.
The WhatsApp confirmation template (the dispute-killer) 'Confirming: [service], total PKR [X]. Advance today: PKR [Y] via [method]. Milestones: [1: date], [2: date]. Delivery: [date]. Revisions: [n] rounds. — [Business name]' One message, both parties, screenshot saved. Eighty percent of Pakistani business disputes die at this message.
The receipts discipline Every payment: receipt in the wallet/panel, referenced against the confirmation message. The paper trail is the relationship's memory — and your legal position if it ever needs one.
Clear terms are not distrust — they are the trust. The businesses that publish them are the ones that still have customers when the difficult invoice arrives.