Custom embroidery means buying blanks and investing time before you get paid. Smart deposit and invoicing practices protect your cash flow and weed out customers who never intended to pay.
Always Take a Deposit on Custom Work
For custom orders, require a deposit up front — commonly 50%, or enough to cover your blank and material costs. This protects you if the customer disappears and signals a serious buyer.
Invoice Clearly
- •Itemize products, quantities, and personalization
- •State the deposit paid and balance due
- •Include turnaround and payment terms
- •Note your policies on changes and cancellations
- •Make payment easy with clear instructions
Collect the Balance Before Delivery
Require the balance before you ship or hand over the order. Never release custom work hoping to be paid later.
Terms for Business Clients
Established corporate clients may expect net-30 invoicing. Offer it selectively to trusted, repeat accounts, but keep deposits for new and one-off custom orders.
Quote accurately by checking stitch counts first:
Open the Converter →No Deposit, No Start
Make a deposit your firm policy on custom work. It protects your time and materials and filters out tire-kickers.
Deposits and clear invoicing keep your cash flow healthy and your risk low. Take money up front on custom work, invoice clearly, and collect the balance before delivery.