Most mowing operators only think about payment after the job. By then the fuel is burnt, the green waste is tipped, and getting paid depends on the customer remembering. A deposit flips that: the customer commits money at the same moment they commit to the booking.
This guide is about setting the deposit habit up properly: which jobs need one, how much to take, and what the policy says. For payment terms and overdue accounts, see the guide to getting paid faster.
What a deposit fixes
It also changes who books. A customer who pays a deposit has already decided. A free booking is still a maybe.
- No-shows and "forgot you were coming" locked gates
- Bookings from people who were never going to pay: a booking that asks for a card filters them out
- Money out of your pocket on big one-offs: overgrown clean-ups, tip fees, turf and mulch
- The awkward conversation on the day: the price was agreed and part-paid before you arrived
Which jobs should take a deposit
These are starting points, not rules. Pick an amount customers will accept without a phone call, and keep it the same for each service so nobody has to ask.
| Job type | Suggested approach | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Regular fortnightly mow | Deposit on the first booking, or none for proven regulars | Do not add friction for your best customers once trust is earned |
| One-off mow, standard block | Fixed deposit, or full prepayment | Protects against no-shows from customers you have never met |
| Overgrown or end-of-lease clean-up | Percentage deposit, balance after the job | More hours, tip fees and higher exposure |
| Turf, mulch or garden work | Larger percentage deposit or full prepayment | You buy materials before you start |
| Strata and commercial | Usually invoiced on their terms | Property managers rarely pay deposits; price the terms in |
Fixed amount, percentage, or pay in full
A fixed deposit suits standard services where the price barely moves. A percentage scales with bigger jobs, so a large clean-up carries a larger deposit without you working it out each time. Full prepayment suits small one-off jobs where splitting the payment is more admin than it is worth.
In AppFlow you choose this per service: no deposit, a fixed amount, a percentage, or full payment upfront. The booking page asks for it at checkout, so the rule applies itself.
How deposits work in AppFlow
Connect your own Stripe or Square account
Payments settle directly into your account. AppFlow never holds your funds.
Set the deposit on each service
A fixed amount or a percentage, or full payment upfront. Different services can follow different rules.
The customer pays when they book
They book from your website or booking link and pay the deposit at checkout. Bookings that never finish paying are released, so a slot is not held forever.
Collect the balance after the job
The deposit is recorded on the booking, so the balance is collected against the same booking and customer record.
Reminders cut no-shows further
Confirmation and reminder messages go out by email and SMS, so customers know you are coming.
Writing a deposit policy customers accept
The refund rules are yours to set. Write them down, apply them the same way every time, and check your obligations under Australian Consumer Law with your adviser.
- Show the deposit amount on the booking page, before checkout, not after
- Say what happens if they cancel, and how much notice they need to give
- Rain: say the deposit carries over to the rescheduled visit
- No access: say whether a locked gate or a loose dog counts as a visit
- Keep it to a few lines; nobody reads a page of terms to book a mow
What it costs
AppFlow is from $39 a month (AUD, no lock-in), and deposits come with the same account as your website, online bookings, customer records and staff app. Stripe or Square processing fees apply as normal.
Comparing every option
This guide covers one part of the job. For the full side-by-side of AppFlow, ServiceM8, Tradify, Jobber, simPRO and AroFlo for an Australian mowing round, see the software hub.
Frequently asked questions
Should a lawn mowing business take deposits?+
For new one-off customers, overgrown clean-ups and jobs with materials, yes. For proven fortnightly regulars it is often unnecessary. Setting the deposit per service lets you do both without deciding job by job.
How much deposit should a lawn care business take?+
There is no industry standard. A fixed amount works for standard mows; a percentage works better for larger jobs because it scales with the price. Choose an amount that covers a wasted trip on small jobs and your materials on big ones.
Where does the deposit money go?+
Into your own Stripe or Square account. Each business connects its own account in AppFlow and payments settle directly to it.
What happens to the deposit if it rains?+
That is your policy to set. Most operators carry the deposit over to the rescheduled visit rather than refunding it, and say so on the booking page so nobody is surprised.
How is this different from getting paid faster?+
The getting paid faster guide covers payment terms, invoices and overdue accounts. This guide covers the step before that: taking money at the point of booking so there is less left to chase.