{"id":17467,"date":"2025-11-19T05:19:16","date_gmt":"2025-11-19T05:19:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/i4tbusiness.com\/au\/?p=17467"},"modified":"2025-12-22T02:13:07","modified_gmt":"2025-12-22T02:13:07","slug":"cash-flow-for-field-service-deposits-milestones-progress-claims-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/i4tbusiness.com\/au\/cash-flow-for-field-service-deposits-milestones-progress-claims-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Cash Flow for Field Service: Deposits, Milestones &amp; Progress Claims"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"17467\" class=\"elementor elementor-17467\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0b9c98b e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"0b9c98b\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c643502 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"c643502\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Most tradies don\u2019t go into business because they love spreadsheets and cash flow forecasts. You start because you\u2019re good with the tools, you care about quality work, and you want the freedom to run jobs your way. But before long, you realise something: being busy doesn\u2019t always mean there\u2019s money in the bank.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In field service and trades, money often goes out before it comes in. You pay for materials, wages, fuel and time well before you issue a final invoice. If that invoice is delayed, disputed or ignored, you\u2019re suddenly bearing all the risk.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That\u2019s where smart cashflow for field service comes in. It\u2019s not just about chasing overdue invoices. It\u2019s about designing payment structures that support your business from day one. Three tools make the biggest difference:<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Deposits<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Milestone payments<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Progress claims<\/span><\/li><\/ul><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Used properly, these turn your jobs into a steady flow of income instead of a big lump sum at the end. In this article, we\u2019ll walk through how each one works, when to use it, and how job management software like i4T Business can make the whole process simple and repeatable.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4cff241 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"4cff241\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Deposits: Starting Every Job on Solid Ground\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ba301dc elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ba301dc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Deposits are the first and simplest way to protect your cash flow. Instead of carrying all the risk upfront, you share it with the customer in a fair and transparent way.<\/span><\/p><p><b>Why Deposits Matter for Tradies<\/b><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A deposit is an upfront payment made by the customer to confirm a job. It shows they\u2019re serious and gives you enough money to cover those early costs that always pop up before you even arrive on site.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Those costs often include:<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Materials and special-order parts<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Time spent quoting, planning and scheduling<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Blocking out a day or more for your team<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fuel and travel<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/><br \/><\/span><\/li><\/ul><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Without a deposit, you\u2019re effectively acting as the bank for your customer. If they cancel, delay or vanish, you\u2019re left out of pocket. With a deposit, you\u2019re protected from at least some of that risk and can start the job with confidence instead of worry.<\/span><\/p><p><b>When You Should Ask for a Deposit<\/b><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While you might not bother for a tiny fix, many jobs absolutely should start with a deposit. As a general guide, deposits make sense when:<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The job is worth more than a few hundred dollars<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You need to order gear or custom materials<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You\u2019re dealing with a new or unknown customer<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The job will take more than one visit<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The work is urgent, after-hours or weekend only<\/span><\/li><\/ul><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Many field service businesses work on something like 20\u201350% upfront, depending on the size and type of work. The aim isn\u2019t to bill everything at the start; it\u2019s to cover enough so you aren\u2019t carrying all the early costs on your own.<\/span><\/p><p><b>How to Talk About Deposits Without Feeling Awkward<\/b><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For a lot of tradies, the hardest part of deposits is the conversation. The trick is to build deposits into your process so they feel normal, not negotiable.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can make this easier by:<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Including the deposit clearly on the quote<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Explaining that it covers materials and secures the booking<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Making it easy to pay via card, online link or bank transfer<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Setting the expectation that work is scheduled once the deposit is received<\/span><\/li><\/ul><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A simple line on the quote, like <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cA 30% deposit is required to secure your booking and cover materials,\u201d<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> goes a long way. When customers see this upfront rather than being told later, it feels professional and organised rather than pushy.<\/span><\/p><p><b>Automating Deposits with Field Service Software<\/b><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Deposits really shine when they\u2019re built into your job management system. A good software can:<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Automatically add deposit amounts to certain job types<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Turn an approved quote into a deposit invoice in one click<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Track which jobs are \u201cdeposit paid\u201d versus \u201cdeposit pending\u201d<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Stop jobs from being scheduled before the deposit is received<\/span><\/li><\/ul><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That means less awkward chasing, fewer manual reminders, and a more reliable starting point for every job.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6ba2eae elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"6ba2eae\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Milestone Payments: Keeping Cash Flow Steady During the Job\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-31b089b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"31b089b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Deposits help you at the start. Milestone payments help you stay balanced while the work is happening.<\/span><\/p><p><b>What Are Milestone Payments?<\/b><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Milestone payments break a job into clear stages, with a portion of the total billed at each stage. Instead of waiting for one big amount at the end, you collect smaller amounts as the job moves along.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This suits jobs that:<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Run for several days or weeks<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Involve multiple phases of work<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Require different crews or trades<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Use a lot of materials at different stages<\/span><\/li><\/ul><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Milestones line up your income with your effort. When a stage is done, you get paid for that part. You\u2019re not carrying the entire cost of the job on your shoulders until the finish line.<\/span><\/p><p><b>Examples of Milestones in Field Service<\/b><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Milestones work well because they\u2019re based on real, visible progress. For example:<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For an electrical or HVAC install:<\/span><p>\u00a0<\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Design and site assessment completed<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Materials delivered to the site<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rough-in complete<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Final fit-off and commissioning done<\/span><p>\u00a0<\/p><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For a solar installation:<\/span><p>\u00a0<\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Deposit paid and design approved<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Panels and inverter delivered<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">System installed<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Grid connection or final inspection completed<\/span><p>\u00a0<\/p><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Customers understand these stages, and you can point to them easily on-site. That clarity is what makes milestone billing feel fair to both sides.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-174e3bd elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"174e3bd\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"529\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/i4tbusiness.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/image-40-529x1024.webp\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-17472\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i4tbusiness.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/image-40-529x1024.webp 529w, https:\/\/i4tbusiness.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/image-40-155x300.webp 155w, https:\/\/i4tbusiness.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/image-40-768x1486.webp 768w, https:\/\/i4tbusiness.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/image-40-794x1536.webp 794w, https:\/\/i4tbusiness.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/image-40.webp 827w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 529px) 100vw, 529px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bbe098d e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"bbe098d\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a4f19d2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a4f19d2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><b>How Milestones Help Cash Flow and Reduce Risk<\/b><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Milestone payments smooth your cash flow across the life of a job. You don\u2019t have a big gap where you\u2019re working hard, buying gear and paying wages with nothing coming in.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They also reduce risk. If a customer changes their mind halfway through, or there are delays or scope changes, you\u2019ve already been paid for the work up to that point. You\u2019re not left with a mountain of unpaid labour and materials.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For customers, milestones are reassuring because:<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They can see the progress they\u2019re paying for<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They\u2019re not handing over the entire amount upfront<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They know what\u2019s coming next on the schedule and on the invoice<\/span><\/li><\/ul><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It builds trust and keeps things transparent.<\/span><\/p><p><b>Building Milestone Payments into Your Workflow<\/b><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To make milestones practical instead of painful, it\u2019s worth setting up a simple, repeatable structure.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A typical workflow might look like this:<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You create a quote that clearly shows the milestones and amounts<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The customer approves the quote, knowing when each payment is due<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your team works through the stages on-site<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When a stage is complete, the tech updates the job status<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The office (or system) sends the milestone invoice straight away<\/span><\/li><\/ul><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With FSM software, you can link job statuses to billing triggers. That means when a tech marks \u201cRough-in complete\u201d in the app, the system knows it\u2019s time for the next invoice. You don\u2019t forget to bill, and you don\u2019t wait weeks to charge for work done.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3116a30 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"3116a30\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Progress Claims: Staying Cash-Positive on Long or Complex Projects\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8c7aa4b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8c7aa4b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For bigger, ongoing or commercial jobs, progress claims take over where simple milestones might not be enough.<\/span><\/p><p><b>What Are Progress Claims?<\/b><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Progress claims are invoices based on the percentage of work completed to date. Instead of fixed stages, you look at the job as a whole and bill regularly for the portion that\u2019s been done.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This approach is common in:<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Construction projects<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Government and commercial contracts<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Large-scale or multi-site installations<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Long jobs with lots of moving parts<\/span><\/li><\/ul><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Progress claims are essential when your costs are spread over a long period. They make sure you\u2019re not waiting months to be paid for work you\u2019ve already completed.<\/span><\/p><p><b>When Progress Claims Make Sense<\/b><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Progress claims are especially helpful when:<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Labour runs for weeks or months<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Materials are purchased in stages<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Variations and changes are likely<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You\u2019re reporting to a head contractor or project manager<\/span><\/li><\/ul><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Instead of a lumpy income, progress claims give you a regular flow of cash. That keeps wages, supplier bills and overheads covered while the job is still running.<\/span><\/p><p><b>Why Documentation Is Key<\/b><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Progress claims live or die on how well they\u2019re backed up. Customers and head contractors want to see that your claim matches what\u2019s actually happened on site.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The kind of information that helps includes:<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Timesheets linked to the job<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Site notes and checklists<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Photos showing what\u2019s been done<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A record of materials used<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Details of any variations or extras<\/span><\/li><\/ul><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019ve been tracking all this in your field service system, putting together a progress claim becomes much easier. You\u2019re not guessing or digging through old messages, it\u2019s all there in one place.<\/span><\/p><p><b>Using FSM Data to Create Strong Progress Claims<\/b><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A good FSM platform becomes the \u201csource of truth\u201d for your jobs. As your techs work, they log:<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Time spent on site<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Photos and notes<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Materials consumed<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Job stage updates<\/span><\/li><\/ul><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When it\u2019s time to issue a progress claim, you can pull directly from this data. That means:<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your claims are accurate<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Approvals are faster because everything is documented<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Disputes are reduced because you can show exactly what\u2019s been done<\/span><\/li><\/ul><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Over a long project, that accuracy protects your cash flow and your relationship with the client.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9def7c3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"9def7c3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Turning These Into a Simple Cash Flow System\n\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e63cec4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e63cec4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Deposits, milestones and progress claims aren\u2019t three unrelated tricks. Together, they form a simple system you can use across all your work.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You might use them like this:<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For small, quick jobs, you can skip the deposit for existing, reliable customers, and ask for a small deposit for new clients or material-heavy jobs<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/><br \/><\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For medium-sized residential work, you can ask for a deposit to start, one or two milestone payments during the job, and a final payment at completion.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/><br \/><\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For longer or commercial projects, ask for a deposit or mobilisation fee, and regular progress claims based on percentage completed<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/><br \/><\/span><\/li><\/ul><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The key is to write your own rules so you\u2019re not reinventing it every time.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once these rules are inside your FSM system, your team doesn\u2019t have to remember them \u2014 the software does the heavy lifting.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">i4T Business helps you build those rules into your quoting, scheduling, job tracking and invoicing. Instead of chasing payments and juggling spreadsheets, you\u2019ve got a clear process that keeps money flowing in step with the work you do.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5a1d468 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"5a1d468\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Structure Your Cash Flow So You\u2019re Not Always Chasing It\n\n\n\n\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-893c871 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"893c871\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At the end of the day, cash flow is what keeps your field service business alive. It pays your team, supports your growth and lets you sleep at night instead of stressing about overdue invoices.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1adc042 elementor-blockquote--skin-boxed elementor-blockquote--button-view-text elementor-blockquote--button-skin-classic elementor-widget elementor-widget-blockquote\" data-id=\"1adc042\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"blockquote.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<blockquote class=\"elementor-blockquote\">\n\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-blockquote__content\">\n\t\t\t\tThe smartest tradies don\u2019t leave cash flow to chance. They use deposits, milestone payments and progress claims to protect new jobs, stay balanced and cash-positive.\n\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-q-footer\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=The+smartest+tradies+don%E2%80%99t+leave+cash+flow+to+chance.+They+use+deposits%2C+milestone+payments+and+progress+claims+to+protect+new+jobs%2C+stay+balanced+and+cash-positive.%0A%0A&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fi4tbusiness.com%2Fau%2Fau%2Fcash-flow-for-field-service-deposits-milestones-progress-claims-2%2F\" class=\"elementor-blockquote__tweet-button\" target=\"_blank\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-blockquote__tweet-label\">Tweet<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-190177e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"190177e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">All of this becomes much easier with the right job management platform. i4T Business is designed specifically for tradies and service businesses, helping you build these payment structures into your day-to-day workflows.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you want to improve cashflow for field service, reduce stress and get paid in line with the work you do, i4T Business is a great place to start. You can streamline quoting, automate invoicing, track job progress and turn messy payment habits into a simple, reliable system.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a6ae4f1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"a6ae4f1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">FAQs\n\n\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f458d9d elementor-widget elementor-widget-accordion\" data-id=\"f458d9d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"accordion.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-2561\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"1\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-2561\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Do I really need to ask for deposits on most jobs?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-2561\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"1\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-2561\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You don\u2019t need to on every single job, but for larger, material-heavy or new-customer jobs, deposits make a huge difference. They protect you from cancellations and stop you from funding everything upfront out of your own pocket.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-2562\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"2\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-2562\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">How many milestones should I set for a job?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-2562\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"2\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-2562\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Most jobs work well with two or three milestones. Too many can confuse everyone; too few can leave you financially exposed. Aim for milestones that match natural stages of work the customer can clearly see.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-2563\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"3\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-2563\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">When should I choose progress claims instead of milestones?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-2563\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"3\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-2563\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Progress claims are ideal when jobs are long, complex or under a commercial or construction-style contract. If work stretches over many weeks or months and you\u2019re regularly updating progress, progress claims are usually the better fit.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-2564\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"4\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-2564\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">What if a customer pushes back on deposits or staged payments?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-2564\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"4\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-2564\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That\u2019s usually a sign the job could become risky. Calmly explain that deposits and staged payments protect both of you and are standard practice. If they still refuse, you may decide the risk isn\u2019t worth it.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-2565\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"5\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-2565\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">How can i4T Business help with cash flow?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-2565\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"5\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-2565\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">i4T Business helps you set up deposit rules, milestone billing and progress claims directly inside your job workflows. It connects quoting, scheduling, job updates, photos, timesheets and invoicing so you\u2019re not chasing information or forgetting to bill. That means better cash flow, less admin, and fewer money headaches.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"FAQPage\",\"mainEntity\":[{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Do I really need to ask for deposits on most jobs?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"<p><span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\">You don\\u2019t need to on every single job, but for larger, material-heavy or new-customer jobs, deposits make a huge difference. They protect you from cancellations and stop you from funding everything upfront out of your own pocket.<\\\/span><\\\/p>\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"How many milestones should I set for a job?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"<p><span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\">Most jobs work well with two or three milestones. Too many can confuse everyone; too few can leave you financially exposed. Aim for milestones that match natural stages of work the customer can clearly see.<\\\/span><\\\/p>\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"When should I choose progress claims instead of milestones?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"<p><span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\">Progress claims are ideal when jobs are long, complex or under a commercial or construction-style contract. If work stretches over many weeks or months and you\\u2019re regularly updating progress, progress claims are usually the better fit.<\\\/span><\\\/p>\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"What if a customer pushes back on deposits or staged payments?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"<p><span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\">That\\u2019s usually a sign the job could become risky. Calmly explain that deposits and staged payments protect both of you and are standard practice. If they still refuse, you may decide the risk isn\\u2019t worth it.<\\\/span><\\\/p>\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"How can i4T Business help with cash flow?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"<p><span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\">i4T Business helps you set up deposit rules, milestone billing and progress claims directly inside your job workflows. It connects quoting, scheduling, job updates, photos, timesheets and invoicing so you\\u2019re not chasing information or forgetting to bill. That means better cash flow, less admin, and fewer money headaches.<\\\/span><\\\/p>\"}}]}<\/script>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-6042bee elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"6042bee\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-7e05ad5\" data-id=\"7e05ad5\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-84a6433 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"84a6433\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-background-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-9d4852c\" data-id=\"9d4852c\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-dfc5c38 exclude-toc elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"dfc5c38\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Hot off the press!<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8e321b9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8e321b9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGet the latest industry news and articles delivered right to your inbox!\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-913b8b8\" data-id=\"913b8b8\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1c5a946 elementor-button-align-stretch elementor-widget elementor-widget-form\" data-id=\"1c5a946\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;step_next_label&quot;:&quot;Next&quot;,&quot;step_previous_label&quot;:&quot;Previous&quot;,&quot;button_width&quot;:&quot;100&quot;,&quot;step_type&quot;:&quot;number_text&quot;,&quot;step_icon_shape&quot;:&quot;circle&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"form.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<form class=\"elementor-form\" method=\"post\" name=\"Subscription Form - Blog\" aria-label=\"Subscription Form - Blog\">\n\t\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"post_id\" value=\"17467\"\/>\n\t\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"form_id\" value=\"1c5a946\"\/>\n\t\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"referer_title\" value=\"Cash Flow for Field Service: Deposits, Milestones &amp; 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We are driven by innovation and are passionate about delivering solutions that are transparent, compliant, efficient and safe for all stakeholders and across all touch points.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8f0b23f e-grid-align-left elementor-shape-square e-grid-align-mobile-center elementor-grid-0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-social-icons\" data-id=\"8f0b23f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"social-icons.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-social-icons-wrapper elementor-grid\" role=\"list\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-grid-item\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-icon elementor-social-icon elementor-social-icon-facebook elementor-repeater-item-8cf7738\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/i4TGlobal\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span 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2.1-147.8 0-184.8zM398.8 388c-7.8 19.6-22.9 34.7-42.6 42.6-29.5 11.7-99.5 9-132.1 9s-102.7 2.6-132.1-9c-19.6-7.8-34.7-22.9-42.6-42.6-11.7-29.5-9-99.5-9-132.1s-2.6-102.7 9-132.1c7.8-19.6 22.9-34.7 42.6-42.6 29.5-11.7 99.5-9 132.1-9s102.7-2.6 132.1 9c19.6 7.8 34.7 22.9 42.6 42.6 11.7 29.5 9 99.5 9 132.1s2.7 102.7-9 132.1z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cef7b35 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"cef7b35\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRecent articles that may interest you as well..\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-058ad48 elementor-grid-3 elementor-grid-tablet-2 elementor-grid-mobile-1 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href=\"https:\/\/i4tbusiness.com\/au\/how-to-manage-multiple-jobs-for-tradies-a-practical-guide-to-efficient-team-management-in-trade-business\/\" tabindex=\"-1\"><div class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"157\" src=\"https:\/\/i4tbusiness.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/All-Cover-images-29-1-300x157.webp\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-image-18704\" alt=\"How to Manage Multiple Jobs for Tradies: A Practical Guide to Efficient Team Management in Trade Business\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i4tbusiness.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/All-Cover-images-29-1-300x157.webp 300w, https:\/\/i4tbusiness.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/All-Cover-images-29-1-1024x536.webp 1024w, https:\/\/i4tbusiness.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/All-Cover-images-29-1-768x402.webp 768w, https:\/\/i4tbusiness.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/All-Cover-images-29-1.webp 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 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decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"157\" src=\"https:\/\/i4tbusiness.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/All-Cover-images-30-1-300x157.webp\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-image-18702\" alt=\"How to Reduce No-Shows and Cancellations in Service-Based Businesses\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i4tbusiness.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/All-Cover-images-30-1-300x157.webp 300w, https:\/\/i4tbusiness.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/All-Cover-images-30-1-1024x536.webp 1024w, https:\/\/i4tbusiness.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/All-Cover-images-30-1-768x402.webp 768w, https:\/\/i4tbusiness.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/All-Cover-images-30-1.webp 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/div><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__badge\">Blog<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__text\">\n\t\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-post__title\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/i4tbusiness.com\/au\/how-to-reduce-no-shows-and-cancellations-in-service-based-businesses\/\">\n\t\t\t\tHow to Reduce No-Shows and Cancellations in Service-Based Businesses\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3cc6cbe e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"3cc6cbe\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b062b1e e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"b062b1e\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-00b6b0c e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"00b6b0c\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Most tradies don\u2019t go into business because they love spreadsheets and cash flow forecasts. You start because you\u2019re good with<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":17470,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"left-sidebar","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"full-width-container","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"default","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"rank_math_title":"Cash Flow for Field Service: Deposits, Milestones &amp; Progress Claims","rank_math_description":"Learn how to manage cash flow in field service using deposits, milestones and progress claims to stay profitable, reduce risk and keep jobs moving.\n\n","rank_math_focus_keyword":"Field Service,Deposits,Milestones & Progress Claims,Cash Flow for Field Service: Deposits","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-17467","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/i4tbusiness.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17467","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/i4tbusiness.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/i4tbusiness.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/i4tbusiness.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/i4tbusiness.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17467"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/i4tbusiness.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17467\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17641,"href":"https:\/\/i4tbusiness.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17467\/revisions\/17641"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/i4tbusiness.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/17470"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/i4tbusiness.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17467"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/i4tbusiness.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17467"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/i4tbusiness.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17467"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}