Stop losing money on Tile Installer projects.
Send your first 3 deposit agreements for free. Ordering custom tile or spending hours prep-leveling a subfloor without a secured deposit is a fast track to unpaid labor and unreturnable inventory. A signed deposit agreement ensures your client is financially committed before you ever mix a single bag of thinset.
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Statement of Work
Ref: 2026-001 • Standard Business Template
1. Project Deposit
The Client agrees to pay a non-refundable deposit of [Deposit Percentage or Amount] (the 'Deposit') to reserve the installation schedule and initiate the procurement of materials. Work on the project, including scheduling, site preparation, and ordering of materials, will not commence until this Deposit has been received in cleared funds via Stripe.
2. What the Deposit Covers
The Deposit shall be directly allocated to cover the costs of project-specific expenses, including but not limited to: specialty tile or stone ordering, cement backer boards, waterproofing systems, underlayment, self-leveling compounds, thinset mortars, grouts, sealers, and the administrative/scheduling costs required to reserve the Tile Installer’s labor availability.
3. Refund Conditions
Because materials are ordered specifically for this layout and labor dates are locked in, the Deposit is non-refundable. If the Client cancels the project within [Number of Days] days of the scheduled start date, the portion of the deposit allocated to labor reservation is forfeited. If custom, non-returnable tiles have already been ordered, the Client remains responsible for the full material costs, and those materials will be delivered to the Client in their current condition, as-is.
4. Start Date Authorization
The target start date of [Target Start Date] is tentative and subject to change. A finalized start date will only be locked into the Tile Installer's calendar upon receipt of the cleared Deposit and the signature of this Agreement. Any delays in deposit payment will result in a corresponding delay of the project start date.
5. Materials Purchasing
All materials purchased using the Deposit will be selected according to the mutually agreed-upon specifications document. Any modifications, dye-lot variations, or changes to the tile selection requested by the Client after the Deposit has been paid will be subject to a separate change order and may require additional fees and scheduling adjustments.
6. Client Responsibilities
The Client agrees to ensure that the installation area is cleared of all personal property, furniture, and debris prior to the scheduled start date. The site must be climate-controlled with active electrical power and water access. If the site is not ready upon the Installer's arrival, delay fees may apply, which may be deducted from the Deposit or billed separately.
7. E-Signature Acceptance
By signing below, both the Tile Installer and the Client acknowledge and agree to the terms, payment structures, and conditions outlined in this Deposit Agreement. This electronic signature carries the same legal weight as a physical signature.
Custom Material Liability
If a client backs out after ordering non-returnable handmade ceramic or imported cement tiles, the installer is left holding the bill for materials that cannot be used on other jobs.
Uncompensated Prep Work
Surface preparation, subfloor leveling, and waterproofing membranes take significant time and materials; starting this phase without a deposit means risking free labor if the client halts the project before tiling begins.
Schedule Hijacking
Committing to a multi-day shower or kitchen floor install without a deposit means turning away other bids, leaving the installer with zero income if the client cancels or delays the start date at the last minute.
What is a Tile Installer Deposit Agreement?
A Tile Installer Deposit Agreement is a legally binding document that secures a client’s commitment before work begins. It outlines deposit amounts, specifies what materials (like custom tile or waterproofing systems) are being funded, defines refund conditions, and locks in the installer's schedule to prevent unpaid prep work or unrecoverable material costs.
Built from real freelance projects
This template is based on real-world scenarios across freelance projects where unclear scope, missing payment terms, and revision creep led to lost revenue. It is designed to protect your time, define expectations, and ensure you get paid.
Why Tile Installers need a clear deposit agreement
Tile installation is highly precise, material-intensive, and physically demanding work where mistakes in preparation or scheduling are incredibly costly. Unlike basic cosmetic updates, tile work involves heavy, expensive specialty materials like natural stone, porcelain, waterproofing membranes, and custom grouts that cannot easily be repurposed for another client. If a client cancels at the last minute, you aren't just losing a day's labor; you are stuck with hundreds or thousands of dollars in custom-ordered inventory and an empty slot in your schedule that could have gone to another paying project. A formal deposit agreement establishes a clear mutual commitment. It secures the specialized materials required for their specific layout, locks in their spot on your calendar, and guarantees that your essential prep work—such as mud-bedding or waterproofing—is fully funded before you lay a single tile.
Real-world scenario
Marco, a custom bath tile installer, accepted a high-end master shower remodel involving custom zellige tiles imported from Morocco. Instead of relying on a handshake, Marco used a MicroFreelanceHub deposit agreement to secure a 40% upfront deposit to cover the cost of the specialty tiles and the Schluter waterproofing system. Two weeks before the scheduled start date, the client's home renovation budget collapsed due to structural issues elsewhere, and they had to indefinitely postpone the tiling work. Because Marco had a signed deposit agreement, the custom tile order was already paid for, and his initial labor block for preparation was covered. He was able to transfer the physical tile ownership to the client without losing a penny of his own capital, and the contractually agreed non-refundable scheduling fee protected his calendar, allowing him to quickly book a smaller backsplash job to fill the empty slot.
🛡️ What this deposit agreement covers:
- ✓Total deposit amount and payment schedule (e.g., via Stripe)
- ✓Detailed list of prep and tile materials covered by the deposit
- ✓Explicit non-refundability terms for custom-ordered tile and stone
- ✓Project start date dependency on deposit clearance
- ✓Subfloor preparation requirements and client site-readiness terms
- ✓Allocation of labor and scheduling hold conditions
Best practices for Tile Installers
Separate Material Costs from Labor Fees
Explicitly break down how much of the deposit goes to purchasing tile, grout, and backer board versus securing the labor calendar.
Establish a Site-Ready Clause
Define what state the job site must be in (e.g., cleared of old flooring, temperature-controlled) before the deposit-backed work begins to avoid delays on day one.
Legal Disclaimer: MicroFreelanceHub is a software workflow tool, not a law firm. The templates and information provided on this website are for general informational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do if the client wants to buy their own tile but wants me to start preparation?
Even if the client purchases the surface tiles, you should still collect a deposit to cover subfloor prep materials (like self-leveler, thinset, backer board, and waterproofing membranes) and to reserve your labor calendar.
How do I handle refunds if the client cancels because the tile they ordered is backordered?
Your agreement should specify that delays caused by client-sourced materials do not justify a full refund of your scheduling deposit, though you can offer to reschedule the installation window once the materials arrive.