Set a Default Deposit for All Estimates
Instead of adding a deposit to every estimate one at a time, you can set a default deposit amount that automatically applies to all new estimates. You'll still be able to change or remove the deposit on any individual estimate.
This article covers how to turn on and configure a default deposit policy, and how it behaves once it's set.
What you can do with default deposits
Set one deposit policy (percentage or fixed dollar amount) that applies to every new estimate automatically
Choose between a percentage of the estimate total or a fixed dollar amount
Still change, switch, or remove the deposit on any individual estimate — the org-wide default is unaffected
Update or turn off the default policy at any time going forward
Who can do what
Role | What they can do |
Admins | Turn on the deposit policy, set the type and amount, update or clear it |
Office managers | Access to Estimate Settings for this feature is still being confirmed — check with your account admin if you don't see this option |
Field technicians | Can override the pre-populated deposit on an individual estimate they're working on; cannot change the org-wide default |
Setting up a default deposit on the web portal
Turn on the default deposit policy
Go to Settings and click Estimates
Find Require deposit payments and turn it on (if it isn't already)
A new section appears below the toggle for setting your default deposit
Choose Percentage or Fixed amount
Enter your default value
Save your changes
📌 Note: You can turn on Require deposit payments without setting a default amount. If you leave the amount blank, new estimates won't have a deposit pre-filled — this isn't an error; it just means no default is applied yet.
Update your default deposit
Go to Settings and click Estimates
With Require deposit payments on, find your current deposit type and amount
Change the type (Percentage or Fixed amount) and/or the value
Save your changes
Updating your default only affects estimates created after you save. Estimates already created keep whatever deposit they had.
Turn off the default deposit policy
Go to Settings and click Estimates
Turn off Require deposit payments
Save your changes
Turning the toggle off clears your saved default deposit type and amount. New estimates will be created without a pre-filled deposit. If you turn the toggle back on later, you'll need to set your default again — it starts out blank.
How the default deposit applies to estimates
Once you've set a default, it automatically pre-fills on every new estimate — whether you create it from the web app, the mobile app, from a job, from a customer record, or from a template. This applies the same way on mobile even though the deposit setting itself is only configured on the web portal.
Changing the deposit on one estimate
You can always adjust the deposit on an individual estimate without changing your org-wide default:
Change the amount — e.g., your default is 50%, but you enter 25% for this customer
Switch the type — e.g., your default is a percentage, but you switch to a fixed dollar amount for this estimate
Remove the deposit — take the deposit off this estimate entirely
None of these changes affect your saved default — the next new estimate you create will still use it.
Good to know
Applies to new estimates only: Changing or setting your default deposit never updates estimates that already exist — only estimates created after you save the change.
Minimum and maximum values: Percentage deposits must be between 0.5% and 100%. Fixed dollar deposits must be at least $1.00.
Very small deposits aren't pre-filled: If your percentage default would calculate to less than $0.01 on a given estimate (for example, a very low estimate total), no deposit is pre-filled on that estimate. You can still add one manually.
Templates don't carry their own deposit: Estimates created from a template use your org-wide default — templates themselves don't store a separate deposit value.
Settings are web-only: You can only configure the default deposit policy from the web portal, though the resulting pre-filled deposit shows up on estimates created from mobile too.
Frequently asked questions
If I change my default deposit, does it update estimates I already sent?
No. Only estimates created after you save the new default will use it. Anything already created keeps its original deposit.
What happens if I turn on "Require deposit payments" but don't set an amount?
Nothing changes yet — new estimates are created without a pre-filled deposit, the same as before this feature existed. This is a valid, non-error state.
Can I set a different default for different types of jobs or services?
Not in this release. There's one default deposit policy per account.
Need help?
We're here for you! Chat with Support using the Blue Chat Bubble in your Housecall Pro account, or give us a call at (858) 842-5746.