> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.mountmonitor.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Deposits

> How deposits work on jobs and bookings in MountMonitor today

A deposit in MountMonitor is the amount you expect to collect first on a job. It is calculated from your price list and stored on the job. It is **not** charged when a client submits the public booking form.

## How the deposit is calculated

Each price list item can carry a deposit as a **fixed amount** or a **percentage** of the item price.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Set deposits on your price list">
    Open **Settings**, then **Price List**. For each mount or service, set a deposit if you want one. Leave it blank when that item does not need a deposit.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add items to a job or booking">
    When you build a job, or when a client picks items on your public booking form, MountMonitor adds up the deposits from those line items.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Review the job total">
    The job stores that sum as the total deposit. The remaining balance is the job total minus payments already taken.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Booking form vs collecting money

The public booking form can show estimated pricing and can store the calculated deposit on the pending job.

Clients are **not** charged on that form today. Submitting a booking does not take a card payment.

You collect the deposit later, after staff review the booking and the job exists:

* Take a payment on the job
* Take a payment in the Client Portal (when payments are connected)
* Record cash, check, or a card payment in your usual job payment flow

<Note>
  Pay-at-booking is not live. Do not tell clients they will be charged when they submit the form.
</Note>

## What staff see on the job

When a job has a deposit greater than zero and nothing has been paid yet, the job waits for that deposit.

After you record a payment that covers the deposit, the job moves on from awaiting deposit. Further payments then reduce the remaining balance.

## Related guides

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Payments" icon="credit-card" href="/payments">
    How shops take job payments and split payments
  </Card>

  <Card title="Bookings" icon="calendar" href="/bookings">
    How the public booking form creates pending jobs
  </Card>
</CardGroup>