First contract with deposit. Let them know that up front. It can get the contract back faster.

You can not be more committed to getting a job, or doing a job, than the people you are doing it for.

If you start a job without a deposit, you are in fact making the deposit on it in that you are incurring expenses. A deposit is first to show commitment to the project and second to cover the expenses of the early portion of the job. Billing should follow as the job progresses to keep the client's money paying for the expense of the job. In other words, you should never have more cash out on a job than you have already received from the client.

I know the temptation, to put the job you like at the head of the list but you need money in the bank before you can indulge in that. Who goes first? the committed people. You, who have committed to a project together with those that finance it as a show of thier commitment.

I run on the 'show me the money' ordering. But laag is right, I need to make that clear. Most of the time, so far, I get the contract and deposit during the initial consult. It helps that I'm usually recommended by landscapers who don't want the extensive design work.

I think in order of contract & deposit received is the only fair way; BUT, sometimes if I'm working on a really big job it's kind of fun to step back and knock out the next small, quick & dirty patio or front walkway. I'm doing a really complex addition right now, and I'd love to take a break for a few days and knock out a little $10-20K job. Framing plans are not why I do this...

Dave

By order of commitment dates and bilateral negotiation between contractor and Customer(s)period.

There can be no commitment (schedule) until the contract is signed and funding agreements have been cleared.