Three proven models
- By milestone: each stage (e.g., concept, build, launch) has its own amount.
- By percentage: e.g., 30% at the start, 40% at the midpoint, 30% after acceptance.
- Monthly: a fixed amount per month for ongoing work.
Worked example
A €9,000 website project (example): concept & design €2,700, development €4,500, launch & handover €1,800. Each stage has its own deadline and clear acceptance criteria.
What to watch out for
- Tie every partial payment to a verifiable result, not just a date
- Briefly describe the acceptance criteria for each stage
- define what happens in case of delays or requested changes
Partial payments with a secured budget
The problem with classic partial payments: every stage is a new invoice you're waiting on. With a stip, you set up the stages as milestones. Your client secures the budget with the payment partner Stripe, without signing up, and approves each stage with one click after delivery. The amount is then paid out to your bank account.