How to Ask for Money Up-front

When bidding on shipping jobs, most drivers operate on a straightforward payment system: you deliver the shipment, and the customer pays you upon delivery. However, things don't always go according to plan.

Occasionally, shipment cancellations just happen - customers may have changed their minds or found an alternative. If you've already started the trip and invested time or money, cancellations can be both frustrating and costly. While rare, such situations can be discouraging when they happen.

To protect yourself, consider requesting an up-front payment to help offset any potential losses. If the customer cancels, the deposit can cover your expenses. Additionally, customers are less likely to cancel once they’ve committed financially.

But how do you raise this topic? Asking for money upfront from someone you’ve just met can feel daunting. Here’s how to approach it professionally and effectively:

Be Professional

As an independent transporter, you're in charge of your own public relations. CitizenShipper will back you all the way, but we can't write those texts and emails for you.

When discussing an upfront payment, maintain a tone of professionalism, highlight your reliability, and refer customers to your reviews as proof of your competence. If they sense that you're serious about the job, they will understand that the deposit is a fair request, not a scam.

If you require a deposit, be sure to mention that before being booked, especially if any portion of it is non-refundable! You can inform the customer through messages and by mentioning up-front payments in your profile. This proactive communication helps ensure that customers are aware of the payment policies and reduces any potential confusion regarding upfront payments in the event of a cancellation.

Be Respectful

Politeness can make all the difference when negotiating upfront payments. Let the customer know how much you appreciate the opportunity to do business with them. Be firm but respectful in stating your payment requirements. Try to see their side of the issue and don't lose your cool, even if they sound unreasonable.

Be sure to politely bring up your travel expenses. Describe just how much of an investment each shipment is to you - you're taking a risk on the customer's behalf. Assuming you've developed good communication, they should be willing to meet you halfway and make the partial payment upfront.

Be Flexible

Flexibility is a valuable trait in any negotiation. While a customer might not be comfortable with a full payment up-front, some may be comfortable paying as much as half in advance, or $50 to $100 as a gesture of good faith.

Try to also be flexible about the methods of payment. When negotiating a deposit, you'll need to accept retrievable payment processors (credit cards, PayPal) instead of asking for direct, irreversible money transfers (Western Union, MoneyGram, Venmo, Zelle). 

It's usually a good idea to set a time limit on the deposit. You might expect it within the next two weeks, or as late as 72 hours before the pickup date. Whatever time period you settle on, if the funds are not paid by then, you'll be able to cancel the trip with no adverse effects on your CitizenShipper account or rating, provided there's a written record of the agreement.

Be Aware of Your Own Worth

Finally, never sell yourself short. You know what you're bringing to the table, and quality of service comes at a certain cost. Let your customers know that, while there might be lower bids out there, the advantages you offer are well worth the expense. It's an old truism, but confidence really does sell.

What to read next

For more advice on bidding and payments, see the articles on finding shipments (2-min read) and pricing them correctly (2-min read).

For more general-purpose information, our guide on ensuring everything goes smoothly might be of use. Feel free to also consult our Cancellation policy, Dispute resolution, and Terms of Use documents.