What Is a Retainer vs a Deposit?
A deposit is typically refundable and applied toward the final balance; a retainer is usually non-refundable, paid to secure a date.
A deposit and a retainer both mean money paid upfront, but the terms usually carry different expectations: a deposit is often applied toward the final invoice and may be partially refundable, while a retainer is typically non-refundable and paid specifically to secure a date.
Which term a studio uses, and what it actually means, should be spelled out clearly in the contract rather than assumed from the word alone.
Frequently asked questions
Which term should my contract use?
Whichever matches your actual policy — the important part is defining clearly in the contract what happens to the payment if the booking is cancelled.
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