Deposits or No Deposit
Let me preface my first blog post by mentioning for this topic and future posts, my intention is not to shame anyone for their business practices. I see often when these topics are discussed, there are accusations of classism or elitism. My intention is solely to share my personal experience and my opinion on the matter. You may take that information and do with it what you will.
So without further ado, our first topic, deposits. When I first started as an escort, deposits weren’t really a thing. I did not require deposits with the exception of upfront travel costs for FMTY clients. Over time, once social media for sexworkers bloomed, discussion of deposits began. Eventually I required deposits from all new clients to secure their appointment slot.
While I understand not every business model can support requiring deposits, my personal opinion and experience is that if you can, you should. Deposits serve two purposes- to assist as part of screening and to create a more stable schedule for you. Generally speaking, clients who are not serious will not provide a deposit. Even if you have a business model that seemingly may not support deposits, asking a client for $25-50 deposit will definitely weed out those who are time wasters.
When considering deposits, it’s also important to remember that you run a business. While that business is centered around an experience or fantasy, it’s still a business. Businesses often require deposits or to hold a credit card on file to charge if you no show or last-minute cancel. Why should your business be any different? Just because some don’t see it as real work? No, that’s ridiculous. It is work and it’s your work. You have the freedom, as a business owner, to create your own working environment. By requiring a deposit, you have ensured that you still get paid something even if the client cancels or doesn’t show up. If you have to book a hotel or secure a location to host, your cost is covered. You don’t have to scramble last minute trying to arrange for someone else to fill that slot. Your time is important, just as much as the clients.
There are many ways of accepting deposits without revealing your legal name. But you do have to be careful because not all methods are created equal. Furthermore, there is the risk of chargeback. This is why I say deposits are part of screening. Additional screening will deter clients from doing chargebacks. The majority of chargebacks I hear about are from those who never took the time to screen. If you are a ghost, why would you fear doing something like that?
In conclusion, deposits can be a great tool to help you run your business more smoothly. While there could be pitfalls, the risks can be ameliorated by employing certain tactics like thorough screening otherwise.