How to Collect Deposits for Taxidermy Jobs and Protect Your Shop

By MountChief Editorial Team|Updated Mar 2026

Fifteen to twenty percent of mounts taken without deposits are never picked up. That's not a small number. At an average deer shoulder mount price of $600 and a shop doing 200 mounts per year, that's 30 to 40 abandoned mounts, $18,000 to $24,000 in materials, labor, and storage costs absorbed by the shop.

Deposits solve this problem. But many taxidermists skip them or ask awkwardly because they haven't built a system that makes it automatic.

TL;DR

Most states require 30 to 90 days notice before any action.
"We require a 50% non-refundable deposit at intake on all work.
balance is due at pickup, which may be 6 to 12 months later.
Completed mounts not picked up within 90 days of notification are subject to storage fees and eventual liquidation under state abandoned property law."
The balance is due at pickup, which may be 6 to 12 months later.
"Your deer mount is ready for pickup, remaining balance: $325." No surprise, no debate.

Step 1: Build a Deposit Policy Before Season

Write your deposit policy down before you need to enforce it. Here's a template:

"We require a 50% non-refundable deposit at intake on all work. The remaining balance is due at pickup. Work will not begin without a deposit. Completed mounts not picked up within 90 days of notification are subject to storage fees and eventual liquidation under state abandoned property law."

Having this in writing, on your intake form and posted in your shop, removes the personal dimension from the conversation. It's not you asking for money. It's your policy.

Step 2: Present It as Standard, Not as a Request

The way you introduce the deposit determines whether customers accept it or push back.

Weak: "Do you mind if I get a small deposit today?"

Strong: "I'll get you set up, your total is $650, so your deposit today is $325."

The strong version assumes the deposit. It's not a question. Most customers accept without comment when you present it confidently as standard practice.

If a customer asks why: "We require deposits on all work to cover material costs and hold your spot in the queue. It's how all professional shops operate."

Step 3: Use QR Code Payments for Frictionless Collection

The easiest way to collect deposits consistently is to make payment a one-step process that happens naturally at intake.

MountChief generates a QR payment code at the end of intake. You hand the customer your phone or show the code on a tablet. They scan with their phone, pay via credit card or mobile payment, and the deposit is logged automatically against their job record.

No separate cash handling. No running a card machine. No writing a receipt. The customer pays in 30 seconds and you both move on.

Step 4: Document the Deposit Agreement

The deposit itself isn't enough. You need a signed acknowledgment that:

States the total quoted price
States the deposit amount and date
States your policy on cancellations and abandoned mounts
States the balance due at pickup

In MountChief, the digital intake form includes this agreement language. When the customer pays the deposit, they've acknowledged the terms. The signed record is permanently attached to the job.

This documentation is essential if you ever need to take action on an abandoned mount. Without a signed agreement, your legal options are limited. With one, your position is clear.

Step 5: Set Up Payment Reminders for Balance Due

The deposit is collected at intake. The balance is due at pickup, which may be 6 to 12 months later. Don't assume customers will remember the exact amount owed.

When a mount is complete, MountChief shows the outstanding balance on the completion notification to the customer. "Your deer mount is ready for pickup, remaining balance: $325." No surprise, no debate.

Step 6: Handle the Occasional Pushback

Some customers will push back on deposits. How to handle the most common objections:

"I've never had to pay a deposit at a taxidermist before."

"That's changed for most shops, material costs have gotten high enough that we can't absorb them without protection upfront. We require it on everything."

"I only brought cash for the gas to get here."

"No problem, I can take a card deposit now or we can hold your spot for 24 hours while you come back. All our deposits are online so it's quick either way."

"What if you mess it up?"

"If we damage your specimen, your deposit is fully refunded and we make it right. The deposit protects us both, it's not a fee you lose if something goes wrong on our end."

FAQ

How do I ask customers for a taxidermy deposit without being awkward?

Don't ask, present it as your standard policy. "Your total is $650, so your deposit today is $325" assumes the deposit without making it a question. When you add "we require deposits on all work" as a matter-of-fact statement, most customers accept it without comment. The awkwardness comes from hesitation, confidence in your own policy eliminates it.

What percentage deposit should taxidermists require?

Standard is 30 to 50% of the total quoted price. Fifty percent is most common in full-service shops. Higher-value or more complex work (full-body mounts, exotic species) may justify higher deposits due to material investment. Some specialty shops require full payment at intake for custom work.

What legal rights do I have over an abandoned mount with no deposit?

Without a deposit and signed agreement, your rights are limited and vary significantly by state. With a documented deposit agreement that includes abandonment policy language, you typically have the right to charge storage fees after a defined period and eventually sell or dispose of the mount after providing certified mail notice. Most states require 30 to 90 days notice before any action. Consult your state's abandoned property statutes for the specific rules in your jurisdiction.

How does this apply to solo taxidermy shops?

The principles in this guide apply to solo shops just as they do to larger operations, though the scale differs. A single-person shop may have lower absolute volume but faces the same documentation, compliance, and customer communication requirements. The practical advice here scales down to any shop size.

What is the most common mistake taxidermists make with how to collect deposits taxidermy?

The most common mistake is treating how to collect deposits taxidermy as an afterthought rather than building it into the standard workflow from the start. Shops that encounter problems in this area typically did not establish clear processes before season, which means every situation becomes a one-off decision rather than a standard response.

Try These Free Tools

Put these insights into practice with our free calculators and planners:

Sources

National Taxidermists Association (NTA)
US Fish & Wildlife Service
Small Business Administration (SBA)

Get Started with MountChief

The results in this article are achievable in any shop that applies the same operational approach. MountChief provides the intake speed, tannery tracking, and customer communication tools that make this kind of improvement possible. Try MountChief to see what better systems do for your operation.