🚨 Consumer Alert: Financial Risk Level High

The "Deposit" Trap
(The Ponzi Scheme)

Why paying 50% upfront is the #1 way to lose your money, and why verified pros don't need it.

Executive Summary

  • THE MYTH:"I need 50% down to buy materials."
  • THE REALITY:Solvent businesses have trade accounts (Net-30/60 terms). They don't need your cash to buy lumber.
  • THE SCAM:Using your deposit to pay off the *last* customer's lawsuit or debt.

The "Cash Flow" Lie

"I need a deposit to get started." It sounds reasonable. You want to show commitment. But in the home services industry, a large deposit request (30-50%+) is the single biggest indicator of financial insolvency.

⚠️ Red Flag: If a contractor cannot float the cost of materials for 30 days, they are one bad week away from bankruptcy. And your deposit will go into the bankruptcy void.

How "Robbing Peter to Pay Paul" Works

1. Contractor creates a debt hole on Job A ($10k behind).
2. He signs you (Job B) and demands a $10k deposit.
3. He uses your money to finish Job A so they stop threatening to sue him.
4. Now Job B (Yours) has $0 budget. He needs Job C's deposit to start yours.

When the music stops, the last homeowner loses everything.

The AboveBoard Standard

Verified Pros on our platform undergo financial checks. We prefer pros who take:

  • $0 - $1,000 Down to schedule.
  • Pay-as-you-go (Progress payments).
  • Payment upon completion (For smaller jobs).

Protect Your Wallet

Find pros with the capital to build, not just the need to bill.