The thing is, this can (and sometimes does) happen with larger and better established businesses too.
A common rule of thumb in the design industry is that if the amount of fees in question isn't going to be worth going to court over, then a 50% deposit paid up-front is a reasonable request.
A common rule of thumb in the design industry is that if the amount of fees in question isn't going to be worth going to court over, then a 50% deposit paid up-front is a reasonable request.