Why Fixed-Fee Projects Need Milestones
For SaaS agencies and tech consultants, projects can often "creep" in scope. Milestone billing provides natural checkpoints to review progress and costs before moving to the next phase.
1. The Deposit (Kick-off)
Never start work without a meaningful deposit (typically 25-50%). This ensures the client is committed and covers your initial discovery and planning time.
2. Measurable Deliverables
Tie payments to concrete outcomes: "UI/UX Mockups Approved," "Beta Version Deployed," or "API Documentation Finalized." This makes it much harder for clients to delay payments based on subjective feedback.
3. Final Handover
The final payment should be required before source files or production keys are handed over. This is your ultimate leverage for getting paid in full.