Three fields in the **Basic** step of the proposal builder do most of the work.

## Hourly Rate

This is your rate for *this* booking, not the average on your profile. The builder starts from your profile figure, and you can change it.

Reasons to price above your average: a peak date, a long or awkward load-in, a demanding format, a client who's asked for a lot of preparation, or a late finish.

Reasons to price below: a quiet week, a venue you want to work with, or a client who might bring repeat business. Just know your profile average is what clients filter on, so pricing this booking low doesn't affect who finds you.

## Deposit

If you've chosen the **Deposit** payment structure, set either a **Deposit Amount** or a **Deposit Percentage**. **Use My Default** fills in whatever you saved under **Manage Defaults**.

A deposit should cover what you'd actually lose if the client cancelled late — the held date, work you turned down, anything you hired in. 25–50% is common.

Remember the remainder falls due 7 days before the event, and if it isn't paid the event is canceled and the deposit forfeited. See [Deposit vs Full Amount](/hc/djs/articles/1786047500-selecting-payment-terms-deposit-vs-full-amount).

## Travel Cost

A single figure covering getting yourself and your kit there and back. It shows on the proposal as **Travel & Logistics**.

Type it in, or turn on **Use Travel Calculator** to work out distance and drive time from a starting address. See [Using the Travel Calculator](/hc/djs/articles/1786139293-using-the-travel-calculator).

What to build in beyond fuel:

- The hours. A two-hour round trip is a third of a working night
- Tolls and parking
- Whether you can get home, or whether it's an overnight
- Two trips if you're dropping kit in advance

A travel cost of zero on a distant venue reads as generous but costs you every time.

## Showing the breakdown

All three appear as separate lines on the client's proposal. That's deliberate — a client who can see performance, travel, and each extra priced separately is much less likely to treat the total as a single negotiable number.

## Saving defaults

If you find yourself typing the same deposit percentage every time, save it under **Manage Defaults** on the **Bookings → Proposals** page. See [Saving Your Proposal Defaults](/hc/djs/articles/1786139748-saving-your-proposal-defaults).