Take deposits before you build
The pre-order checklist from the Tesla Roadster video. Show people the thing, take a small deposit, and build when enough of them have paid. From @mayorscript.
What Tesla did. It showed the new Roadster at a SpaceX test site in Texas on October 15, 2026. Production is set for 2028. You can reserve the base one today: $5,000 now (Tesla's page says it's fully refundable), then $45,000 more within 10 days. The money comes in two years before the car does.
You don't need a rocket. This works for a cake design, a batch of clothes, a course, a workshop, a piece of furniture or a new service.
1. Make the thing real enough to show
- One clear photo, sketch, sample or short video. A prototype is enough.
- Say exactly what they get: size, colour, what's included.
- Say when they get it. Give a date or a week, not "soon".
2. Set the deposit
- Pick an amount that shows real interest but doesn't scare people off. Many small sellers use 20 to 50 percent of the price.
- Decide the rest now: when the balance is due, and how.
- Write your refund rule in one sentence. For example: "Full refund if we don't hit 20 orders by Friday."
3. Set your go number and a deadline
- Work out how many orders make the batch worth it. That's your go number.
- Give the pre-order a closing date. A deadline gets people off the fence.
- If you miss the go number, refund everyone fast. That's how you get to do it again.
4. Make a payment link
Use whatever your customers already pay with. Stripe Payment Links, PayPal, Paystack and Flutterwave all let you create a link without building a website. Name the product clearly so the receipt makes sense.
- Test the link yourself with a small amount first.
- Keep a simple list: name, phone or email, amount, date paid.
5. Post it and send it
Post the photo with the details, then message the people most likely to buy.
Hi Sarah, I'm making a small batch of [thing] and you came to mind. Here's what it looks like: [photo]. It's [price], ready by [date]. I'm taking [deposit] to hold a spot until [closing date], fully refundable if the batch doesn't go ahead. Want one? Here's the link: [link]
Status update: 14 of 20 spots taken for [thing]. Pre-orders close Friday. Link: [link]
6. Close the loop
- Hit the go number: thank everyone, confirm the delivery date, and start.
- Missed it: refund everyone within a day or two and tell them why.
- Either way, send one update a week until they have the thing.
Check before you start. Rules on deposits and refunds differ by country, and some payment apps limit pre-orders or hold the money. Read your payment provider's terms, keep the deposits separate from your day-to-day money, and only take money for something you can deliver.
Sources
- Tesla Roadster reservation page ($5,000 due today, fully refundable; $45,000 due within 10 days), checked 2026-10-17
- Engadget, Oct 15, 2026 (SpaceX test site in McGregor, Texas; production in 2028)