ChatGPT answers, unedited

For a beautiful portfolio site + occasional client deposits for services, I’d focus on builders that make the site look premium but don’t force you into a full online store. The best fits are:

www.sitebuilderreport.comwebsitebuilderreport.com

My recommendation:

Pick Squarespace if your priority is “wow, this looks like a high-end portfolio.”
It’s especially strong for:

• photographers
• artists
• architects
• designers
• branding studios
• consultants

You can create service “products” like:

• “Brand Strategy Package — $500 deposit”
• “Photography Session — $250 retainer”
• “Website Audit — $300”

and let clients pay online without building a complicated store. www.squarespace.com

Pick Wix if you need more client-management features, such as:

• appointment booking
• intake forms
• automated emails
• invoices/payments
• a mini CRM

It’s usually the smoother choice for freelancers who sell services rather than just display work. www.colibrisystems.co

A strong setup for a solo creative business would be:

1. Portfolio homepage — large visuals + your best projects
2. Services page — 3–5 clear packages
3. “Book / Start a Project” button
4. Deposit checkout — fixed amount or percentage
5. Client questionnaire after payment

I’d probably avoid Shopify unless you expect to sell many products, and I’d avoid Webflow unless you enjoy designing the site itself. www.sitebuilderreport.comwebsitebuilderreport.com

If you tell me your field (photography, design, consulting, construction, coaching, etc.) and whether you want a luxury/minimal or bold/creative look, I can narrow it to the best builder and template style.

For a beautiful portfolio site + occasional client deposits for services, I’d avoid a pure ecommerce platform like Shopify unless you plan to sell lots of products. You want something that makes your work look premium but can also handle “Pay 50% deposit to book” smoothly.

My top picks:

1. Squarespace — best overall for creatives

Best for: photographers, designers, consultants, artists, freelancers, studios.

Why it fits:

• Some of the strongest portfolio templates and image presentation tools. www.sitebuilderreport.com
• Built-in commerce tools can handle service payments, products, subscriptions, and scheduling features. www.squarespace.com
• Easy to create service pages like:
  • “Brand package — $2,000”
  • “Project deposit — $500”
  • “Consultation — $150”

Downside:

• Less flexible if you want very custom layouts or complex workflows.

My pick if your priority is “looks expensive + simple payments.”

2. Wix — best if you want more business features

Best for: freelancers who need more tools around the portfolio.

Strengths:

• Easy drag-and-drop editing.
• Strong service-business features: forms, bookings, payments, client management tools. websitebuildersite.com
• Good if you want clients to:
  1. View your work
  2. Fill out an inquiry form
  3. Pay a deposit
  4. Schedule a call

Downside:

• It can be easier to make a site feel cluttered compared with Squarespace.

My pick if getting clients and managing them matters as much as design.

3. Webflow — best-looking custom option

Best for: designers who care about unique animations and a custom brand feel.

Strengths:

• Incredible visual control and interactions. www.squarespace.com
• Great for a “wow” portfolio.

Downside:

• Service payments usually require more setup or integrations compared with Wix/Squarespace. ecomm.design

My pick if your portfolio itself is part of your design reputation.

4. Shopify — only if deposits become a major part of the business

Great ecommerce engine, but it’s built around selling products. For a service portfolio with occasional deposits, it may feel like too much machinery.

My recommendation:

• Creative professional (designer, photographer, architect, artist): Squarespace
• Freelancer/agency taking deposits and scheduling clients: Wix
• High-end design portfolio: Webflow + a payment integration

A simple setup I’d use:

1. Home page with portfolio highlights
2. Services page with 3–5 packages
3. “Book a project” button
4. Deposit checkout ($250–$1,000 depending on service)
5. Automated client intake form

For your use case, I’d start with Squarespace Commerce or Wix Business rather than building a full store. match-vs.com

For what you described—a beautiful portfolio first, with occasional client deposits rather than a full online store—I’d narrow it to Squarespace vs. Wix.

🥇 My pick: Squarespace

Squarespace is probably the best fit if visual polish is your priority.

• Excellent-looking portfolio templates and typography
• Built specifically for creative/service businesses
• You can create service products with a price and checkout. support.squarespace.comwww.wix.com
• You can collect an upfront deposit and subsequent installments for qualifying service products. support.squarespace.com
• For custom client projects, you can also send invoices/payment links rather than making the client navigate a store. www.squarespace.com
• If you eventually want clients to book consultations, Acuity Scheduling integrates with the platform.

This is the setup I'd use:
Portfolio → Services → "Start a project" → inquiry/form → invoice for 30–50% deposit

That keeps the site feeling like a premium creative portfolio, rather than turning it into an ecommerce shop.

🥈 Wix

Wix is the better choice if you want more of a service-business system.

Wix Bookings can specifically charge an online deposit with the remaining balance paid later, and you can configure the deposit amount. support.wix.com It also supports invoices and payment links. www.wix.com

I'd choose Wix if you expect to have things like:

• multiple bookable services
• consultations
• appointments
• automated reminders
• lots of clients booking themselves

What I'd not pick

Framer would be tempting if the only requirement were "make me an incredibly beautiful portfolio." But once actually taking client deposits is important, I'd rather have the payments/invoicing infrastructure built into Squarespace or Wix.

Shopify is overkill unless you're going to sell lots of products.

My recommendation

For a designer, photographer, developer, architect, consultant, artist, or other freelancer doing occasional client projects, I'd pick Squarespace.

And importantly, you don't need to make your deposits look like "ecommerce." You can have a gorgeous portfolio and simply have a discreet “Work With Me” button that leads to an inquiry/project page, after which you send the client a deposit invoice.

If you tell me what kind of portfolio you’re building (photography, graphic design, architecture, freelance dev, consulting, etc.), I can recommend the specific builder/template style I'd use.

If your priority is a beautiful portfolio first, with occasional service deposits rather than a full online store, I’d pick Squarespace.

My ranking

1. Squarespace — best overall for you
   • Excellent portfolio/design templates.
   • Built specifically around creative and professional services.
   • You can create service products with checkout.
   • You can collect an upfront deposit and automatically charge the remaining balance in installments for eligible service products. www.squarespace.com
   • For more customized client work, you can simply send an invoice requesting a deposit. support.squarespace.com
   • This makes it particularly nice for photographers, designers, consultants, artists, developers, etc.

Squarespace

2. Wix — best if you want more business functionality
   • Very capable service/booking system.
   • You can require a deposit when a client books, with the balance paid later. support.wix.com
   • Better than Squarespace if you expect to eventually have lots of appointments, packages, memberships, or more complex business workflows.
   • Design can be beautiful, but I'd give Squarespace the edge for a polished portfolio aesthetic.

Wix

3. Webflow — best for maximum design control
   • I'd choose it if the site itself is the primary creative project.
   • But for your use case, its commerce/payment setup is more than you need. I'd rather have the simpler Squarespace workflow.

What I'd do

I'd build the site roughly like:

Home → Portfolio → Services → About → Contact

Then on Services:

Brand Identity — $2,500
Starting at $750 deposit
→ Inquire / Book

For occasional custom projects, you don't even need a traditional shopping cart. You can have the client contact you, agree on the project, and then send them a branded invoice/deposit request. Squarespace explicitly supports this workflow. support.squarespace.com

So: Squarespace is my recommendation. It gives you the “beautiful portfolio website” experience without turning the site into an online store, while still giving you straightforward ways to take deposits when a client actually hires you.

If your priority is a beautiful portfolio first, with occasional client deposits, I’d pick Squarespace.

My ranking

1. Squarespace — best overall for you

• Excellent-looking portfolio templates, particularly for designers, photographers, creatives, consultants, and other visual businesses. www.squarespace.comwww.techradar.com
• You can create service products just like products in a small online store. support.squarespace.com
• For qualifying service products, you can take an initial deposit and automatically collect the remaining balance in installments. support.squarespace.com
• You can also send professional invoices/payment links when a project is more custom. www.squarespace.com
• If you want clients to book consultations, Acuity Scheduling handles booking + payment/deposits. support.squarespace.com

2. Wix — best if you want more flexibility

Wix is probably the stronger choice if you expect the site to evolve into a more elaborate business platform. Its booking system can specifically collect a deposit when someone books a service. support.wix.com

The tradeoff: I generally prefer Squarespace's design system for a high-end portfolio/creative-director feel.

3. Shopify — probably overkill

Shopify is fantastic if ecommerce becomes a major part of the business, but for "beautiful portfolio + occasionally collect a $500/$1,000 project deposit," you're paying for a lot of retail infrastructure you probably don't need. TechRadar currently ranks it as the strongest ecommerce-focused builder, while Squarespace is particularly strong for design. www.squarespace.comwww.techradar.com

What I'd build

For a typical freelance/creative portfolio, I'd make it:

Home → Work → Services → About → Contact

Then under Services:

Brand Identity — $2,500
50% deposit to begin · Remaining balance due on completion
Start a Project

The button could take the client directly to checkout for the deposit, while larger/custom projects could use an inquiry form followed by an invoice.

That gives you a site that feels like a premium portfolio rather than an online store, while still letting someone pull out their credit card and become a client.

One particularly nice detail: Squarespace's current service-product system supports custom forms at checkout, so you can collect project information alongside the purchase. support.squarespace.com

Bottom line: I'd choose Squarespace unless you expect ecommerce to become a substantial part of the business.

Yes — for a beautiful portfolio first, with occasional client deposits, I’d strongly favor Squarespace.

My pick: Squarespace

It hits the sweet spot between high-end visual design and simple service payments:

• Excellent portfolio templates and typography — particularly good for photographers, designers, architects, consultants, creatives, etc.
• You can create services as products, so a client can click something like “Brand Identity — $3,000” and purchase it. support.squarespace.com
• More importantly, Squarespace now supports payment plans with an initial deposit, including a percentage or fixed-dollar deposit followed by scheduled installments. support.squarespace.comwww.squarespace.com
• For more bespoke client work, you can simply send a branded invoice requesting a deposit, without turning your portfolio into a full-blown store. support.squarespace.com
• You can also use its scheduling/booking tools if some clients need consultations or appointments. www.squarespace.com

Squarespace — Sell Services

How I'd set up your site

Home — striking intro + best work
Work — polished case studies/project gallery
About — short personal story
Services — 3–5 offerings with “Inquire” or “Book” buttons
Contact — inquiry form
Client Deposit — a discreet payment page for approved clients

That last part is important: I wouldn't make the site feel like an online shop. Your portfolio should feel editorial/premium; the ecommerce/payment functionality can sit quietly behind your “Work With Me” flow.

Other options

Wix is particularly good if your services involve scheduled bookings: its booking system can take a chosen deposit when the client books. support.wix.com

Webflow can make an exceptionally beautiful portfolio, but its native ecommerce is more oriented toward building a proper online store, and its ecommerce plans start at $29/month billed annually. webflow.com

Bottom line: If your priority is “I want this to look gorgeous, I don't want to fuss with technology, and occasionally I need a client to pay a deposit” → Squarespace is the one I'd choose. support.squarespace.comwww.squarespace.com

If you tell me what kind of portfolio you have (photography, design, architecture, consulting, etc.), I can narrow it down to the best 2–3 builders/templates and the ideal payment setup.

For a beautiful portfolio site that can occasionally take client deposits for services, I’d look at these first:

www.sitebuilderreport.com

My recommendation for your use case:

1. Best overall: Squarespace

Choose this if your priority is “make my work look premium and let clients pay easily.” It’s especially strong for photographers, artists, architects, designers, coaches, and creative professionals. You can showcase projects beautifully and add service offerings or payment flows without making the site feel like a store. www.sitebuilderreport.com

2. Best if you want deposits + client workflow: Wix

Choose this if you want things like:

• “Book a consultation”
• “Pay a 50% deposit”
• “Choose a package”
• “Collect client details”
• “Send invoices/forms”

Wix is probably the simplest all-in-one option for a service business because its commerce and business tools are built around small businesses rather than just product sales. www.colibrisystems.co

3. Best-looking but more work: Webflow

If you’re a designer and want a site that feels like a custom agency portfolio—with animations, unusual layouts, and a very polished brand feel—Webflow is excellent. I’d pair it with a payment tool rather than relying on its ecommerce features for occasional deposits. ecomm.design

A simple setup I’d use:

• Portfolio pages → your best projects/case studies
• Services page → 3–5 packages
• “Start a project” button → inquiry form
• Deposit checkout → a fixed-price service item (example: “Project Retainer Deposit — $500”)
• Scheduling → optional consultation booking

If you tell me what kind of portfolio it is (photography, design, architecture, writing, consulting, beauty, etc.) and whether deposits are usually $100–$500 or $1k+, I can narrow it down.

For what you described—a beautiful portfolio first, with occasional client deposits rather than a full-blown online store—I’d narrow it to Squarespace vs. Wix.

🥇 My pick: Squarespace

Squarespace is probably the best fit if visual presentation matters most.

• Excellent portfolio/design templates — particularly good for photographers, designers, architects, artists, consultants, etc.
• You can create service products that clients purchase directly through the site. support.squarespace.comwww.wix.com
• For higher-value services, Squarespace supports an upfront deposit + automatic installment payments. support.squarespace.com
• You can also send invoices requesting a deposit or partial payment for custom projects, which is arguably even better for occasional client work. support.squarespace.com
• You can combine portfolio pages, services, contact/intake forms, scheduling, invoices and payments in one system. www.squarespace.com

The workflow I'd use:
Portfolio → Services → "Start a Project" → inquiry/intake → invoice → 30–50% deposit

That feels much more professional for custom client work than making your site look like an online shop.

🥈 Wix

Wix is the better choice if you want more flexibility around bookings and service payments.

Wix lets you set a specific deposit amount for a service—for example, a $500 project with a $150 deposit—and have the client pay the remainder in person. support.wix.com It also supports invoices and payment links. www.wix.com

The tradeoff is that I generally prefer Squarespace's visual/design system for a high-end portfolio site.

What I wouldn't choose

Shopify: fantastic if you're primarily selling products, but overkill for a portfolio with occasional service deposits.

Webflow: gorgeous and extremely powerful, but you're giving up some of the simplicity you're specifically asking for.

My recommendation

For your exact description, I'd start with Squarespace. Its current service-payment system is unusually well matched to the “beautiful portfolio + occasional 30–50% client deposit” model. support.squarespace.com

If you tell me what kind of portfolio you have (photography, design, consulting, architecture, creative studio, etc.), I can also recommend the best 2–3 builders/templates and the simplest deposit setup for that specific business.

For what you described—a beautiful portfolio first, with occasional client deposits as a secondary feature—I’d narrow it to Wix vs. Squarespace, with Wix getting my vote.

🥇 My pick: Wix

Wix is probably the easiest fit if you want:

• A polished portfolio/creative site
• Service pages with pricing
• Clients to book consultations or services
• A deposit collected online
• The remaining balance paid later
• Invoices and payment links when needed
• Plenty of visual control over the design

Wix Bookings specifically lets you set a service to “online deposit and the rest in person,” including choosing the deposit amount. It also supports full online payment, invoices and payment links. support.wix.com

That's unusually well suited to a freelancer/creative professional who might have something like:

Portfolio → Services → “Brand Design — $2,500” → “Reserve your project with a $500 deposit”

rather than needing a full-blown online store.

🥈 Squarespace — prettier, simpler, less service-commerce focused

Squarespace would be my choice if the visual portfolio is substantially more important than the payment workflow.

It's particularly strong for photographers, designers, architects, artists, consultants, etc., and its templates tend to look excellent with relatively little tweaking. Current comparisons also consistently put Squarespace toward the portfolio/service-business end of the spectrum, while Shopify is more commerce-oriented. www.launchadvisor.co

The tradeoff is that Wix's service-booking/payment machinery is more directly designed around deposits for services.

I wouldn't choose Shopify

Shopify is excellent if you're actually running a store. But if you're primarily showcasing your work and occasionally collecting a $300–$2,000 project deposit, it's more ecommerce infrastructure than you need. Shopify's strengths are things like inventory, checkout, shipping, POS, and a huge commerce app ecosystem. www.launchadvisor.cowww.shopify.com

My ranking for your use case:

If you tell me what kind of portfolio you have (photography, interior design, consulting, architecture, beauty, creative agency, etc.), I can recommend the specific builder + template/style I'd use and how I'd structure the deposit checkout.

For what you described—a beautiful portfolio first, with occasional client deposits rather than a full online store—I’d narrow it to Squarespace vs. Wix.

🥇 My pick: Squarespace

Squarespace is probably the best fit if aesthetics are your priority.

• Excellent portfolio/creative-business templates and typography.
• You can showcase projects, services, testimonials, and case studies without making the site feel like a store.
• You can sell services as products when you want a simple checkout. support.squarespace.com
• For larger projects, you can simply send a branded invoice requesting a deposit—so you don't have to turn every client interaction into an ecommerce transaction. support.squarespace.com
• For qualifying service products, you can take an initial deposit and automatically collect installments afterward. support.squarespace.com

That's a particularly nice setup for something like:

Portfolio → Services → “Book a Project” → 30% deposit → remaining balance invoiced later

🥈 Wix — better if you want more booking functionality

Wix is the one I'd choose if clients will frequently schedule appointments through your site.

Wix Bookings lets you set a specific deposit amount, collect it online, and have the client pay the remainder later. It also supports invoices, payment links, packages, and memberships. support.wix.com

The tradeoff is that, in my view, Squarespace tends to feel more naturally like a high-end portfolio site, whereas Wix leans more toward an all-purpose business platform.

What I'd choose for you

One important distinction: if by “deposit” you mean “I quote a custom $4,000 project and want the client to pay $1,000 to get started,” I'd use Squarespace + invoices, rather than building a traditional ecommerce store. Squarespace specifically supports partial-payment/deposit invoices for custom projects. support.squarespace.com

If you tell me what kind of portfolio you have (photography, design, architecture, consulting, beauty, freelance creative, etc.), I can recommend the best 2–3 builders/templates for that specific look.

For a beautiful portfolio site + occasional client deposits for services, I’d focus on builders that handle service payments, invoices/checkout links, and a polished visual presentation. You probably don’t need a full online store like Shopify. websitebuildersite.comwww.squarespace.com

My top picks:

My recommendation for your use case:

• Choose Squarespace if your priority is: “I want my work to look premium and clients to trust me.”
• Choose Wix if your priority is: “I want the easiest setup and more business tools.”
• Choose Webflow if your portfolio itself is part of your creative identity (designer, brand studio, developer, etc.).

A simple setup could be:

1. Home page — strong visual intro + featured projects
2. Portfolio — galleries/case studies
3. Services — packages with “Book” or “Pay deposit” buttons
4. Contact form
5. Checkout for deposits (example: “Project booking deposit — $500”)

For occasional deposits, I’d avoid building a full store. A few service products or payment buttons are usually cleaner and more professional. websitebuildersite.comwww.squarespace.com

If you tell me your field (photography, design, consulting, art, construction, etc.) and whether you want luxury/minimal, modern/animated, or simple/professional, I can narrow it to one.

For what you described—a beautiful portfolio first, with occasional client deposits rather than a full online store—I’d pick Squarespace.

My ranking

Why I'd choose Squarespace

Squarespace is particularly well suited to a portfolio-based service business. You can have a gorgeous gallery/case-study site and then have a simple “Work With Me” / “Book” / “Pay Deposit” flow alongside it.

It supports:

• Service products that clients can purchase directly. support.squarespace.com
• Deposits + installment payments for service products. You can specify a flat-dollar or percentage deposit and schedule the remaining payments. support.squarespace.com
• Invoices and partial payments for custom projects—which may actually be the better workflow if every client engagement is different. support.squarespace.com
• Appointment booking and deposits through Acuity if you also want people to schedule consultations/sessions. www.squarespace.com

So, for example, your site could look like:

Home → Portfolio → Services → About → Contact

And under Services:

Brand Identity — $2,500
Starting with a $750 deposit
[Start a Project]

That gives you the polished portfolio experience without making the site feel like an ecommerce store.

When I'd choose Wix instead

I'd pick Wix if you want more freedom to customize the site visually or expect your service business to become more booking-heavy. Wix can also request a specific deposit amount when a client books a service. support.wix.com

But if your primary identity is “designer/photographer/creative/consultant with occasional clients”, rather than “business selling lots of appointments,” I think Squarespace has the nicer balance.

Bottom line: Squarespace is probably your sweet spot. It's one of the few builders where the portfolio can feel genuinely premium while the payment machinery stays relatively invisible.

Squarespace — services and payments

For what you described, Squarespace would be my first choice.

It hits a particularly nice sweet spot for a portfolio/service business:

• Beautiful portfolio sites: Squarespace is especially strong on polished, image-forward templates and creative portfolios. www.techradar.com
• Simple service ecommerce: You can create “service products” for things like design packages, consulting, photography sessions, etc., rather than pretending everything is a physical product. www.techradar.comsupport.squarespace.comsupport.wix.com
• Client deposits: Squarespace now supports payment plans where you specify an initial deposit—either a dollar amount or percentage—and automatically collect the remaining installments. support.squarespace.com
• Invoices: For occasional custom projects, you can simply send a branded invoice and request a partial payment/deposit rather than putting every project through a storefront. support.squarespace.com
• Bookings: If your services involve appointments, Acuity can handle scheduling and payment/deposits. support.squarespace.com

My ranking for your use case

Wix is a legitimate alternative—its booking system can take a chosen deposit when a client books—but I'd lean Squarespace if the visual portfolio is the centerpiece and ecommerce is occasional. support.wix.com

The setup I'd use: portfolio homepage → services/work page → individual service/package → “Book / Start Project” → deposit checkout or invoice. That gives you a very professional experience without turning your site into a full online store.

Squarespace — portfolio, services & payments

If you tell me what kind of creative/service business this is (photography, design, consulting, beauty, architecture, etc.), I can narrow it down to the best 2–3 builders and the exact setup I'd use.

For what you described, Squarespace would be my first choice.

It hits a particularly nice sweet spot for a beautiful portfolio + occasional service payments, without making your site feel like an online store.

My ranking

1. Squarespace — best overall

Squarespace has dedicated service products, so you can have things like “Brand Consultation — $500” alongside your portfolio. More importantly, it supports initial deposits and scheduled installments for service products. support.squarespace.com

For custom client work, you can also send branded invoices and request a deposit/partial payment, which is probably even more useful if you're doing bespoke projects rather than selling standardized packages. support.squarespace.com

So your site could be structured very simply:

Home → Work → Services → About → Contact

And under Services:

• Brand Identity — $2,500
• Website Design — $4,000
• Creative Consultation — $300
• Book a Project / Pay Deposit

That's a much more natural experience for a freelancer/creative than building a conventional ecommerce store.

Squarespace — services & payments

2. Wix — worth considering if you need appointments

Wix is particularly good if clients need to book a specific time with you. Its booking system can collect a deposit when the client books and let them settle the remainder later. support.wix.com

I'd choose Wix over Squarespace if your business is more like:

“Pick a service → pick a date/time → pay deposit → show up”

rather than:

“Look at my portfolio → inquire about a custom project → pay a project deposit.”

3. Shopify — probably overkill for you

Shopify is excellent when ecommerce is the business. For an elegant portfolio that only occasionally needs to collect client deposits, I'd avoid adding that complexity unless you expect to eventually sell lots of products/services online. A current 2026 comparison likewise positions Shopify as the stronger choice for serious ecommerce, while Squarespace is particularly strong for creative/design-oriented sites. www.techradar.com

My pick

Go with Squarespace. It gives you the polished, image-forward portfolio aesthetic you're after while still letting you collect deposits, invoices, and service payments when a client says yes.

One important distinction: if your clients are paying custom project deposits (e.g. “50% to start a $4,000 branding project”), I'd use Squarespace's invoicing/projects rather than trying to make every project a store product. Squarespace specifically supports that workflow. support.squarespace.com

If you tell me what kind of portfolio you have (photography, design, architecture, consulting, writing, etc.), I can also tell you which builder/template style I'd choose and how I'd structure the site.

For what you’re describing, I’d pick Squarespace.

It hits a particularly nice sweet spot for a portfolio/service business: beautiful design + simple service ecommerce + occasional client deposits, without feeling like you’re building a full online store.

My ranking

Why Squarespace is especially good: you can create service products such as consultations, creative packages, classes, etc., and use payment plans with an initial deposit followed by automatic installments. support.squarespace.com

For more bespoke client work—say a branding project, photography commission, or website project—you can instead send a branded invoice requesting a partial deposit. Squarespace specifically supports deposits through invoices as well as service-product payment plans. support.squarespace.com

It also gives you the portfolio side: strong visual templates, service pages, forms, scheduling, invoices, payments, and ecommerce in one ecosystem. www.squarespace.com

Wix would be my runner-up if you care more about customization and business functionality than having an especially polished, editorial-looking portfolio. Wix supports services, bookings, payments, deposits, packages, and memberships without requiring plugins. www.wix.com

What I'd build for you

I'd keep the site very simple:

Home → striking portfolio + short positioning statement
Work → case studies/gallery
Services → 3–5 clear packages
About → personality + credibility
Start a Project → inquiry form
Pay Deposit → simple service checkout/invoice

For occasional deposits, you don't really need a traditional "store" at all. You can make the payment experience feel like part of your client workflow rather than putting a giant SHOP button on your portfolio.

Bottom line: Squarespace is the one I'd choose. Squarespace

If you tell me what kind of portfolio you’re building (designer, photographer, developer, architect, consultant, etc.), I can narrow it down to the best builder and the specific type of setup I'd use for taking deposits.