ChatGPT answers, unedited

For a beautiful portfolio site that can occasionally take client deposits, I’d look at builders made for service businesses, not full online stores. You probably don’t need Shopify-level ecommerce; you need polished galleries/case studies + a way to collect payments. Kanyon Studio

My shortlist:

My recommendation by situation

• Creative freelancer (designer, photographer, filmmaker, architect, artist): Squarespace
• Consultant, coach, studio, contractor, agency: Wix
• Luxury/high-fashion portfolio where visuals matter most: Webflow
• You expect dozens of packages/products later: Shopify

A simple setup I’d use:

1. Home page with your best work
2. Portfolio/case studies
3. Services page with 2–5 packages
4. “Book / Start Project” button
5. Deposit checkout (for example: “50% project deposit”)
6. Intake form after payment

For occasional deposits, I’d avoid building a traditional “store.” Make the payment feel like part of the client onboarding flow.

If you tell me your field (photography, design, consulting, beauty, construction, etc.) and whether you want luxury/minimal or bold/creative, I can narrow it to one.

If your priority is beautiful portfolio + occasional client deposits + minimal setup, I’d look first at Squarespace.

• squarespace.com — probably the cleanest fit. It’s very portfolio/design-oriented, while also supporting service products, invoices, payment links, and deposits. Its service-product checkout can take an initial deposit and automatically collect the remaining installments. Squarespace Help Squarespace Help
• wix.com — also easy and flexible. Wix Bookings lets you require a deposit when a client books a service. Wix Support
• Webflow — excellent if visual design/custom layouts are the absolute priority, but I wouldn't choose it specifically for simple service deposits; you'd generally be assembling more pieces.
• Shopify — excellent ecommerce, but likely more ecommerce infrastructure than you need for a portfolio that only occasionally takes deposits.

What I'd build for you

For a creative/service portfolio, I'd keep it very simple:

Home → Work → Services → About → Contact

Then each service could have something like:

Brand Identity — $2,500
50% deposit to begin · remaining balance due before delivery
Start a Project →

For larger/custom projects, Squarespace can also handle branded invoices and partial payments, which may actually be better than putting every client through a traditional store checkout. Squarespace Help Squarespace Help

So if you want “looks like a gorgeous portfolio, but quietly has a professional way to get paid”, I'd pick Squarespace.

If you tell me what kind of portfolio you have (photography, design, architecture, consulting, freelance creative, etc.), I can also suggest 3 specific builders/templates/styles that fit the aesthetic you're after.

If your priority is a beautiful portfolio first, with occasional client deposits rather than a full-blown online store, I’d look at these:

1. squarespace.com — probably the best fit

• Very polished portfolio templates and strong visual design.
• You can sell services directly, not just physical products.
• You can collect deposits on service products, including a percentage or fixed amount, and set up installments. Squarespace Help Squarespace Help
• For bespoke client work—photography, branding, design, consulting, etc.—you can also send branded invoices and payment links. Squarespace Help Squarespace Help
• This means you don't necessarily need to make your site feel like an "online shop."
• wix.com — good if you want more flexibility

• Strong portfolio/site builder with service booking.
• Wix Bookings lets you require a deposit when someone books a service. Wix Support
• I'd consider it if your services are more appointment-based.
• webflow.com — best for highly custom design

• Excellent if the look of the portfolio is the main thing.
• Its ecommerce system supports highly customized checkout experiences and payments. Webflow Help Center Webflow
• But it's more involved than Squarespace for the occasional "client pays me a deposit" workflow.

What I'd choose for your use case

Squarespace.

I'd structure it as:

Home → Portfolio → Services → About → Contact

Then have something like:

Brand Identity — $3,500
50% deposit to begin · Remaining balance due before delivery
[Start a Project]

For custom projects, you can have the client inquire first and then send them an invoice/deposit request, rather than forcing every client through a conventional ecommerce checkout. Squarespace explicitly supports this project/invoice workflow. Squarespace Help

So your site can still feel like a beautiful creative portfolio, while the payment functionality sits quietly underneath it.

If you tell me what kind of portfolio you have (photographer, designer, architect, consultant, artist, developer, etc.), I can also recommend the best 2–3 builders/templates specifically for that aesthetic.

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

My ranking

1. Squarespace — best fit

• Excellent-looking portfolio templates and typography.
• Built specifically for creative/service businesses.
• You can create service products such as branding packages, photography sessions, consultations, etc. Squarespace Help
• For higher-priced services, you can collect an initial deposit at checkout and automatically charge the remaining balance in installments. Squarespace Help
• You can also send branded invoices and request partial payments/deposits for custom projects. Squarespace Help
• If you want clients to book a specific time, its Acuity Scheduling integration handles booking + payment/deposit. Squarespace Help

This is what I'd use for a designer, photographer, creative studio, consultant, developer, architect, or similar portfolio business.

2. Wix — good alternative

• More flexibility and customization.
• Better if you anticipate needing lots of business functionality/apps beyond the portfolio.
• I'd choose it over Squarespace if you care more about customization than having a particularly polished, editorial-looking site.
• Shopify — probably overkill

• Fantastic if the store is the business.
• For a portfolio where you occasionally sell a service or take a deposit, you're adding a lot of ecommerce machinery you probably don't need.

What I'd build

For your use case, I'd make the site feel like a high-end portfolio, not an online store:

Home → striking introduction + best work
Work → portfolio/case studies
Services → 3–5 clearly packaged offerings
About → short personal/agency story
Contact → inquiry form
Book / Start a Project → optional service checkout with deposit

For example:

Brand Identity — $3,500
50% to begin · 50% before final delivery
Start your project →

Squarespace now explicitly supports service products and deposit/payment-plan setups, so this isn't a workaround—it fits the platform's intended workflow. Squarespace Help Squarespace Help

Bottom line: go with Squarespace. It gives you the strongest combination of beautiful portfolio + simple service selling + occasional deposits without making the website feel like an ecommerce store.

squarespace.com

If you tell me what kind of portfolio you have (photography, design, architecture, consulting, writing, etc.) and roughly what your services/deposit amounts are, I can recommend the exact Squarespace setup and page structure.

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

My ranking

1. Squarespace — best overall for you

• Excellent-looking portfolio templates and very little technical setup.
• You can sell services directly, not just physical products. Squarespace Help
• For higher-priced services, you can take an initial deposit and automatically collect the remaining balance in installments. Squarespace Help
• You can also send invoices/payment links, which is probably ideal for occasional custom clients. Squarespace
• It supports appointments through Acuity if you eventually want clients to book consultations. Squarespace Help

Best setup: Portfolio → Services → “Start a Project” → client pays 30–50% deposit → remaining balance later.

2. Wix — best if you want more business functionality

• Strong service-booking and payment tools.
• Can require prepayment/deposits and supports invoices and payment links. wix.com
• More flexible than Squarespace for building elaborate business workflows, but I think Squarespace generally gives you the more effortlessly polished portfolio experience.
• Webflow — best if visual design is the absolute priority

• Fantastic design control.
• Has full ecommerce with Stripe, PayPal, Apple Pay, etc. Webflow
• But I'd not choose it for your use case unless you're comfortable with a more involved setup. Its ecommerce is designed more like a real online store than a simple “client pays a deposit” system.

What I'd build

For a creative/service portfolio, I'd keep it extremely simple:

Home
→ striking hero + your best work

Work
→ case studies / portfolio

Services
→ 3–4 offerings with starting prices

About

Contact / Start a Project
→ short inquiry form

Then have a “Book / Pay Deposit” button for clients who are ready to move forward.

Squarespace specifically supports service products with payment plans, including a percentage or flat-dollar initial deposit. Squarespace Help

So my pick: Squarespace. It hits the sweet spot of “looks like a premium portfolio” + “I can actually get paid without bolting a complicated ecommerce system onto it.”

squarespace.com

If you tell me what kind of portfolio you’re making (photography, graphic design, architecture, consulting, beauty, videography, etc.), I can also recommend the best 3 builders/templates for that specific aesthetic.

For what you described—a beautiful portfolio first, with occasional client deposits for services—I’d put Squarespace at the top of the list.

My ranking

1. squarespace.com — best overall

• Excellent-looking portfolio templates and very polished typography/layouts.
• You can sell services as products, rather than building a traditional online store. Squarespace Help Squarespace Help
• You can take deposits and payment plans, including an initial percentage or fixed-dollar deposit followed by installments. Squarespace Help
• It also supports invoices and payment links, which is particularly useful if most clients are custom projects rather than standardized services. Squarespace Squarespace Help

This is what I'd choose for a designer/photographer/creative consultant/freelancer.

2. wix.com — best if you want more business functionality

• Strong portfolio/site builder, with more flexibility than Squarespace.
• Wix Bookings lets you set a specific deposit amount for individual services, with the remainder paid later. Wix Support Wix Support
• You can also send invoices and payment links. wix.com
• I'd choose Wix if you're going to have lots of appointments/bookings, rather than just occasional project deposits.
• webflow.com — best for design, but not my pick here

• Fantastic if the portfolio itself needs to be highly custom.
• Its ecommerce is primarily designed around conventional online-store functionality, so I'd consider it overkill for occasional service deposits. Webflow

What I'd build in your case

I'd make the site feel like a high-end portfolio, not an ecommerce site:

Home → Work → Services → About → Contact

Then under Services, something like:

Brand Identity — $2,500
Starting with a $750 deposit

Book a Project →

The payment can happen through Squarespace, while more complicated projects can simply use an invoice/payment link after you've talked with the client.

Bottom line: go with Squarespace. It gives you the best combination of beautiful portfolio + simple service sales + occasional deposits without making your site feel like a storefront. Squarespace Squarespace Help

If you tell me what kind of creative work you do (photography, design, architecture, consulting, etc.), I can also recommend the best Squarespace/Wix setup and the type of template to start from.

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

🥇 My pick: Squarespace

Squarespace is probably the best fit if you want the site to feel premium, minimalist, and portfolio-focused rather than like an online store.

• Excellent-looking templates for photographers, designers, architects, creatives, consultants, etc.
• You can create service products that clients purchase directly from your site. Squarespace Help
• For larger projects, you can collect an initial deposit and scheduled installments. Squarespace Help
• You can also send invoices and payment links, which is particularly useful when the final price varies by client. Squarespace Squarespace Help
• You don't need to turn your portfolio into a conventional ecommerce store.

squarespace.com

🥈 Wix — better if payments/booking are the priority

Wix is more flexible on the business side. Wix Bookings lets you set a service price and require an online deposit, with the remainder paid later/in person. Wix Support Wix Support

It also supports invoices, payment links, memberships, packages, and lots of payment providers. wix.com

wix.com

What I'd choose for you

For a portfolio + occasional deposits, I'd go with Squarespace. You can have something like:

Portfolio → Services → Project inquiry → $500 deposit → project begins

without making the site feel like an ecommerce shop.

If you tell me what kind of portfolio you have (photography, graphic design, architecture, freelance web design, beauty, consulting, etc.), I can also recommend 3–5 specific Squarespace/Wix templates/styles that would fit it.

For what you described—a beautiful portfolio first, with occasional client deposits for services—I’d narrow it to Squarespace vs. Wix.

My pick: Squarespace

Squarespace is probably the best fit if the site needs to feel premium, polished, and portfolio-driven rather than like an online store.

• Excellent visual/design templates for photographers, designers, creatives, consultants, architects, etc.
• You can sell services as products, without dealing with shipping or traditional ecommerce complexity. Squarespace Help
• You can collect an initial deposit and then charge scheduled installments for qualifying service products. Squarespace Help
• You can also send invoices and payment links, which is particularly useful when a client project is custom rather than a standardized service. Squarespace Squarespace Help
• If you eventually want appointments, Squarespace's Acuity integration can handle booking + payment.

squarespace.com

Wix is the better choice if deposits are central

Wix is more compelling if you want clients to book a service and pay a deposit as part of the booking flow.

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

wix.com

What I'd choose

If you're primarily selling yourself and your work, choose Squarespace. You can make the site look like a high-end portfolio and quietly have buttons such as “Start a Project,” “Book a Consultation,” or “Pay Project Deposit” rather than making the whole site feel like a shop.

If clients frequently need to choose a service, select a date, and pay a deposit immediately, choose Wix.

I would not choose Webflow for this particular requirement unless exceptional design control is more important to you than simplicity; its ecommerce system is considerably more geared toward building a customizable store. Webflow Webflow Help Center

If you tell me what kind of portfolio you have (photography, design, architecture, consulting, etc.), I can also recommend the best builder and 3–5 specific templates/styles I'd use.

For a beautiful portfolio site where selling services is secondary—e.g. an occasional 30–50% client deposit—I’d pick Squarespace.

My ranking

1. Squarespace — best fit

• Excellent portfolio/design templates.
• Built specifically for service businesses.
• You can create service products and collect payment at checkout. Squarespace Squarespace Help
• For eligible service products, you can set an initial deposit + scheduled installments, which is unusually convenient for client projects. Squarespace Help
• You can also send branded invoices, proposals, estimates and contracts—useful when the project is custom rather than a fixed-price package. Squarespace Help

squarespace.com

2. Wix — best if you want more business features

• Very capable for services, bookings, payments, subscriptions, etc. wix.com
• More flexibility than Squarespace, but I generally prefer Squarespace for a high-end creative portfolio because the design experience feels more restrained.

wix.com

3. Webflow — best for maximum visual control

• Fantastic if the portfolio itself is the priority and you want a highly custom, designer-built site.
• Its ecommerce is considerably more involved, with Stripe/PayPal and custom checkout options. Webflow Webflow
• I'd choose it if you're comfortable with Webflow or have a designer/developer—not if your priority is "I want to occasionally take a deposit without fuss."

webflow.com

What I'd build in your case

I'd make the site feel like a premium portfolio first, storefront second:

Home → Work → Services → About → Contact

Then have your services such as:

• Brand Identity — starting at $X
• Website Design — starting at $X
• Photography / Creative Direction — starting at $X
• Custom Project — Let's Talk

Each service could have a “Start a Project” or “Book / Pay Deposit” button. For larger custom projects, you can use Squarespace's proposals/invoices rather than forcing everything through a shopping cart.

Bottom line: Squarespace is probably the sweet spot for you. You get the polished portfolio aesthetic without turning your site into an online store, while still having proper deposits and payment plans when you need them. Squarespace Help

If you tell me what kind of portfolio you’re building (photographer, designer, consultant, developer, artist, etc.), I can also recommend the best builder and the exact site structure/template style I'd use.

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

My ranking

1. squarespace.com — best overall

• Excellent-looking portfolio templates and typography.
• You can sell services directly as products, so a client can click something like “Brand Identity — $2,500” and pay. Squarespace Help
• For larger projects, you can collect an initial deposit and automatically charge installments. Squarespace Help
• You can also send branded invoices and payment links for custom client work. Squarespace Help
• If you offer consultations or appointments, its Acuity integration handles booking + payment. Squarespace

This is what I'd use for a designer, photographer, creative studio, consultant, architect, copywriter, etc.

2. wix.com — best if you want more flexibility

• Very easy to build and has strong service booking/payment functionality.
• You can package a service as a product with a fixed price and let clients purchase it without scheduling first. Wix Support wix.com
• I'd choose Wix over Squarespace if you anticipate needing lots of business features or customization later.
• Visually, though, I think Squarespace is the stronger choice for a high-end portfolio aesthetic.
• webflow.com — beautiful, but overkill here

• Fantastic if you're a designer who wants extremely precise control over the site.
• It has ecommerce and Stripe/PayPal/etc. payment support. Webflow
• But for “portfolio + occasionally collect a deposit,” I'd rather not introduce Webflow's additional complexity.

The setup I'd recommend

For example, your site could have:

Home → beautiful introduction + selected work
Work → portfolio/case studies
Services → 3–5 clearly defined offerings
About → your story
Contact / Start a Project → inquiry form
Book / Pay Deposit → simple checkout

For a $3,000 project, you could have:

Brand Identity — $3,000
50% deposit: $1,500 today
Remaining $1,500 due before final delivery.

Squarespace specifically supports percentage or flat-dollar deposits and scheduled installments for service products. Squarespace Help

Bottom line: choose Squarespace. It hits the sweet spot of “looks like a premium portfolio” + “I occasionally need clients to give me money without cobbling together five different services.” Squarespace Squarespace

If you tell me what kind of portfolio you’re building (photography, graphic design, architecture, consulting, etc.), I can also recommend the best 2–3 Squarespace-style layouts and exactly how I'd structure the site.

If your priority is a beautiful portfolio first, with occasional service deposits—not a full-blown 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, collect a deposit, and optionally split the remaining balance into installments. Squarespace Squarespace Help
• You can also send branded invoices/payment links for custom client work. Squarespace Help
• Projects can handle more bespoke work such as branding, photography, web design, etc. Squarespace Help
• Best fit if you want: “Here’s my beautiful work → here are my services → contact/book → pay deposit.”
• Wix — best if you want more business functionality

• Very flexible design and strong service-business features.
• Supports invoices, payment links, and requiring deposits/prepayment for services. wix.com
• I’d choose Wix over Squarespace if you expect your scheduling, forms, client management, or business workflows to become more complicated.
• Shopify — probably overkill

• Excellent if you're primarily selling products.
• For services, you'll generally be adding booking/service apps from its app ecosystem. Shopify App Store
• I wouldn't use it for a portfolio-centric business unless ecommerce eventually becomes a major part of your revenue.

What I'd build

For a designer, photographer, consultant, creative studio, etc., I'd make the site:

Home → gorgeous visual introduction
Work → portfolio/case studies
Services → 3–5 clear packages
About → personality + credibility
Start a Project → inquiry/intake form
Deposit → simple checkout/payment plan

For example:

Brand Identity — $3,000
$1,000 deposit to begin
Remaining $2,000 due before final delivery

Squarespace can natively support that kind of deposit/payment-plan setup for service products, with a minimum $100 service price for its payment-plan feature. Squarespace Help

So my short answer: go with Squarespace. It gives you the strongest combination of beautiful portfolio + simple services + occasional deposits + invoices without making the website feel like an online store.

squarespace.com

If you tell me what kind of work you do (photography, design, consulting, beauty, coaching, etc.), I can also recommend the best Squarespace-style layout and exactly how I'd structure the service/deposit flow.

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

My recommendation: Squarespace

squarespace.com is especially well suited to a portfolio/service business because you can keep the site visually polished without turning it into a full-blown online store.

It gives you:

• Excellent portfolio/design templates — particularly good for photographers, designers, artists, architects, consultants, and other creative professionals. Current 2026 reviews also continue to rate Squarespace highly for design-focused sites. TechRadar
• Services as products — you can create something like “Brand Identity Package — $2,500” and let a client purchase it online. Squarespace Help
• Deposits/payment plans — Squarespace now supports an initial deposit followed by scheduled installments for service products. Squarespace Help
• Invoices for custom projects — useful when every client has a different price. You can send a branded invoice and request a deposit/partial payment. Squarespace Help Squarespace Help
• Bookings, if you want clients to schedule consultations.
• No need to make the site feel like an ecommerce store. Your portfolio can remain the centerpiece.

Squarespace vs. Wix

Wix would be my second choice. wix.com Its booking system is actually very good for deposits: you can specify a deposit amount and have clients pay the remainder in person. Wix Help Center Wix Help Center

I'd choose:

For your particular description, I wouldn't use Shopify. It's excellent when ecommerce is the business, but it adds complexity you probably don't need.

One especially nice Squarespace setup would be:

Home → Portfolio → Services → About → Contact

Then each service could have a “Start Project” button, with either an inquiry/invoice flow or a direct deposit + payment plan checkout. Squarespace explicitly supports both approaches for creative services and project-based work. Squarespace Help

If you tell me what kind of portfolio you’re building (photography, graphic design, architecture, consulting, web design, etc.), I can recommend 3 specific builders/templates and the exact setup I'd use for taking deposits.

If your priority is a beautiful portfolio first, with occasional client deposits, I’d shortlist these:

• squarespace.com — my pick for you. It’s especially strong for photography, design, architecture, creative work, consulting, etc. You can showcase your work beautifully and then sell services, send invoices/payment links, or collect an upfront deposit. Squarespace’s service products can also use payment plans with an initial deposit. Squarespace Squarespace Help Squarespace Help
• wix.com — best if you want more booking functionality. Wix Bookings lets you create services, accept online payments, and specifically charge a deposit while collecting the remainder later. wix.com Wix Support
• webflow.com — best for maximum design control. It can produce exceptionally polished portfolio sites, but its ecommerce setup is more geared toward building a full custom store, so I'd consider it overkill if you're only occasionally taking deposits. Webflow Webflow Help Center

What I'd choose

Squarespace if your flow is:

Beautiful portfolio → Services → “Start a project” → client pays $500 deposit → you handle the rest manually.

That gives you the high-end creative portfolio aesthetic without turning your website into a giant online store.

If you're a photographer/designer/architect/creative professional, I can also recommend 3 specific Squarespace templates/styles that would make the portfolio look genuinely premium.

For what you described—a beautiful portfolio first, with occasional client deposits and service payments—I’d pick Squarespace.

My ranking

1. Squarespace — best overall

• Excellent-looking portfolio templates, especially for photographers, designers, creatives, consultants, and studios.
• You can sell services directly as products.
• For higher-value services, you can collect an initial deposit and automatically charge the remaining balance in installments. Squarespace Help Squarespace Help
• You can also send invoices and request partial payments/deposits, which is particularly useful when every client project is customized. Squarespace Help Squarespace Help
• If you want bookings, Squarespace integrates scheduling and payments too. Squarespace

squarespace.com

2. Wix — best if you want more flexibility

• Very capable for services, bookings, and payments.
• Its newer AI-based site-building tools can also generate payment flows for services. Wix Support
• I'd choose Wix over Squarespace if you anticipate needing lots of custom functionality.

wix.com

3. Webflow — best for design, but overkill here

• Fantastic if the portfolio itself needs highly custom, agency-level art direction.
• Its ecommerce is powerful and very designable, but it is more involved to set up and isn't as naturally oriented around occasional client deposits. Webflow Webflow Help Center

webflow.com

What I'd build in your case

I'd make the site feel like a high-end portfolio rather than an online store:

Home → Work → Services → About → Contact

Then under Services, something like:

Brand Identity — $3,500
Strategy, visual identity, and brand guidelines.
Reserve your project — $875 deposit

The client can pay the deposit without you turning the whole site into a conventional ecommerce shop.

Bottom line: Squarespace is probably your sweet spot. It gives you the polished portfolio aesthetic and unusually good support for the exact "client pays a deposit occasionally" workflow. Squarespace Squarespace Help

If you tell me what kind of portfolio you have (photography, graphic design, architecture, consulting, fashion, etc.), I can recommend the best builder/template style and show you exactly how I'd structure the site.

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

My ranking

1. Squarespace — best fit

• Excellent-looking portfolio templates, especially for photographers, designers, artists, architects, consultants, and other creatives.
• You can sell services as products, so a client can essentially choose a service and pay at checkout.
• More importantly for you, Squarespace currently supports deposits/payment plans for service products, including an initial percentage or dollar deposit followed by scheduled installments. Squarespace Help Squarespace Help
• For more customized client work, you can send branded invoices and request a deposit/partial payment rather than forcing everything through a store. Squarespace Help
• You can also combine this with appointment booking if you offer consultations or sessions. Squarespace

squarespace.com

2. Wix — best if you want more flexibility

• Very easy to build and customize.
• Good ecommerce/service capabilities and generally more freedom over layouts.
• I'd choose it over Squarespace if you expect the site to become a more complicated business website rather than primarily a polished portfolio.
• Webflow — best-looking/custom option, but not my pick here

• Fantastic if you're a designer who wants pixel-level control.
• But for “beautiful portfolio + occasionally collect a client deposit”, it's more infrastructure than you need.
• Shopify — overkill

• Excellent ecommerce platform, but you're primarily building a portfolio with occasional service payments. I wouldn't make Shopify the foundation unless selling things becomes a major part of the business.

What I'd build

For your use case, I'd make the site feel like a premium portfolio, not an online store:

Home → Work/Portfolio → Services → About → Contact

Then on each service:

Brand Identity — $3,000
50% deposit to begin · Remaining balance due before delivery
[Start a Project]

For custom projects, you can have the button lead to an inquiry/intake form and then send the client a branded invoice with the deposit. For standardized packages, you can let them purchase the service directly and collect the deposit at checkout. Squarespace explicitly supports both approaches. Squarespace Help Squarespace Help

Bottom line: Squarespace is probably the sweet spot for you. It gives you the visual quality of a portfolio builder while quietly handling the occasional “okay, now pay me a deposit” part.

If you tell me what kind of portfolio you’re making (photography, graphic design, architecture, consulting, fashion, etc.), I can recommend the best builder and 3–5 specific templates/styles to start from.

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

My ranking

1. squarespace.com — best overall

• Excellent-looking portfolio templates and typography.
• You can sell services directly as service products.
• You can take an initial deposit and automatically collect the remaining balance in installments. Squarespace Help Squarespace Help
• You can also send professional invoices/payment links, which is particularly nice when a client hires you for a custom project. Squarespace
• If you eventually want clients to book consultations, Acuity Scheduling integrates into the ecosystem.

This is what I'd choose for a photographer, designer, creative freelancer, consultant, architect, etc.

2. wix.com — best if deposits/booking are more important

• Wix Bookings lets you explicitly set an online deposit + remaining payment in person, or collect the whole amount online. Wix Support Center
• Good service catalog, booking, invoices, payment links, packages, etc. wix.com
• More business-function-heavy than Squarespace, though you can still make a very attractive portfolio.
• webflow.com — best design control, not my pick for this

• Fantastic if the portfolio itself needs highly custom/art-directed design.
• Its ecommerce system is more oriented toward building an actual store, with Stripe/PayPal checkout and ecommerce management. Webflow Webflow Help Center
• For occasional client deposits, it's more machinery than you need.

What I'd build

For a creative portfolio, I'd make the site:

Home → Work → Services → About → Contact

Then have a prominent “Start a Project” button. A client fills out a short inquiry form, you agree on the project, and you send them a deposit/payment link or invoice.

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

Bottom line: Squarespace is the sweet spot for your use case. Its current service tools specifically support deposits, payment plans, invoices, and service products, so you aren't hacking ecommerce onto a portfolio site. Squarespace Squarespace Help

If you tell me what kind of portfolio you’re building (photography, graphic design, architecture, writing, consulting, etc.), I can also recommend 3–5 specific Squarespace/Wix templates/styles that would fit the aesthetic.

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.com is probably the best fit if visual presentation is your priority.

• Excellent-looking portfolio templates and generally more polished out of the box.
• You can create service products such as consultations, creative projects, classes, etc. Squarespace Help
• It supports deposits, invoices, payment links, and payment plans, so you don't need to build a traditional ecommerce store. Squarespace Squarespace Help
• You can have something like “Brand Identity — $2,500” → “Pay $750 deposit” rather than making clients navigate a shopping cart.
• If you eventually want scheduling, Squarespace can integrate that into the same ecosystem. Squarespace

Wix is the better choice if deposits/bookings are more important

wix.com has particularly good service-business functionality. Wix Bookings lets you specify an exact deposit amount, with the remainder paid later/in person. Wix Help Center

It also supports service packages, appointments, invoices and payment links. wix.com

The tradeoff is that I generally prefer Squarespace for a high-end creative portfolio aesthetic; Wix is stronger when the site is essentially a client-booking/business-management system.

What I'd choose

For your description, I'd start with Squarespace. You can make the site feel like a sophisticated portfolio and tuck a simple Services / Work With Me → Pay Deposit flow into it, rather than making the whole site feel like an ecommerce shop.

If you tell me what kind of portfolio you’re building (photography, graphic design, architecture, consulting, makeup, videography, etc.), I can also recommend the best 2–3 builders/templates for that specific aesthetic.

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

My ranking

1. Squarespace — my pick for you.
It has particularly strong portfolio templates and a very natural way to combine a gallery of your work with service offerings. You can sell services, send invoices, take deposits, and use payment plans. www.squarespace.com

The especially useful part for your situation: Squarespace now lets you create a service product with an initial deposit, followed by scheduled installments. support.squarespace.comsupport.squarespace.comhelp.shopify.com You can also simply send a client an invoice requesting a partial payment/deposit, which may be even easier for occasional projects. support.squarespace.com

Squarespace

2. Wix — great alternative.
Wix is excellent if you want more freedom to customize the site. Its ecommerce system supports services, bookings, pricing plans, deposits, memberships, and payments without needing to bolt together a traditional store. www.wix.com

Wix

3. Shopify — probably overkill.
Shopify can absolutely sell services, but service bookings generally involve an app, and its strengths are really geared toward businesses where ecommerce is central. help.shopify.com

Shopify

What I'd build

For a portfolio-based business, I'd make the site:

Home → Portfolio → Services → About → Contact

Then each service could have something like:

Brand Photography — $1,500
50% deposit to reserve your date
Book / Pay Deposit →

That gives clients a polished portfolio experience without making the site feel like an online store.

Bottom line: go with Squarespace. It hits the sweet spot of beautiful + easy + professional + occasional service deposits.

If your priority is beautiful portfolio + occasional client deposits + minimal ecommerce complexity, I’d pick Squarespace.

My ranking

1. Squarespace — best overall for your use case

• Excellent-looking portfolio templates, especially for photographers, designers, creatives, consultants, and studios.
• You can sell services directly, without turning the site into a traditional online store.
• For project work, you can send invoices and request a deposit/partial payment.
• For higher-priced services sold directly through the site, you can collect an initial deposit and automatically charge scheduled installments. Squarespace Squarespace Help Squarespace Help
• It also has payment links, so you can simply send a client a link when you need to collect a deposit. Squarespace

squarespace.com

2. Wix — best if you want more flexibility/functionality

• Wix is particularly good if clients will book specific services through your site.
• Wix Bookings supports collecting a deposit online and having the client pay the remainder later. Wix Support Wix Support
• More flexible than Squarespace in some areas, but I generally find Squarespace better suited to a high-end portfolio aesthetic.

wix.com

3. Webflow — gorgeous, but I'd skip it for this

• Fantastic if the website design itself is the main priority.
• But for your occasional service deposits, it's more infrastructure than you need. I'd rather have the simpler Squarespace commerce/payment workflow.

What I'd do in your shoes

I'd build a Squarespace portfolio, with something like:

Home → Work → Services → About → Contact

Then under Services, have cards such as:

• Brand Identity — from $2,500
• Website Design — from $4,000
• Photography — from $1,500
• Consultation — $250

Each could have either “Inquire” or “Book / Pay Deposit.”

For a custom project, you don't even need a conventional shopping cart: Squarespace can handle the project through invoices, where you request a deposit/partial payment. Squarespace Help

Bottom line: Squarespace is probably the sweet spot for you. It gives you the polished portfolio-first feel while still having surprisingly capable service payments when you occasionally need to collect money from a client. Squarespace

If you tell me what kind of portfolio you’re building (photography, graphic design, architecture, consulting, beauty, etc.), I can also recommend 3–5 specific Squarespace/Wix templates/styles that fit the aesthetic you want.

For a beautiful portfolio site + occasional client deposits for services, you probably don’t want a full ecommerce platform like Shopify. You want something that makes your work look premium but lets you create simple “products” like:

• “50% project deposit”
• “Brand design package”
• “Photography session booking”
• “Website audit”
• “Consultation fee”

My top picks:

1. Squarespace — best overall for creatives

Best if your priority is a gorgeous portfolio. SiteBuilderReport

Pros:

• Excellent templates for designers, photographers, artists, architects, consultants
• Easy galleries and case studies
• Built-in commerce can handle services, payments, and simple products Squarespace
• Low maintenance

Cons:

• Less flexible if you want unusual checkout flows

Best setup: Portfolio pages → Services page → “Pay Deposit” buttons.

2. Wix — easiest for service businesses

Best if you want more business tools without complexity. Website Builder Site

Pros:

• Drag-and-drop editing
• Strong service-business features
• Can sell services, take payments, add forms, bookings, invoices, etc. Squarespace
• Easy for a non-designer to update

Cons:

• Some templates can look less “high-end” unless carefully customized

3. Webflow — best-looking if you’re design-focused

Best if you care about a very custom, agency-style portfolio. Squarespace

Pros:

• Beautiful animations and layouts
• More control over branding
• Great for impressive case studies

Cons:

• More learning curve
• Ecommerce/service payments are not as simple as Wix or Squarespace Squarespace

My recommendation:

• Designer / photographer / creative freelancer: Squarespace
• Consultant / coach / agency / service provider: Wix
• Designer who enjoys building websites: Webflow

A simple winning structure would be:

1. Home — strong visual intro
2. Portfolio — 5–10 best projects
3. Services — packages with starting prices
4. About — credibility/story
5. Contact — inquiry form
6. Deposit button — “Start your project” → payment checkout

For occasional deposits, I’d choose Squarespace unless you need scheduling, client management, or lots of service workflows — then choose Wix. WebsiteBuilderReport.com

For a beautiful portfolio site that can also take occasional client deposits, I’d focus on builders that make service payments easy rather than full-blown online stores. The best fits are:

1. Squarespace — best overall for a polished creative portfolio

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

Why it fits:

• Very strong visual templates and portfolio layouts
• Easy to add “Book a project,” “Deposit,” or “Pay invoice” buttons
• Built-in commerce tools can handle services, products, subscriptions, and payments Squarespace
• Less technical maintenance

Downside:

• Less flexible if you want unusual checkout flows or a complex client portal

My pick if your priority is: “I want my site to look premium and make clients trust me.”

2. Wix — best if you want simple service selling + flexibility

Best for: freelancers who need deposits, bookings, forms, and client management

Why it fits:

• Drag-and-drop editing
• Good tools for service businesses
• Can combine portfolio pages with payments, bookings, forms, and customer management Squarespace
• Easier to change things yourself later

Downside:

• It can be easier to accidentally make the design feel less refined unless you start with a strong template

My pick if your priority is: “I want to manage everything myself without hiring a developer.”

3. Webflow — best-looking, but more work

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

Why it fits:

• Maximum visual control
• Excellent for case studies and high-end portfolios
• Can support ecommerce workflows, though it’s more involved than Wix/Squarespace Squarespace

Downside:

• More of a learning curve
• Overkill if you only need occasional deposits

4. Shopify — probably unnecessary for your use case

Great if you sell lots of products, but for “portfolio + occasional client deposits,” it can feel like bringing a warehouse system to a freelance invoice. VettedSaaS

My recommendation:

• Creative professional / premium brand: Squarespace
• Freelancer offering packages or services: Wix
• Designer building a standout interactive portfolio: Webflow

A common setup would be:

• Portfolio pages → showcase work
• Services page → 2–5 packages
• “Start a project” button → intake form
• Deposit checkout → $250–$1,000 upfront payment

If you tell me your field (photography, design, architecture, coaching, video, etc.) and whether deposits are fixed packages or custom quotes, I can narrow it down.

For what you described, I’d pick Squarespace.

It hits a particularly nice sweet spot between beautiful portfolio design and simple service payments:

My ranking

1. Squarespace — best overall for you

• Excellent-looking portfolio templates and galleries.
• You can sell services as products, without turning the site into a big online store. Squarespace Help Squarespace Help
• You can take an up-front deposit and then scheduled installments for a service. Squarespace Help
• You can also send professional invoices/payment links for one-off client projects. Squarespace Squarespace Help
• Particularly good if clients usually contact you first, and only occasionally need to pay a deposit.
• Wix — best if you want more booking/business functionality

• Wix Bookings lets you set a specific deposit amount when someone books a service. Wix Support Wix Support
• You can accept online payments, invoices, packages, memberships, etc. wix.com wix.com
• More flexible than Squarespace for a business where booking/scheduling is central.
• I'd choose it over Squarespace if you're going to have lots of appointments rather than occasional project deposits.
• Shopify — probably overkill

• Fantastic if ecommerce is the main business.
• For a portfolio where you occasionally sell a $500–$5,000 service or collect a project deposit, I'd rather have the cleaner portfolio experience of Squarespace.

What I'd build

For a creative/service portfolio, I'd make the site something like:

Home → striking intro + best work
Work → portfolio/case studies
Services → 3–5 clearly defined offerings
About → short personal story
Contact → inquiry form
Book / Pay Deposit → simple service checkout

For example, your Services page could have:

Brand Identity — $2,500
Strategy, visual identity, logo system, and brand guidelines.
$750 deposit to begin

The client can then pay the deposit without you having to maintain a traditional ecommerce catalog. Squarespace specifically supports service products and payment plans like this. Squarespace Help Squarespace Help

So if your priority is “beautiful portfolio first, occasional client payments second,” I'd go Squarespace. If it's “service business with lots of appointments and deposits,” I'd go Wix.

squarespace.com
wix.com

If your priority is a beautiful portfolio first, with simple service payments/deposits second, I’d pick Squarespace.

My ranking

1. squarespace.com — best overall for your use case

• Excellent-looking portfolio templates and very polished presentation.
• You can sell services directly as products, so a client can choose a service and pay online. Squarespace Help
• It supports deposits + installment payment plans for qualifying service products. Squarespace Help
• You can also send branded invoices and payment links, which is particularly useful when every client project is slightly different. Squarespace Squarespace Help
• If you eventually want booking, Acuity Scheduling integrates into the same ecosystem.

Best setup: Portfolio → Services → “Book/Start Project” → 30–50% deposit → remaining balance by invoice/payment plan.

2. wix.com — best if you want more flexibility

• Wix is stronger if your services involve more complicated forms, workflows, or booking.
• Wix's service scheduling supports upfront deposits, invoices, and payment links. wix.com
• Its inquiry-based services are also good for custom work where you want to talk to the client before taking payment. Wix Support
• Design can be excellent, but I generally prefer Squarespace for a high-end creative portfolio with minimal fuss.
• shopify.com — probably overkill

• Fantastic if you're primarily selling physical/digital products.
• For a portfolio where you occasionally collect a client deposit, I'd rather not build the whole site around ecommerce infrastructure.

What I'd choose

Squarespace, without hesitation, if you're something like a designer, photographer, creative freelancer, consultant, architect, studio, or other project-based professional.

The nice part is that you don't have to make the site feel like an online store. You can have a gorgeous portfolio and simply put a “Work With Me” or “Start a Project” button on it. Behind that, Squarespace can handle the deposit/payment side. Its current service tools explicitly support portfolios, service sales, invoicing, scheduling, and payments. Squarespace Squarespace

One caveat: Squarespace's service-product payment plans currently require the service to be $100+, and payment-plan checkout requires the customer to create an account. Squarespace Help If you're mostly taking, say, a simple $200–$1,000 project deposit, I'd probably use invoices/payment links rather than making the client go through a full ecommerce checkout.

If you tell me what kind of portfolio you're building (photography, design, architecture, consulting, art, etc.) and roughly how you charge clients, I can recommend the exact builder + payment setup I'd use.

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.