front money

front money (uncountable)

1. (business) Money paid for goods or services in advance, sometimes through an intermediary.
   • 1997, Joseph Wambaugh, Floaters‎, →ISBN, page 173:

     "I wouldn't have given him any front money. I don't trust him that much."

2. (business) Capital which is required in order to establish a business and begin operations.
   • 1994 June 27, “Information Highwaymen”, in Business Week, retrieved 19 April 2011:

     Promoters of SMR deals usually charge investors thousands of dollars in front money to help them obtain SMR licenses, and later solicit more money to build the systems.

• up-front money

• “front money”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.