Contractor wants a 50% Deposit

[James Sloan]

Should I be worried if a contractor wants a 50% deposit (initial payment) on a 15 K interior paneling project? 

The material cost for this project is very linear over time. The first 100 square feet of paneling costs the same as the next. So, I cannot imagine why he would need this much up front. 

Thanks in advance for any insight.