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Get at least 50% upfront for fixed fee projects. I always take 100%. Clients can be very inventive when it comes to withholding payment, and freelancers can't

by hashkb 6y ago

Get at least 50% upfront for fixed fee projects. I always take 100%. Clients can be very inventive when it comes to withholding payment, and freelancers can't afford the time to arbitrate/sue. Companies know this and will bully you into accepting their terms. Walk away.

iandanforth 6y ago
How on earth do you get 100% up front? I'd have to already be best friends with the person, and have read their code, to take that deal.
- hashkb 6y ago
  Then I'd walk away from your deal. The main way I get what I want is by not being desperate, and by doing a great job. Most of my business is referral. I'm a known quantity. Also, I encourage against fixed fee and prefer agile/retainer. If clients insist on fixed fee, they pay more, in full.
Silhouette 6y ago
Take some deposit so there is a degree of security and a degree of risk for both parties, sure. But full payment, up-front, with nothing to show for it? That seems entirely unreasonable and I can't understand why any rational client would ever accept it, unless maybe you're some sort of super-freelancer who's uniquely qualified and obviously in high demand.
- hashkb 6y ago
  Usually by the end of the consultation period, it ends up seeming reasonable. I don't have any tricks. Just direct, honest, hard work.
  - Silhouette 6y ago
    So you're not really demanding 100% up front, only after you've already established the relationship and delivered some value during an initial consultation period? That is a different proposition.
    - hashkb 6y ago
      Is it? I don't have a retail shop and a menu or anything; I need to have some conversation to propose the work and timeline. That's all I'm saying. A couple of free hours of estimating and discovery. I assume everyone goes through this? Are folks getting work with no contact at all?
      - Silhouette 6y ago
        OK, that's not what I thought you meant, then. I thought you were referring to the kind of engagement where you have some sort of initial "getting to know you" phase to clarify things like project requirements and contractual structure before moving on to the main project itself. That initial phase would usually be a paid engagement itself, though not necessarily on the same basis as the main project, lasting a significant amount of time. In the situation you're describing, I find it baffling that any rational client would accept your terms for anything but the simplest and most expendable engagements. If you can get them to, good for you, but how do you get it past their legal team? Or are you only working with small clients who might not get your terms reviewed before accepting them?

by hashkb 6y ago

iandanforth 6y ago

How on earth do you get 100% up front? I'd have to already be best friends with the person, and have read their code, to take that deal.

hashkb 6y ago
Then I'd walk away from your deal. The main way I get what I want is by not being desperate, and by doing a great job. Most of my business is referral. I'm a known quantity. Also, I encourage against fixed fee and prefer agile/retainer. If clients insist on fixed fee, they pay more, in full.

Silhouette 6y ago

Take some deposit so there is a degree of security and a degree of risk for both parties, sure. But full payment, up-front, with nothing to show for it? That seems entirely unreasonable and I can't understand why any rational client would ever accept it, unless maybe you're some sort of super-freelancer who's uniquely qualified and obviously in high demand.

hashkb 6y ago
Usually by the end of the consultation period, it ends up seeming reasonable. I don't have any tricks. Just direct, honest, hard work.
- Silhouette 6y ago
  So you're not really demanding 100% up front, only after you've already established the relationship and delivered some value during an initial consultation period? That is a different proposition.
  - hashkb 6y ago
    Is it? I don't have a retail shop and a menu or anything; I need to have some conversation to propose the work and timeline. That's all I'm saying. A couple of free hours of estimating and discovery. I assume everyone goes through this? Are folks getting work with no contact at all?
    - Silhouette 6y ago
      OK, that's not what I thought you meant, then. I thought you were referring to the kind of engagement where you have some sort of initial "getting to know you" phase to clarify things like project requirements and contractual structure before moving on to the main project itself. That initial phase would usually be a paid engagement itself, though not necessarily on the same basis as the main project, lasting a significant amount of time. In the situation you're describing, I find it baffling that any rational client would accept your terms for anything but the simplest and most expendable engagements. If you can get them to, good for you, but how do you get it past their legal team? Or are you only working with small clients who might not get your terms reviewed before accepting them?