Get a 50% deposit before you begin work. That 50% should be enough that you won't be completely screwed if they never wrap up the project. If your goal is rea

Get a 50% deposit before you begin work. That 50% should be enough that you won't be completely screwed if they never wrap up the project. If your goal is really to bootstrap your startup, your best bet is probably to hang on to the day job as long as possible - if only for the predictability of income.