Back in the original dot-com bubble, I worked at a place that, when it was time to flame out, flamed out so fast that management didn't even have time to empty

Back in the original dot-com bubble, I worked at a place that, when it was time to flame out, flamed out so fast that management didn't even have time to empty out the break room. I think seeking to understand the financial state of a company is smart for both employees and consultants, but the assumption that "upgraded beverage selection" unequivocally equates to "doing well" is naive. Frankly, in my experience, a young company adding a bunch of perks is just as likely to be living beyond its means as it is to be doing very well financially, but that doesn't really matter. As a consultant, you don't mitigate the risk of not getting paid by asking about the soft drink selection or looking at the lunch menu. You mitigate risk by diversifying your client base, negotiating favorable payment terms and watching receivables like a hawk. All things you should be doing anyway regardless of the client or the state of the client's break room.