There are few things that can ruin your new freelance gig as much as not realizing you have a terrible client in good time.
Even if you snag the gig of your dreams, a horrendous relationship with the client can have you wishing you hadn’t even gotten it.
However, the saying goes that “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”, and noting early warning signs is the key to not getting stuck into a disastrous contract.
Following are five red flags to look out for when dealing with a new client before it’s too late.
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The client is hesitant to give you enough project information.
Before you take the plunge and take up a new gig, make sure the client is easily accessible.
If the client is only willing to scheme through the introduction of a project instead of giving you full information, they probably won’t co-operate or give additional information should you need it.
Make sure your potential client gives you as much information as is necessary and way to get touch with him or her. If not, consider passing on the project.
The client is evasive about important questions or underplays major concerns.
It is okay for clients to be slow in responding to your emails or calls, but when a client doesn’t directly address or even respond to any significant concerns, that’s a red flag.
You’re entitled to know about payment issues, contact person, deadlines, sources of project information, and anything else about the new project.
If you can’t get that information from the client, brace yourself for tough times ahead.
The client is willing to pay you out of UpWork or doesn’t want to sign a contract for a ‘Fixed Job’.
While the lure of a client that proposes to pay you outside of the freelancing platform on which they connected with you could be irresistible due to the convenience and flexibility; it is not only unethical but can also result into account closure.
It could also be a sign that the client is not trustworthy.
And if the client is unwilling to sign a contract for projects not paid for upfront or those without escrow, don’t bite on such a deal.
It’s not only the legal connection you have for the project once work is completed, but also your bill of rights should things go haywire.
4. Past freelancers have nothing good to say about their client.
When in doubt, search. Luckily, there are many resources you can use to weed out the crazies.
Naturally, one of the best ways to vet your potential client is through the freelancers who have previously worked with him/her.
If they had a good work relationship, they’d most likely want to work with the client in the future. They therefore have no incentive to lie – unlike the client.
If the experience was bad, they would want to make sure no one else suffers the same fate.
That is the beauty of freelance platforms such as UpWork and Fiverr that publicly display past testimonials for both freelancers and clients for completed projects.
Check them out.
Another way of vetting a potential client is through a quick Google search.
If it returns horrible things about them or their company (such as lawsuits, federal investigation or just a bunch of terrible reviews), that’s a pretty clear sign that you’re about to get screwed too.
The deal seems too good to be true.
Sometimes, good stuff really does happen to nice people.
But rarely in the form of promises of insane payments for a simple data entry job that requires 10 minutes to complete.
If the client is offering you a great deal on payment for a gig that is clearly worth much less, it means that there’s more to it.
