Most bad freelance experiences come from unclear expectations, not bad people. A few habits prevent the majority of them.
Before you hire
- Write down what "done" looks like. If you cannot, you are not ready to hire.
- Look at past work similar to yours, and ask what their part in it was.
- Ask how they would approach your job. The answer shows more than a portfolio does.
- Speak to a past client if the job is large.
Agreeing the work
- Put scope, price, deadline and number of revisions in writing.
- Say who owns the result, and get that in writing too.
- For anything bigger than a few days, split it into stages with payment for each.
- Begin with a small paid task before a big one.
During the work
- Reply quickly. Many delays are the client's.
- Give feedback in one batch.
- Changes to the scope mean changes to the price. Raise it yourself.
Warning signs
- No questions about your project
- A price far below everyone else's
- Reluctance to show past work
- Pressure to pay everything up front
- Vague answers on timing
Freelancers reading this: what do clients do that makes a job go badly? Add it below.