Had to pick between a safe $2k gig or a risky one that could pay $10k

I took the risky job for a new client in Austin, and after three months of work, they ghosted me right before the final payment, so what's your rule for spotting a bad client before you sign?

3 comments

3 Comments

lucas97222d ago

What's the first red flag you look for? For me, it's when they get weird about a simple contract. If they push back on basic payment terms, that's a hard stop.

ryan_stone4522d ago

Totally feel that. I had a client once who argued over a standard 50% deposit before starting work. Like, it's just how it works, you know? They kept saying they'd pay after, but that's a huge risk. Makes you wonder what else they'll be difficult about down the line. Spotting that early saves so much trouble.

the_ray3d agoMost Upvoted

Absolutely, that contract pushback is the biggest tell. Had a guy who wanted to rewrite the entire late fee section before he even signed... like he was already planning to pay late. It's never just about the one clause, it shows how they'll handle every single step of the project. Saves a ton of headache to just walk away right then.