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A client meeting at a coffee shop in Portland taught me to always bring a printed contract
I was meeting a new client at a place called Stumptown Coffee about six months ago. We were talking about a website redesign, and he seemed really into my ideas. I was excited and started giving him details on the spot. Then he asked for a 'quick favor' to just mock up one page so he could 'see my vision'. I did it on my laptop right there, which took about an hour of my time. When I sent him the invoice later, he refused to pay for that hour, saying it was just part of the pitch. I lost $150 and a morning of work because I didn't have our agreement on paper. Now I never start any work, not even a sketch, without a signed contract in front of me. Has anyone else had a client try to get free work by calling it part of the 'conversation'?
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casey34220d ago
Yeah, the "quick favor" thing is such a trap. I mean, it reminds me of when my cousin, who's a graphic designer, had a guy ask for "just a little logo idea" over a beer. She sketched it on a napkin to be nice, and next thing she knows, he's using a photo of that napkin as his actual business logo. She never got paid or credited. It's wild how people think your time and skill just don't count if it happens in a casual setting.
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finleyrivera19d ago
Right, it's like people forget that a casual setting doesn't erase the work. @casey342, that napkin logo story is a perfect example. What gets me is how they'll often act like they're doing you a favor by giving you a "fun" project, but then turn around and use it for real value. It's a sneaky way to avoid the awkwardness of talking about money. They get to feel like they didn't really ask for a professional service, so they don't owe you anything. Makes you wonder if they planned it that way from the start, you know?
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