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Pro tip: Charging a deposit upfront (just a small one) really weeded out the bad clients.
It saved me from countless headaches and wasted time.
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nora_murphy6mo ago
Took me way too long to figure that one out. Learned it after a few too many free 'consultations' that were really just people wanting me to do their work for them for free. A small deposit suddenly makes everyone get serious, doesn't it? Who knew your dignity had such a low price tag?
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rivera.shane5mo ago
That "dignity price tag" line hits hard.
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abby_fisher6mo ago
Right! I had the same thing with my freelance design work. People would book a 'quick chat' and then expect me to sketch out entire logos for free. Once I asked for a tiny deposit, like $20, suddenly those requests stopped. It's amazing how putting a price on your time filters out the folks who weren't serious. I even had one guy who backed out the moment I mentioned the deposit, which just proved he was never going to pay for the real work anyway.
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tessaw966mo ago
When I made my deposit non-refundable, the time-wasters vanished overnight. You're spot on, @nora_murphy, it really does make people get serious. I learned to outline exactly what the consultation includes so there's no confusion later. Had a guy once who wanted a full business plan during a free chat, but now with money upfront, they respect my time. What's the lowest deposit you've found effective?
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