I was wondering if there is a way to ensure getting paid by each job. I've only ever really built websites for people that I've known. Recently though I've been taking on more clients, mostly people Ive only met for the first time and I do not want to do all the work and then them lock me out of the site without paying me. I know that if I am building a site from scratch that they won't be able to do this because I will hold the password information to the site till I receive payment, but would it be understandable to change the password of a site that I am revamping? Or is there another way to ensure that I can get paid when its all said and done? How do you all do this with clients that you may not even meet in person?

~Thanks in Advance~

http://www.webmaster-talk.com/liabil...erim-caps.html

I'm personally not a web designer but I would just show them a screen shot first and not show them any code until they pay.



Regards,
FGU

Thanks for the link chrishirst...and not a bad idea FGU

I get clients all the time that want me to throw them a number during the first meeting which can be really stressful. You don't want to under shoot yourself and you don't want to run to high either. Telling them they are going to have to wait for you to figure more in depth the project sort of discourages them.(From personal Experience anyway.) Its always hard because I honestly never know what to charge. I feel like what I do may be to easy for what normally the price should be set at. Then again though I have met people who don't know how to use a search engine or what one is even.

Running along beyond getting paid now. How much is to much for a website or not enough even? I have done a lot of coding and web designing in the past but nothing I would honestly like to show people as previous work or all are to outdated. I was thinking about taking on a couple jobs just to get a portfolio started and charging around 15-20 an hour. I would do them for free but I do have costs on my end as well that I need to take care of that I am sure all of you here know about as well. Do you think this price is to high for some one like me or could I be charging a bit more. I have all the professional software and hardware for the work. I know the code. I just don't have the previous work to show.

Any Ideas or Advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks Again,
TreyeMe

Hi There,
Firstly, the best thing to do is get everything in writing. I.e. what your end of the deal states and what the client is obliged to do. Next setup a timeline of when things are supposed to be done.
Another thing you can do is breakup the payments based on the length of the project. If the project is only running for 2 weeks, make it one payment on completion of the website. - Dont release the site until payment made.
If the project is say 4 weeks or more, collect half money up front and the rest on completion before you launch the site.

When you do your next project, estimate how long it will take you to do each element of your website.
I.e. Forum install and templating takes 5 hours, site design takes 6 hours etc.
Then you can give your clients a ballpark figure when you meet with them. I personally never give a price to a client on the first meeting until I have time to look into the project a bit more.

Create a consultation form to give out to prospective clients. ASK them what their budget is, so you know how much time to dedicate to the project.

Does any of that help?

Cheers

always asked for a down payment before finishing a job...or put some bug just in case...hehe