I'm fairly new to the freelance world of web design, and have 2 clients that currently don't really seem to be in that big of a rush to get me the information I need in order to complete their website. How would you handle this type of client? I understand obviously it would be good to meet up and discuss all the details, but that just isn't realistic all the time with clients being in other states and what not, and even so, I met up with a client got pretty much everything we could figured out that day but things changed along the way. It's just frustrating when your trying to make a buck doing this and it just seems like you never are going to get paid. Since im new to the game I haven't built up the confidence yet to request a portion of the payment up front, ya know? I guess this is just the way it goes and I need to find more work in the downtime. Any suggestions would be great. Thanks!

It's called "feature creep" and it's the bane of every designers/developer life. The only way to combat it is to have an exact specification of what you are going to do for the contracted payment plus an agreed time allowable for minor changes. Anything above and beyond that is chargeable, even changing a single word

http://www.webmaster-talk.com/websit...what-do-i.html

True every designer comes across such clients from time to time.

exact specs and a contract is a must have.

Don't worry about being new to this to ask for money down. Sometimes it's what people need to get a kick in the "you know what" to get things rolling. If they are hesitant to give money down, just think how much fun it will be to collect the whole balance at once after you've spent hours coding. Keep a cash flow going like any other business and make people commit to you.

Collecting information is always the hardest part for me. That's why I specify that once the layout is agreed on, it will take "X" amount of time to complete the site "from the time I receive ALL material related to the site".

If they are hesitant to give money down, just think how much fun it will be to collect the whole balance at once after you've spent hours coding.

Actually the people who are "hesitant" in paying an "up front" payment or deposit are the clients you DON'T want.
They will also be most likely to be the clients who are "hesitant" at paying you after you have produced the finished work.

hey thanks for all the great suggestions, very helpful!

@Chrishirst

That is exactly the point I was making. If they don't want to pay anything down, they most likely would be a problem when collecting payment after completion, THEREFORE, it's up to you if you want to waste your time with those type of clients at all. I don't.

Should I have made that clearer?

Like you, I hesitated at asking for a deposit to start with. Then we had a client who agreed our designs, gave us the words for them and then looked at the completed website and said "now I can see how it works I'll go away and think what I really want"; 3 weeks later he came back with so many changes it needed a complete rewrite.

Nowadays, even though I still have only a small portfolio, I ask for a deposit before I start coding. With the last customer, I also asked for a small deposit before I gave him any designs and he seemed happy with that.

In future, I will ask for a small deposit before designs, another part-payment once designs are agreed and then full payment before the website goes live.

in the case where your getting paid 3 times during the course of the project. Do the payments run smoothly? I'm thinking it would be best if PayPal was used in a situation like this since checks or money orders would take longer?

If they don't, the work stops.

We have a 14 page project outline, terms, etc. that I use when doing web design for clients. It is essiential to take a downpayment. Also, it is crucial to keep the contract handy. If someone goes to far off course you politely let them know they have gone off course and you will bill them for it.

One item I tell clients who have an issue with paying a deposit is you wouldn't work for free, why should i. 99% of the time the issue is resolved. The other 1% we say good bye and have a nice day.

I always collect half the fee up front. That tends to make them a little more motivated to get the project finished. You must also set a time limit once the initial project is complete for the client to request changes. Two weeks should be enough time for most business owners to throughly look over their site and submit changes.

Originally Posted by Rad_Dev

I always collect half the fee up front. That tends to make them a little more motivated to get the project finished. You must also set a time limit once the initial project is complete for the client to request changes. Two weeks should be enough time for most business owners to throughly look over their site and submit changes.

Agreed! You must create the time table for them. You must be paid for your work. Many clients do not intentially try to cause issues. Many do but its not intential its from the lack of education. Then there is the ones who are intential. The contract and deposit will make both situations better.

great advice. Is their a good source online that addresses how to go about writing up a contract?

Originally Posted by TurnkeyInternet

Agreed! You must create the time table for them. You must be paid for your work. Many clients do not intentially try to cause issues. Many do but its not intential its from the lack of education. Then there is the ones who are intential. The contract and deposit will make both situations better.

Good call. I was also going to say creating a time table is the way to go. You have to let them know that your time is as important as theirs and you need to be compensated just like they would want to be.

When it comes to the dollar signs, its best to make sure you have an agreed to the certain terms before hand because that way you won't have to worry about dealing with this

Originally Posted by chrishirst

Actually the people who are "hesitant" in paying an "up front" payment or deposit are the clients you DON'T want.
They will also be most likely to be the clients who are "hesitant" at paying you after you have produced the finished work.

Great words of wisdom. Make sure your clients have some money invested before in a deposit you begin or you may, or probably will, lose out in the venture. I have been doing web design for over 10 years and have had a few occasions where a client did not want to place a deposit. This is a warning signal. These folks are the customers who want your time for nothing or want your time for very little. Also, don't forget a signed contract. See an attorney to get a formal one for your continued usage going forward. Trust me, I am now involved in a legal battle with a so-called friend who I built an amazing web site for over the past 10 years. A bitter lesson learned by me. Never again will I do business for anyone, including friends, without a signed contract.

Plus a contract and a deposit will make you look more professional to serious customers. Add in the costs for the legal contract as part of doing business. I am amazed at how cheap many new designers price their services. Make sure to charge enough to cover yourself.

Best of luck.

If you are starting out and you're unfamiliar with dealing with the money side of things, consider using a job site to act as middle man until you have built up a relationship with your clients.

Sure they take a cut. But a site like Rentacoder will require escrow payment up front, and will be a relatively neutral arbitrator if things go pear shaped. They will require a reasonable set of requirements before the project gets the go ahead and provide a track record of what gets discussed.

Once you've done a few jobs using them under your belt, you can decide whether you still need them in the loop.