Almost lost a $3,000 retainer because I didn't put a kill fee in the contract

I was sitting at my kitchen table in Portland last spring, and a client who had been great for 6 months just ghosted after the first draft. I had to eat 40 hours of work because I assumed we'd never need a kill fee clause. Has anyone else gotten burned skipping that small line in a contract?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_laura8d ago

Portland's one of those places where a handshake still counts for some folks, but I'd say you just learned a cheap lesson.

wyattramirez8d ago

Man, you're not wrong. Handshake deals are about trust, and Portland does have a lot of that old school vibe. But I've learned the hard way that even with folks who seem solid, you gotta get things in writing. Doesn't have to be a lawyer or anything, just a quick email or text saying "Hey, just to confirm what we agreed on..." saves so much headache. Cheap lesson is right, I'd rather pay $50 for a notary than lose a couple hundred bucks over a misunderstanding.