Rant: A client ghosted me after I finished their entire website redesign

I just wrapped up a full site build for a local bakery in Springfield, sent the final invoice for $2,500, and now they've been completely silent for 10 days. I even sent a friendly follow-up email checking if they needed help launching it. Has anyone else had a client disappear right at the finish line, and what did you do next?

3 comments

4 Comments

nora_webb512mo ago

Wait, did you give them the final site files before getting paid? That's the one thing I never do. I always keep the work on a private staging link until the invoice clears. Maybe send one more firm email saying the site is ready to go live as soon as the balance is settled?

max_schmidt772mo ago

Oh man, I learned that lesson the hard way a few years back. Sent the full package to a client who then ghosted for three months. I felt like a total rookie. Now my staging site password is the most guarded secret in my life, right up there with my wifi password. It just saves so many headaches.

xenam842mo ago

Ugh that's the worst feeling. Nora's totally right, that final payment is your only real leverage. I've been burned before too.

james_paidtoday19d ago

Since you already sent a friendly follow-up, I’d make the next message more specific rather than just warmer.

I’d include:

- the invoice amount

- the date it was sent

- the due date / payment terms

- the payment link or payment instructions

- one clear question: “Can you confirm when payment will be made?”

Something like:

“Hi [Name], following up on the final invoice for the website redesign, sent on [date] for $2,500. Could you confirm when payment will be made? If there’s an issue with the invoice or launch handoff, please let me know today so I can help resolve it.”

Still polite, but no ambiguity.