I was anti-retainer until a client skipped town on $3,200

I used to think asking for a retainer was just for people who watched too many YouTube guru videos. Then six months ago a guy I did a full website redesign for ghosted me after I delivered the files. He owed me $3,200 and I had nothing to show for it but a polite email chain and a bruised ego. A buddy in the same field told me he charges 50 percent up front for every new client no exceptions. I tried it on my next three projects and the first one actually tried to negotiate down to 25 percent which told me everything I needed to know about their intentions. Now I ask for half before the first line of code gets written and if they balk I walk. Has anyone else had a junk client make them switch to upfront payments?

3 comments

3 Comments

alext524d ago

Half now or find someone else" works great until a solid client walks away too. @the_faith might just be scaring off good people.

abbyhall4d agoTop Commenter

@alext52 has a point though, seventeen revisions sounds like a horror movie plot.

the_faith4d ago

My buddy got burned for $4,500 on a logo project and now he makes them pay half before he even opens Photoshop. I went the other way once and took a small deposit from a client who seemed nice, then she asked for seventeen revisions on a simple landing page. Learned the hard way that people who haggle on the upfront are usually the ones who'll drain your time or skip out. Now I just tell em "half now or find someone else" and watch how fast they either pay or make an excuse.