Pro tip: That 'too good to be true' project budget is always a red flag

Back when I first started freelancing, maybe 8 years ago, I thought a big budget was just a sign of a good client. I landed a job for a $15,000 website redesign, which was huge for me then. The guy seemed nice on the call, but he wanted every bell and whistle you could think of, and his timeline was crazy tight. I was so excited about the money I ignored the feeling in my gut. Halfway through, the change requests started piling up, all outside the original scope, and when I brought up the extra cost he got really quiet. He ended up ghosting me after the second milestone, leaving me with about $7,000 worth of unpaid work. It took that one bad experience to learn that a budget that doesn't match the scope means they either don't understand the work or plan to squeeze you for it. Has anyone else been burned by a project where the numbers just didn't add up from the start?

3 comments

3 Comments

drews559d ago

Honestly, I've had the opposite happen! My best projects started with a client offering a really strong budget right away. It showed they valued the work and were serious. One time a guy offered me way over my rate for a logo, and he was the easiest client ever, paid on time, loved the first draft. I feel like a low budget is a bigger red flag than a high one. Sometimes the money is just there and they want it done right.

jennybailey9d ago

Totally agree. I had a client book a full branding package and just name a number that was way above my quote. I was waiting for the catch, but they just sent over half upfront and gave clear notes. The whole thing was done in two weeks, no changes after the first look. It was the calmest project I've ever had. More money upfront usually means they trust you to do your job.

henry_anderson549d ago

My buddy at the print shop says the same thing as @drews55... the clients who pay more up front are always less hassle somehow.