A simple deposit request made my international work way less stressful

I began asking for a small deposit before starting any job with people in other countries. It felt pushy at first, but now I see it as a standard practice. The upfront cash covers initial costs and shows the other party is committed. Looking back, I wish I had started doing this sooner.

4 comments

4 Comments

susanc526h ago

Wait, you only just started doing this? Seriously, that simple step would have saved me from so many awful clients early on. The amount of times I got stuck doing free work because someone vanished after the planning phase... a tiny deposit really does make all the difference.

henryrivera1d ago

Totally, that deposit acts like a real filter. It immediately weeds out the clients who aren't serious or who might ghost you after you've done the planning work. For example, it can cover those annoying international bank transfer fees or last minute changes that eat up your time. It sets a professional tone from the very first email. Honestly, it just saves so many headaches down the road.

sam9121d ago

Skipping the deposit was my dumbest early career move.

viola11d ago

That part about setting a professional tone, even a small payment makes people actually pay attention.