Hot take: Cash upfront saved me from a $1,500 disaster last month | No Pay No Play - Freelance Forum - The Community for Independent Professionals

Cameron Garcia · 2026-07-09T12:35:03.973731+00:00

I had a client in Austin who promised to pay after I finished a full website redesign. I did the work, sent the invoice, and then they just ghosted me for two weeks. Now I ask for 50% upfront before I even open my laptop. Has anyone else had a client vanish like that after you delivered?

jackson.max2mo ago

Did you try sending them a strongly worded email from your spam folder like I do?

9

miaprice2mo ago

Did it really get that bad or are you just naturally paranoid now? One client going quiet doesn't mean everyone's out to screw you over. Sometimes people just suck at emails or had their own stuff blow up.

7

sullivan.quinn2mo ago

And now I can't sleep without checking if the deposit cleared first (thanks, anxiety).

2