I think that one of the problems that many of us face as freelance
workers in an environment that is as vast as the web is that on many
occasions we *never* even see the people that we are working with.
For example, right now I am working with three companies in Ann Arbor,
MI. I live in Milwaukee, and unless there is some demand for me to be on
site with one of these clients I will never see them. All of my work is
done electronically. (This is the magic of the web of course, that we do
not have to limit our business to one geographic area.)
I do demand 50% of payment for web projects up front. This is for my own
safety as a designer and also in a way for the benifit of the client.
Let me just give an example of why I feel that the payment upfront is
important for both parties. If I receive the 50% upfront that is written
into every contract between myself and a client I feel that they really
*want* their site designed. I feel confident in putting samples on the
web for them to look at, and they get a wonderful idea of the progress of
their site. If I weren't to ask for anything upfront on a project I
would have to stamp everything with "sample sample sample" and not feel
free to give very much of an advance look at the site to a client. This
is because it is *so* easy to "steal" graphics and or HTML off of the
web.
Look at it from this point of view. You spend 40 hours designing a site
for a client that has promised 100% payment upon dielivery. You finish
the product and show (on the web) the work to said client. They call you
two hours later and tell you they don't like it and don't want to work
with you anymore. Your time spent is down the drain. You don't have a
penny, and "oh my" two months later you find your work posted on
ex-clients web site because they right clicked and saved all of your
images and saved all of the HTML pages.
Now you have 2 choices, talk to your lawyer or let it go. I don't like
that scenario very much. And I feel that payment at the start of work
makes me feel safer with my clients and lets me give them more than I
would if I didn't demand this.
Simply my outlook on the whole issue.
Anna
Bob Munck wrote:
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Barry Lee Brisco
> > Sent: Friday, March 05, 1999 4:04 PM
>
> Me:> >... I'm personally uncomfortable with demanding
> Me:> >payment up front; it just doesn't feel "business-like."
>
> > I think it is entirely acceptable to require payment up front
> > because I am a freelance developer, not a company or
> > multi-person business.
>
> I don't understand this point. If you go to a doctor or dentist
> (one of the old-fashioned non-HMO kind), would you expect to pay
> while you're still in the waiting room? They are just as
> "freelance" as you are.
>
> > an internet software development company that has been
> > in business for over 3 years [does it].
> > Payment up front in this business seems pretty standard.
>
> If by "this business" you mean web/internet development, maybe
> the business just isn't old enough to have developed mature
> business practices.
>
> I'd rather get $6K for a week's work after I do it than $3K
> before I do it, even if occasionally I don't get anything
> at all. The only thing I demand of my customers is that they
> pay my rate. I suppose that if a customer stiffed me and then
> wanted to hire me again a year later, I could demand three times
> my rate and payment up front, but it's more likely that I'd just
> say "no, thanks."
>
> Bob Munck
>
> ____________________________________________________________________
> --------------------------------------------------------------------
> Join The NEW Web Consultants Association FORUMS and CHAT:
> Register Today at: http://just4u.com/forums/
> Web Consultants Web Site : http://just4u.com/webconsultants
> Give the Gift of Life This Year...
> Just4U Stop Smoking Support forum - helping smokers for
> over three years-tell a friend: http://just4u.com/forums/
> To get 500 Banner Ads for FREE
> go to http://www.linkbuddies.com/start.go?id=111261
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
--
SilverStar Designs
http://www.silverstardesigns.com
"...Sometimes what seems like surrender isn't surrender at all.
It's about what's going on in our hearts. About seeing clearly
the way life is and accepting it and being true to it, whatever
the pain, because the pain of not being true is far, far greater..."
-Nicholas Evans
____________________________________________________________________
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Join The NEW Web Consultants Association FORUMS and CHAT:
Register Today at: http://just4u.com/forums/
Web Consultants Web Site : http://just4u.com/webconsultants
Give the Gift of Life This Year...
Just4U Stop Smoking Support forum - helping smokers for
over three years-tell a friend: http://just4u.com/forums/
To get 500 Banner Ads for FREE
go to http://www.linkbuddies.com/start.go?id=111261
---------------------------------------------------------------------
