Back in 2019 I was drowning in unpaid invoices and a friend told me to start charging half up front

I was doing freelance graphic design and kept getting burned by clients who would drag out payments for months. It got so bad I had about $3,500 just floating out there that I couldn't collect. I was scared to ask for money before doing the work, thinking they'd just go hire someone else. My friend, who runs a small print shop, sat me down and said, 'No money, no start. It's that simple.' The next client I got, a bakery needing a new logo, I nervously asked for 50% before I even opened Photoshop. They paid it right away, no questions. That deposit covered my time even when they asked for a few extra tweaks later on. It completely changed how I run my business now. Has anyone else found a specific payment rule that finally stopped the cash flow panic?

3 comments

3 Comments

mason_reed4717d ago

That 50% rule can scare off good clients who just want to trust you first. I lost a big website project last year because I insisted on a deposit upfront. Some people see it as a red flag that you don't trust them, and they'll walk away.

violag8017d ago

Ugh, I feel that pain. I softened my rule to 25% to start, with clear milestones for more payments. For a logo project, I broke it into three parts: 25% to begin concepts, 50% for revisions, 25% for final files. It shows you have a plan, not just a demand. It filters out the people who just want free work.

the_oliver17d ago

Did I scare them off or just save myself?