One of the few things that you wouldn’t like to encounter as a freelancer is a client who will ask you to work for him, and then after two weeks or so, will cancel out; thus nullifying the two or so weeks you’ve worked for him.
Meaning, you wasted your time and effort working on projects without getting any compensation. A friend of mine had encountered a client like that and, sad to say, he worked for three weeks; just one week short of the one-month pay scheme they agreed on before they started.
This client is one with his own large, client base abroad. In fact, the client in question owns a hosting company that accepts Web design and development. My friend’s former client is currently hosting about 149 Websites including four of the Websites that my friend worked on (three minor projects and one major project).
When my friend signed on with his client, everything was fine. They talked everyday and my friend would give updates about the things the client wanted to done. There were times too when they didn’t talk about the project and just talked about anything under the sun. In short, the client was too nice and that’s the reason why my friend didn’t suspect that what happened would happen.
Another friend of mine encountered a client that, after all the effort that he exerted on the project, and after finishing the project on time, refused to pay him and my friend ended up not getting the full payment for the project. The Website was a very tricky one because the Website was an SEO on-line tool that also has a search engine submission. I’ve seen some of the design codes and it’s very complicated.
If you are working as a freelancer, make sure that whatever you and your client have agreed on will be followed because there are times when a client will ask you to add additional features that are not included in the specifications they give you.
There are times too that the payment will be delayed so make sure that they haven’t gotten the full working version until they’ve sent you the full payment. But if your client is a long time client whom you’ve worked for on several projects, then there’s no reason for you to take a few precautionary measures.
I don’t mean to scare those that are planning to be freelancers but as a freelancer you are taking a big risk and if you can’t take the risk then you better stay with the company you are presently employed in. Honestly speaking, the compensation is great if you get paid but the compensation is also matched by certain risks you have to endure.
