Posted by greta_drupal on March 12, 2012 at 3:12am
The anecdote is laughable, albeit completely true and literally quoted...but, job-seeking part serious -- this being a primary reason. (Now up to $6,500 in unpaid invoices to clients for work completed!)
Thus far, I have only been working with local, very small businesses and individuals (but I do work for peanuts at a university...). This is good because I know where all my freelance clients live ;) (except... one does owe me about $900...). A paid-what-you're-worth staff job would be nice, wouldn't it?
Posted by maggielanoue on March 13, 2012 at 3:27am
I have been working with clients directly for a long time, but not with Drupal. I always write up a detailed job description, ask for a 75% or 50% deposit, and guarantee my work. Sometimes I have to work a bit extra to be sure my client is happy, but I always do get paid promptly.
I did a lot of HTML work since '95 but knew i had to upgrade my skills. Started to teach myself Drupal over a year ago but it was a slow go. I am so lucky to be selected for the "Shifting Code" class in Michigan! Michigan and Ann Arbor EDC are teaching 25 programmers and designers Drupal. Over 700 tried out. Those select all seem underemployed, and all work hard to learn new skills. I am looking forward to having a "real job" after all these years being self employed. There were a lot of things I liked about working on my own, and even having clients come back for my art etc over the years. But the steady income, having a good skill, and being around others who also enjoy working with Drupal, seems like it will be really nice. See you next week!
I freelance primarily for nonprofit clients. I work in collaborative teams with others in the nonprofit tech field. In the two years since I left a staff job, I've not yet gone unpaid. Sometimes there's been a delay, but so far, it's always come through. I am also careful to write up a contract agreement (adapted from the Killer Contract) and a Scope of Work, and I require the client to sign both before I start, so that I have as clear an agreement as possible in writing. Sounds like you usually work that way, but you got in a bad spot with this gem of a client.
When I see red flags like you're seeing, I don't take a client on. I can see how you got into your predicament, though, as it sounds like you got what felt like a very solid referral from a known client for a rush job. One of my red flags is if a client shows little/no interest in wanting to be self-sufficient once their Drupal site is up and running. Expectations of 100% perfect WYSIWYG and not wanting to understand even basic terminology of content types, taxonomy, etc.? Flaming red flag. But sounds like this client really did not make that clear until things were already out of hand.
Have you ever worked with a firm as a contractor? I find that to be my favorite way to work thus far. I get the freedom of freelancing, and some predictability of incoming work. I get colleagues and teams and infrastructure and project management/client management handled by someone else. Maybe it won't always be my ideal, but right now it's pretty nice.
I really hope you get paid by these people! Good luck!
Posted by greta_drupal on March 13, 2012 at 7:15pm
Yes, j.bates, you have understood the situation precisely. But, no, I will never see a dime of the $2,000+ that I am owed from them (date)....unless I sue.
I actually have been adding a liquidated damages clause to my contracts:
3. Liquidated Damages. As contractor has allocated time and resources to complete this project in a timely manner, breach of contract by Client shall result in liquidated damages of $2,000.00, payable immediately to contractor, upon contract breach.
I don't like to take on too many projects at once (only 1 big one at a time), so this time-setaside issue is significant. If client changes their mind mid-way through, contractor should get something akin to a severance, to now regroup and solicit new projects.
That sad thing is that the lesson learned for me is to not give anyone benefit of the doubt or extend any courtesy to anyone. As the Killer Contract author stated so perfectly:
"I’ve not always been so careful about asking my customers to sign contracts with me as I am now. Somehow in the past I felt that insisting on a contract went against the friendly, trusting relationship that I like to build with my customers."
By the way, what a gorgeous site that is http://24ways.org ! Really love that. And, he is a great writer.
Posted by greta_drupal on March 13, 2012 at 7:28pm
The Killer Contract is pretty lean. Since I always welcome finding these references, linking to the contractor agreement that I have been using (made generic for posting), in case anyone needs ideas.
Disclaimer: I am not a lawyer (although I played one at University of North Carolina Chapel Hill in my law studies.) Always have your contract review by your own legal counsel.
Comments
The anecdote is laughable,
The anecdote is laughable, albeit completely true and literally quoted...but, job-seeking part serious -- this being a primary reason. (Now up to $6,500 in unpaid invoices to clients for work completed!)
Ouch!
I want to start doing paid work but, wow, I soooo don't want to deal with clients. LOL!
Wow...
Thus far, I have only been working with local, very small businesses and individuals (but I do work for peanuts at a university...). This is good because I know where all my freelance clients live ;) (except... one does owe me about $900...). A paid-what-you're-worth staff job would be nice, wouldn't it?
You're not alone.
[Exit, pursued by a bear.]
Artwork Studio
Web Studio
working with clients
I have been working with clients directly for a long time, but not with Drupal. I always write up a detailed job description, ask for a 75% or 50% deposit, and guarantee my work. Sometimes I have to work a bit extra to be sure my client is happy, but I always do get paid promptly.
I did a lot of HTML work since '95 but knew i had to upgrade my skills. Started to teach myself Drupal over a year ago but it was a slow go. I am so lucky to be selected for the "Shifting Code" class in Michigan! Michigan and Ann Arbor EDC are teaching 25 programmers and designers Drupal. Over 700 tried out. Those select all seem underemployed, and all work hard to learn new skills. I am looking forward to having a "real job" after all these years being self employed. There were a lot of things I liked about working on my own, and even having clients come back for my art etc over the years. But the steady income, having a good skill, and being around others who also enjoy working with Drupal, seems like it will be really nice. See you next week!
Clients, clients, clients...
Wow. That is a hellish anecdote! I'm so sorry!
I freelance primarily for nonprofit clients. I work in collaborative teams with others in the nonprofit tech field. In the two years since I left a staff job, I've not yet gone unpaid. Sometimes there's been a delay, but so far, it's always come through. I am also careful to write up a contract agreement (adapted from the Killer Contract) and a Scope of Work, and I require the client to sign both before I start, so that I have as clear an agreement as possible in writing. Sounds like you usually work that way, but you got in a bad spot with this gem of a client.
When I see red flags like you're seeing, I don't take a client on. I can see how you got into your predicament, though, as it sounds like you got what felt like a very solid referral from a known client for a rush job. One of my red flags is if a client shows little/no interest in wanting to be self-sufficient once their Drupal site is up and running. Expectations of 100% perfect WYSIWYG and not wanting to understand even basic terminology of content types, taxonomy, etc.? Flaming red flag. But sounds like this client really did not make that clear until things were already out of hand.
Have you ever worked with a firm as a contractor? I find that to be my favorite way to work thus far. I get the freedom of freelancing, and some predictability of incoming work. I get colleagues and teams and infrastructure and project management/client management handled by someone else. Maybe it won't always be my ideal, but right now it's pretty nice.
I really hope you get paid by these people! Good luck!
Liquidated Damages
Yes, j.bates, you have understood the situation precisely. But, no, I will never see a dime of the $2,000+ that I am owed from them (date)....unless I sue.
I actually have been adding a liquidated damages clause to my contracts:
I don't like to take on too many projects at once (only 1 big one at a time), so this time-setaside issue is significant. If client changes their mind mid-way through, contractor should get something akin to a severance, to now regroup and solicit new projects.
That sad thing is that the lesson learned for me is to not give anyone benefit of the doubt or extend any courtesy to anyone. As the Killer Contract author stated so perfectly:
By the way, what a gorgeous site that is http://24ways.org ! Really love that. And, he is a great writer.
Sample Independent Contractor Agreement
The Killer Contract is pretty lean. Since I always welcome finding these references, linking to the contractor agreement that I have been using (made generic for posting), in case anyone needs ideas.
http://tymeforchange.org/Contract-Sample.doc or http://tymeforchange.org/Contract-Sample.pdf
Disclaimer: I am not a lawyer (although I played one at University of North Carolina Chapel Hill in my law studies.) Always have your contract review by your own legal counsel.
Thank you!
I appreciate when people share sample contracts. Thank you!