As a website designer, you love working with all your clients, right? Yeah, and I have a bridge I want to sell you. The truth of the matter is you have great clients and some you wish you had never taken on. There are a few keys to keeping these clients in control, but one of the biggest is the agreement you sign with them. The key is to make sure it is yours!
I'm continually shocked how many times I hear from website designers who complain about someone who ripped them off for a site. They usually don't get the last payment or get underpaid. When asked why they didn't go after the party using their contract, they mumble that they don't have one. This is nuts!
If you are a website builder, you are asking to be ripped off if you don't have a written contract with your client. A contract sets out the terms between the two parties. If one doesn't comply, it is usually a slam dunk to get them to do so in court when it comes to design agreements. If there is no written agreement, you get into "he said", "she said" situations that become a big mess.
A contract is nice, but there is an even better approach for your overall business. A standardized design contract is what you are after. This is a contract prepared for you by a lawyer that you can use in each case. The contract is written to be fair to the client, but favor you should there be any dispute. For instance, the ownership of the site would not transfer to the client till final payment is made. Trust me, that will get them writing checks quickly!
It is easy to rush into a design project without getting your ducks in order first. This will inevitably lead to some very painful lessons. That's the last thing you want. Make sure you have a standard contract for your clients and use it.
I'm continually shocked how many times I hear from website designers who complain about someone who ripped them off for a site. They usually don't get the last payment or get underpaid. When asked why they didn't go after the party using their contract, they mumble that they don't have one. This is nuts!
If you are a website builder, you are asking to be ripped off if you don't have a written contract with your client. A contract sets out the terms between the two parties. If one doesn't comply, it is usually a slam dunk to get them to do so in court when it comes to design agreements. If there is no written agreement, you get into "he said", "she said" situations that become a big mess.
A contract is nice, but there is an even better approach for your overall business. A standardized design contract is what you are after. This is a contract prepared for you by a lawyer that you can use in each case. The contract is written to be fair to the client, but favor you should there be any dispute. For instance, the ownership of the site would not transfer to the client till final payment is made. Trust me, that will get them writing checks quickly!
It is easy to rush into a design project without getting your ducks in order first. This will inevitably lead to some very painful lessons. That's the last thing you want. Make sure you have a standard contract for your clients and use it.
