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Your freelancing horror story?
Week 86 Group Rant
rabbi
7y

First job.

CLIENT: It's just a small website, 15-20 pages 2,500$, what do you say?

ME: Sure, sounds easy.

CLIENT: oh, and I need you to sign this contract that you won't copy or competete with me for the next two years.

ME: Sounds reasonable.

-- A year later --
I had finished building a huge CMS system that serves 420+ organizations, the entire thing copied from his competitor.

CLIENT: So there is only about two weeks left of work...

ME: Goodbye, I have a new job that actually pays money.

CLIENT: Don't forget our contract...

ME: Sure..

At least he paid me, but 2,500$ for a whole year's work isn't such a good deal anymore.

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wk86
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Comments
  • 79
    7y
    Sorry to say this but you’re an idiot. And I mean that in the nicest way possible. After a month had passed you should have gotten paid and then re-evaluated the rest of the project.

    It’s people who do deals like that which makes these idiot clients think they can get sites and apps built for pennies, which affects the rest of us.
  • 19
    7y
    Need your own contract which outlines scope of work and milestones with payment etc.
  • 4
    7y
    Been there, done that.

    Gladfully you could move on. Keep it that way.
  • 1
    7y
    Guess one really can't be good at everything there buddy.
  • 14
    7y
    Why all the hate?

    He said this was his first job and tag.

    Being honest about past mistakes will help others avoid them.
  • 7
    7y
    @SSDD As I said, it was first job, and you know the feeling that you only have a few more hours and your done...
  • 5
    7y
    Self note:
    Learn how to write contracts lmao
  • 2
    7y
    @SSDD not to mention wix and entrepreneurial folks who claim to build apps without coding
  • 1
    7y
    I know that feeling. When I was starting, 8 years ago, I had a client which asked me to build an "order" feature for a book she published. She wanted a picture and a button, which should send an email notification to her and to the potential client, so they can proceed the negotiation. No online payment, because she was on budget. 7 months laters, and I did a complete online store with online payment and much more, for the price of two weeks of work.

    It's a lack of self esteem symptom.
    Don't do it again. You worth it.
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