stitchrobot — Clients; The only reason you put up with them is because they give you money except when they don't.

Clients; The only reason you put up with them is because they give you money except when they don’t.

Client: “What’s this invoice for?”

Me: That’s the initial deposit; you pay it to start the project and ensure my time commitment to you.

Client: I can’t pay this, I don’t have any money.

Me: “Uh… um. OK, well I can’t build you a website then.”

Client: “But you agreed to. I signed your agreement!”

Me: “I think there’s been a misunderstanding. You agreed my terms which includes paying an up front deposit. We talked about this. You said money was no object.”

Client: “Oh yes, well, I meant money’s no object after the website is built and I’ve sold all my sculptures. I can’t pay you anything now. I want you to build me a free site, then when I’m rich, I’ll pay you.”

Me: “So you want me to work for free with the possibility that I might one day get paid? I’m sorry but it doesn’t work like that.”

Client: “Of course I don’t expect you to work for free. You’ll be paid when I sell my first sculptures.”

Me: “I have a better idea. How about you sell some sculptures first, perhaps at a craft fair, then when you’ve made some money, you can use that to have me build you a site?”

Client: “Are you trying to be funny?”