For designers and clients: is it okay to ask downpayment upfront?
 

Do you think it is right for designers who are just starting out to ask a downpayment from their client upfront? I am juz wondereing about this because we have been burned twice already by clients who ran out on us after we have given them their designs.. and didn't pay a single cent.. i need your opinions.

depends. the days i was starting i wanted to make up my potfolio, so , i worked for free sometimes even.

Yes.

It sucks thought. I know there ar eso many crappy clients out there, and so many crappy designers too :(

if you havent learned from being burned twice .... get 50% up front.

Always half to full upfront.

No matter how hard they want a different deal.

also do not hand over actual design without payment.
Just show them an uncut jpg with a watermark on it.

50% up front is not un reasonable. it's unfortunate that to keep from being scammed, in many cases it is neccesary to ask for a deposit. :\

always...

well does anyone else have other opnions.. please...

No unless you like getting ripped off.

to all of you who posted out here thanks for your reply.. i'm gonna start applying this method.. but sometimes it kinda scares away the client.. to clients out there what do you think?

If they are afraid to put money up even half they are broke.
Find another client.

YA Angel what they said
50% up front or don't do business with them.

If people like your work/porfolio and know what you can do they will pay half upfront without a problem. I started to ask for at least half upfront since a year now and most don't care and even pay all upfront.

Problem is designers come and designers go, with new designers its always scary as they have 0 credibillity (most of the time) and lots of them are getting lazy after they got the payment.

:2 cents:

Not always. :)

Depends on the client, if you know them and trust them I wouldn't require it. Some guy you have never dealt with I would almost always get something up front.

well.. we are different.. we certainly take pride in delivering good quality service and professionalism is a very important aspect of our business.. that is i think why we got burned out.. they took advantage of us.. knowing that we are just new in this biz

hm I tend to do this yes but half a year ago a client who always paid everything without a problem (talking several complete paysites here) decided to not pay me for the last 2 complete paysites. 1100 down the shitter.

I do have clients though who I work for and they pay me after a month or 2 months and I just add everything till that payment date.

Be carefull who to trust though :2 cents:

50% upfront, the other 50% when completed.

Yes. I ALWAYS ask for half or 1/3 up front before anything has been started.

Hang in there. It's a catch-22 at first.

That's what they all say. But if you are still here next year then more power to you. No pun intended.

I have a few clients i dont require 50% down on design but they are serious players and have always paid ontime

any new business i require 50% down before work starts

don't worry we'll be here.. just for you we'll be here..hehehe

btw bigglejones.. i like your sig.. makes me feel sorry for the poor lady who got trampled down..must have hurt big time

Good news :thumbsup

it depends on the client nor designers..