Protecting yourself as a designer

ardcor · 05-01-2008, 04:58 AM

Ok, when working freelance it's important that you actually get paid for the work you do.

It's hard to follow up on some work you have done for a company if they are abroad, and don't end up coughing up.

As mentioned in another post, request a deposit of 25% of the final price, with written on the initial invoice " 75% to be paid from X to X when work has been completed" so you have a record that they are going to pay you the rest.

Only supply half sized images at bad quality, with watermarks so that they cannot be used until you have been paid.

This will help you protect yourself whilst freelancing, and if somebody doesn't respect your choice methods of carrying out work, are you really willing to take the risk?

This will help you build up GOOD clients, who pay on time and eventually will work closely with you.

chris · 05-01-2008, 09:31 AM

Wow. I just posted something extremely similar to this in a different thread. I think it was "New_Age"'s thread about that logo haha.

These are valuable points, however, you might not want to make it too bad of quality. The watermark and the small size might work the best !

~chris

ardcor · 05-01-2008, 09:59 AM

Yeh, depends who i'm working for. I've known some clients to remove watermarks and use them regardless.

chris · 05-01-2008, 04:08 PM

Whoa. Monsters I tell you, monsters. Lol. Your way may be better then. Haven't dealt with many clients yet so yeah. Once I get "into the business", I will probably have a change of heart.

Thanks for posting a lot early on.

Oh, and I like your new avatar.

Keep up the good work man!

~chris

Gino · 05-01-2008, 08:05 PM

Great post, I think a lot of young designers get ripped off at least once when they stat off because of not taking a deposit. For smaller jobs I usually ask for the full payment upfront.

ardcor · 05-02-2008, 03:35 AM

Yeh it totally depends on the project. You can't expect a client to cough up a HUGE amount of money if you are working on it for a month etc. But they, hope this helps guys!

chris · 05-02-2008, 08:53 AM

Thanks for posting these valuable assets to the forums.

(This post and the list)

Thanks for being active early and continue to post!

~chris

freestyle · 05-02-2008, 09:04 AM

thanks for the info will come in use in the near future

ardcor · 05-03-2008, 05:41 PM

glad it helped dude;

alyCe · 05-04-2008, 04:52 AM

word to everything!
Also, my favourite website: www.no-spec.com

Read it and learn

05-01-2008, 04:58 AM	#1
ardcor Ardcor Massive Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: London UK Posts: 313	Protecting yourself as a designer Ok, when working freelance it's important that you actually get paid for the work you do. It's hard to follow up on some work you have done for a company if they are abroad, and don't end up coughing up. As mentioned in another post, request a deposit of 25% of the final price, with written on the initial invoice " 75% to be paid from X to X when work has been completed" so you have a record that they are going to pay you the rest. Only supply half sized images at bad quality, with watermarks so that they cannot be used until you have been paid. This will help you protect yourself whilst freelancing, and if somebody doesn't respect your choice methods of carrying out work, are you really willing to take the risk? This will help you build up GOOD clients, who pay on time and eventually will work closely with you. __________________ Now you can hire me! My Site - www.adamwoodhouse.co.uk My DA - http://ardcor.deviantart.com Me on Adobe.com http://www.adobe.com/designcenter/ga...tent=woodhouse

05-01-2008, 09:31 AM	#2
chris Super Moderator Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 503	Wow. I just posted something extremely similar to this in a different thread. I think it was "New_Age"'s thread about that logo haha. These are valuable points, however, you might not want to make it too bad of quality. The watermark and the small size might work the best ! ~chris __________________ PORTFOLIO // SHIRTS // HOME

05-01-2008, 09:59 AM	#3
ardcor Ardcor Massive Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: London UK Posts: 313	Yeh, depends who i'm working for. I've known some clients to remove watermarks and use them regardless. __________________ Now you can hire me! My Site - www.adamwoodhouse.co.uk My DA - http://ardcor.deviantart.com Me on Adobe.com http://www.adobe.com/designcenter/ga...tent=woodhouse

05-01-2008, 04:08 PM	#4
chris Super Moderator Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 503	Whoa. Monsters I tell you, monsters. Lol. Your way may be better then. Haven't dealt with many clients yet so yeah. Once I get "into the business", I will probably have a change of heart. Thanks for posting a lot early on. Oh, and I like your new avatar. Keep up the good work man! ~chris __________________ PORTFOLIO // SHIRTS // HOME

05-01-2008, 08:05 PM	#5
Gino Administrator/Founder Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: NYC Posts: 1,001	Great post, I think a lot of young designers get ripped off at least once when they stat off because of not taking a deposit. For smaller jobs I usually ask for the full payment upfront. __________________ DESIGN BLOG // T SHIRT BLOG // ANIMAL PRINT SHIRTS


Welcome to our Graphic Design Forums! Your Design Forums has active graphic design forums where community members discuss graphic design related topics.

05-02-2008, 03:35 AM	#6
ardcor Ardcor Massive Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: London UK Posts: 313	Yeh it totally depends on the project. You can't expect a client to cough up a HUGE amount of money if you are working on it for a month etc. But they, hope this helps guys! __________________ Now you can hire me! My Site - www.adamwoodhouse.co.uk My DA - http://ardcor.deviantart.com Me on Adobe.com http://www.adobe.com/designcenter/ga...tent=woodhouse

05-02-2008, 08:53 AM	#7
chris Super Moderator Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 503	Thanks for posting these valuable assets to the forums. (This post and the list) Thanks for being active early and continue to post! ~chris __________________ PORTFOLIO // SHIRTS // HOME

05-02-2008, 09:04 AM	#8
freestyle Senior Designer Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 419	thanks for the info will come in use in the near future

05-03-2008, 05:41 PM	#9
ardcor Ardcor Massive Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: London UK Posts: 313	glad it helped dude; __________________ Now you can hire me! My Site - www.adamwoodhouse.co.uk My DA - http://ardcor.deviantart.com Me on Adobe.com http://www.adobe.com/designcenter/ga...tent=woodhouse

05-04-2008, 04:52 AM	#10
alyCe Super Moderator Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Norway Posts: 558	word to everything! Also, my favourite website: www.no-spec.com Read it and learn __________________ glunge

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