Trust is important while working as a Freelancer

I am a WordPress developer, working as a full-time freelancer. In this post, I will share my experiences in freelancing and my thoughts on building trust with new clients.

“The Most Expensive Thing in The World is Trust. Cheap People Can’t Afford it!”

– A quote from the web series “Scam.”

What are your thoughts on this?🤔

Challenging aspects of freelancing.

One of the most challenging aspects of freelancing is establishing trust and initiating work without requesting an upfront payment from the client. I have encountered instances where clients did not compensate me for my work, yet I continued to provide my services without demanding advance payments from new clients.

It’s essential to recognize that clients also need to trust freelancers not to misuse their information, just as we need to trust clients to fulfill their payment commitments. While different approaches to payments exist, as a full-time freelancer, I cannot risk losing opportunities due to the insistence on advance payments.

So, how do I ensure that clients pay me promptly?

Here is my approach:

1. I engage in detailed project discussions with clients over Skype calls and promptly follow up with a comprehensive email summarizing our agreement.
2. I document the work I undertake and the hours spent each day, sending regular email updates to the client.
3. I refrain from requesting an advance payment until I have worked for at least 10 hours on the project.
4. I maintain a Google sheet to track all project-related details, including notes and hours worked, and share this sheet with the client from the project’s outset.
5. Payment requests are made only after completing 10 hours of work.
6. If a client fails to make the payment for the previous 10 hours of work, I temporarily halt the project until payment is received.

This is my approach to client interactions while working as a freelancer, particularly when handling project-based assignments. I prefer to request payments in phases as we progress through the project.

Nevertheless, it’s crucial always to deliver on your commitments and strive to provide the best possible service. This ensures that your clients are satisfied and will be more willing to fulfill their payment obligations.

I invite you to share your thoughts in the comments regarding the importance of trust when working virtually or as a freelancer.