Potential $15K project. Sent my standard services agreement. Client responded "we don't sign contracts, we just work on trust." Should I run or is this common?
run. 🚩🚩🚩
Red flag but not always a dealbreaker. Sometimes small business owners are just contract-averse, not malicious. Ask what specifically concerns them about your contract. Often they just don't want to involve lawyers or are intimidated by legal language.
Option: offer a simplified 1-page agreement that covers just the essentials: scope, payment terms, IP ownership.
Did a $10K project on "trust" once. Client disappeared after receiving deliverables. No contract = no recourse. Never again. At minimum get something in writing, even email confirmation of scope and payment terms.
Compromise: require 50% upfront payment before starting. If they won't sign a contract AND won't pay upfront, that tells you everything. If they'll pay upfront, the risk shifts to them and you're more protected.
Asked what concerns them. They said "we've worked with other freelancers without contracts before." Offered a 1-page simple agreement. They're "reviewing it."
even if they don't sign anything, a detailed email with "Per our discussion: scope is X, timeline is Y, payment is Z upon completion. Please confirm you agree." and their response "Yes, agreed" is technically a contract. Not as strong but something
Paula's right - contracts don't need signatures to be valid. Written confirmation via email creates an enforceable agreement. But for $15K, getting something formal signed is worth the awkwardness. Stand your ground politely.
Update: They signed the simplified agreement. Turns out they were just intimidated by the 8-page original. 50% deposit arrived today. Crisis averted!
Want to participate in this discussion?
Email owner@terms.law to request access