advice Stop flexing money if you can’t pay for skills...

[akashtiwari]

had this dude come in flexing HARD. like first message mentions budget. second message mentions budget again. third message casually drops “we’re already doing 6 figs monthly so we need someone sharp.” cool bro congrats, very proud of you.
he asks what I do, I explain my process, audits, funnels, traffic fixes, the boring unsexy stuff that actually makes money. he’s impressed. keeps saying “finally someone who gets it.” sends voice notes. sends screenshots. big money vibes everywhere.

I do the work. like actually do it. clean fixes, proper structure, stuff that takes years to learn not youtube weekends. send him a breakdown so he understands what was done. he replies instantly: “damn this is high-level, you’re clearly experienced.”
five minutes later I send the invoice.
suddenly the man who replies in 30 seconds is now spiritually unavailable.

few days later he comes back with “bro this is great, just need to move some funds around.” sir… you just told me about your revenue like it was your personality. now we’re moving funds? meanwhile I can literally see him hiring other people, posting wins, talking about scaling. my work is already in use btw. just unpaid, chilling.

lesson I’m slowly tattooing on my brain: people who flash money the loudest are sometimes the weirdest when it’s time to actually pay. skills get respected AFTER payment, not before. next time someone leads with revenue screenshots, I’m leading with upfront terms. no more building Ferraris for people who won’t pay for petrol.

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Anyways, getting back to work, thank you!

 

[Bravo Mod Team]

Interesting lesson, indeed!

Thanks for sharing it.

 

[Eric Lyon]

skills get respected AFTER payment, not before. next time someone leads with revenue screenshots, I’m leading with upfront terms.

At a minimum, implement a 50% down / 50% upon completion payment agreement. Work doesn't start until down payment is confirmed.

Then offer a discount for those that don't mind paying in full upfront or for a set monthly fee/retainer (once results + trust has been established in the first project).

My design (and some marketing) related services have been structured that way for 20 years.

With the exception of using 99designs 1 on 1 project service as an Escrow service, where a client pays, 99D holds the funds until project is completed and then releases the funds to me.

I still have a few repeat clients that like 99D escrow via the 1 on 1 project option and delivery platform.

Unfortunately, 99D is only for design related marketing materials, so it wouldn't work for funnel services.

 

[EliasDom]

Spot on! Actually, people who really have money never feel the need to prove it...
The flexing is usually a huge red flag that they're compensating for a lack of professionalism.

 

[URL Stream]

At a minimum, implement a 50% down / 50% upon completion payment agreement. Work doesn't start until down payment is confirmed.

Then offer a discount for those that don't mind paying in full upfront or for a set monthly fee/retainer (once results + trust has been established in the first project).

My design (and some marketing) related services have been structured that way for 20 years.

With the exception of using 99designs 1 on 1 project service as an Escrow service, where a client pays, 99D holds the funds until project is completed and then releases the funds to me.

I still have a few repeat clients that like 99D escrow via the 1 on 1 project option and delivery platform.

Unfortunately, 99D is only for design related marketing materials, so it wouldn't work for funnel services.

OP can consider using a milestone-based payment plan, which is offered on many platforms.

https://support.upwork.com/hc/en-us...rstanding-milestones-on-fixed-price-contracts
https://www.freelancer.com/support/employer/payments/how-to-create-a-milestone-payment

 

[Eric Lyon]

OP can consider using a milestone-based payment plan, which is offered on many platforms.

https://support.upwork.com/hc/en-us...rstanding-milestones-on-fixed-price-contracts
https://www.freelancer.com/support/employer/payments/how-to-create-a-milestone-payment

Both of those could work!

 

[marijuanadomain]

had this dude come in flexing HARD. like first message mentions budget. second message mentions budget again. third message casually drops “we’re already doing 6 figs monthly so we need someone sharp.” cool bro congrats, very proud of you.
he asks what I do, I explain my process, audits, funnels, traffic fixes, the boring unsexy stuff that actually makes money. he’s impressed. keeps saying “finally someone who gets it.” sends voice notes. sends screenshots. big money vibes everywhere.

I do the work. like actually do it. clean fixes, proper structure, stuff that takes years to learn not youtube weekends. send him a breakdown so he understands what was done. he replies instantly: “damn this is high-level, you’re clearly experienced.”
five minutes later I send the invoice.
suddenly the man who replies in 30 seconds is now spiritually unavailable.

few days later he comes back with “bro this is great, just need to move some funds around.” sir… you just told me about your revenue like it was your personality. now we’re moving funds? meanwhile I can literally see him hiring other people, posting wins, talking about scaling. my work is already in use btw. just unpaid, chilling.

lesson I’m slowly tattooing on my brain: people who flash money the loudest are sometimes the weirdest when it’s time to actually pay. skills get respected AFTER payment, not before. next time someone leads with revenue screenshots, I’m leading with upfront terms. no more building Ferraris for people who won’t pay for petrol.

.

.

.

Anyways, getting back to work, thank you!

Sounds like a scam..
Just show me the money

 

[UncleBrand]

you should always ask for cash upfront, got burned when i started freelancing.

my worst client was the owner of a Hotel, it was the first time someone rejected an invoice because he though it was overpriced.

some others notables was one of the biggest wholesaler in the country for men suits who called me for a 150€ invoice.

these people ride expensive cars and are counting their coins end of the month.

after that i realized it is better to ask money upfront, if they refuse, you just saved yourself from wasting time with unethical people

and by the way, one of their favorite trick is to take you to diner, to get free consulting, they have a dozen technical questions that need answers

 

[AEProgram]

had this dude come in flexing HARD. like first message mentions budget. second message mentions budget again. third message casually drops “we’re already doing 6 figs monthly so we need someone sharp.” cool bro congrats, very proud of you.
he asks what I do, I explain my process, audits, funnels, traffic fixes, the boring unsexy stuff that actually makes money. he’s impressed. keeps saying “finally someone who gets it.” sends voice notes. sends screenshots. big money vibes everywhere.

I do the work. like actually do it. clean fixes, proper structure, stuff that takes years to learn not youtube weekends. send him a breakdown so he understands what was done. he replies instantly: “damn this is high-level, you’re clearly experienced.”
five minutes later I send the invoice.
suddenly the man who replies in 30 seconds is now spiritually unavailable.

few days later he comes back with “bro this is great, just need to move some funds around.” sir… you just told me about your revenue like it was your personality. now we’re moving funds? meanwhile I can literally see him hiring other people, posting wins, talking about scaling. my work is already in use btw. just unpaid, chilling.

lesson I’m slowly tattooing on my brain: people who flash money the loudest are sometimes the weirdest when it’s time to actually pay. skills get respected AFTER payment, not before. next time someone leads with revenue screenshots, I’m leading with upfront terms. no more building Ferraris for people who won’t pay for petrol.

.

.

.

Anyways, getting back to work, thank you!

what do you do by the way, curious about your experience

 

[Kass]

This keeps happening in the Domain Buyer Requests section.