5 DO’s For Design & Fine Art Freelancers

Just some rules I’ve learned to follow after several years of the alternative.

1. ALWAYS get a signed contract that defines scope and fees for scope-creep BEFORE starting work.


2. Write a schedule of deadlines for yourself and your client to keep you both on schedule and accountable. Include it in the contract and even incorporate fees/discounts for lateness/timeliness. Have it signed (or included in the contract) and constantly send reminders (“Don’t forget…”) followed by warnings (“..will hold up the project and cost an extra…”).


3. Have an up-font fee for proposals or reviews of projects that will take more than an hour of your time. I generally skip this step for referrals from wonderful clients.


4. Trust your gut. If a potential client goes on tangents, changes his/her mind, or calls at inappropriate times of the day, and you don’t even have a contract yet… you will lose money or not get paid at all. Run. Don’t learn this the hard way. Run. Run! Run!!


5. Bill for meetings and phone calls. They take up your time too and the time adds up fast. It also prevents clients from wasting your time. Lawyers do it and so should you.