I totally agree. Toxic clients is what use to suck away my time and energy when I first started my web design company. They would ask for more and ALWAYS have the mindset of paying less. Once I figured out a system to attract high paying clients, all my headaches went away. The process is so much easier with people who value your work and service.

I had another client who always tried to low ball everything I diid for her, while sitting in a 3 million dollar house. She was an artist and she charged astronomical prices for her work. Also, complained once because when she was spending several months in Italy she had “no time to work.” I got that client when I was hungry and just starting out. A couple years after doing her website she wanted a redesign. She only wanted to pay $500. I did not budge on my charges and we parted ways because if you work for someone who is cheap you are actually loosing money.

I don't take clients if I don't host the site. That way if they try to not pay me I control the site and can take it down.

LOL, I've encounter EVERY possible horror story that you can image, and then some. What it taught me was that "I" needed to put additional safe-guards in my proposals, and STICK TO THEM. What I now do is verbally explain the scope of the project to the client, as well as present the proposal in 4 EXPLICIT phases. I require a 25% deposit, and a signed acceptance document at the end of each "completed" phase. BEFORE I accept the deposit, I again refer the client to the section of the proposal that states that "IF" they have signed off on Phase I (which generally is the site layout -- i.e. colors, page layouts, fonts, design, navigation, etc), AND they have paid the next 25% installment for Phase II, AND they NOW want to go back to Phase I with a completely new structural design - then we can do so, but it will require them remitting a new 25% deposit for the "new" Phase I --- because I have already completed that Phase -- as agreed -- so I can't get back the time and work that I have already expended. This applies to all 4 Phases of the project. If they've signed off on a Phase and we re-visit that Phase, an additional 25% payment must be remitted. Also, if they sign-off, but don't pay the next 25% installment, I don't key a stroke of code OR lift my finger to do ANYTHING regarding their account, until I receive the "CLEARED" installment -- no matter what they say (too may time's I've "believed" that the money was being transferred, wired, mail, etc and I went on to work on the next Phase that I "never" got paid for, SO .... no installment --- no further work from my end). I also develop the project on a test server (of the same hosting company that their website will be hosted). When I get the final 25% installment AND the signed acceptance document for Phase 4, I move the project to their live server and give them ALL access and credentials to their website. If they decide that they will maintain their own website, I do show them how to ensure that their backup's are saving properly; I'll also make a backup of their site as of the "go-live" date. I do tell them that if they corrupt their website in any way and THEY cannot reinstall it from their backup; IF I am called to "fix" anything -- I will handle it like a Phase 4 install, and I will require and new 25% installment fee to troubleshoot their issue. This has worked for me; Only when I deviate from my "safeguards" do I encounter problems. I hope this helps a "newbie" 😊.

50% prepayment up front. 40% progress payment when I think the website is 90% complete. Balance when the site goes live. I've learned to collect that middle payment after having two jobs that were almost finished and I couldn't budge the client to provide me with content to move forward and complete. I also disagree with your advice to run if they're in a hurry. If they need a website really soon and you've got the capacity to deliver on their schedule, who's in charge here? You are. You hold almost all the cards. State your terms - maybe even ask for 75% up front or charge for a well-written spec - and stick to them.

Hi Darrell. After experiencing a large number of the issues you described l now start with a 50% down payment and a signed document which states the site's objectives, colours, Fonts, competitors and social media integration details. I explain the timeframe and also that the content and images are all to be provided by the client. Anything extra is charged at £40 per hour and this includes any minor functionalities. Major functionalities are to be provided with an estimate of the minimum to maximum charge. Since providing this I've lost potential clients but gained good ones. Now I have no trash clients l'm actually happier providing my work for my clients as they know where l stand and there's no compromise. I used to think the Client is always right but not when they know nothing pertaining to web design. I've had enough of cheap labour as l now know what I'm worth

I had a client who sent me a mock-up of exactly what she wanted. I did EXACTLY what she wanted. Then she showed other people and they didn’t like it. Then she tried to come back to me and blame me. It was like.. “Bye Girl.”

You only have 3 years experience and you're this good? Wow!

Its really amazing to see people who tried hard to compare you with another cheap services out there , still havent website years later .

I do websites for Christian Country Musicians. YES, I've fired a couple. One apologized, but never paid me. The other fell on hard-times so I gifted the site to him. But about a year later he got back on his feet and out of the blue my PayPal rang Ching, Ching. I called him and he apologized profusely. Man, I hope I have his character if/when I fall on hard-times.

Man Darrel, you've just described what happened to me recently... a client wanted the next Amazon. God bless.

Yes!! This is the new type of videos I was hoping. Keep it up!!

Thanks for the tips Darrel! You just saved me time and effort for starting a website design business! It reminds me of when I used to fix computers for my friends and family. I would fix the issue and they'll call back 6 months later with a totally different issue and tell me that whatever I did to their computer caused this new issue OR they'll say, "I never had this issue before you touched my computer." SMH. So, this video is a confirmation to me that I should just focus on starting my own businesses. Thanks again Darrel! You're a beast bro! Peace.

I am about to fire 1 of my client now, thanks bro!

really helpful Thanks Darrel

So true, don't let greed get the better of you. and don't bite off more than you can chew. Another great vid Darrel. cheers.

Very nice explanation with relevant points.

Had one client offer to pay me with logs for the wood fire, several meetings, told him the price and he thought 2 truckloads of logs was a fair price for a website with Pro video and pro photos. He was then telling me the guy down the road would build him one for £99 He'd come round for a meeting, eat all the cake and drink all the coffee, never committed to buying so I asked him to leave and go find someone else. He still doesn't have a website 1 year later lol

Nice to see you again best of luck in Las Vegas and thanks again beautiful video 👍👍👍👍👍

Thank you Darrel...this video has today made me laugh and helped me realise I am not alone!

Awesome idea 💕

Thanks for sharing something most people don’t like to talk about

I couldn't agree with you more Darrel, some clients are crazy.

thank you, Darrel ✌

thanks Darrel, no many people take time to talks about this.

OMG, I just received an email from a client this morning and that very thought crossed my mind.

Great idea

yes Darrel. i happened to me too few years ago. when your client started low-balling at you. kick 'em out.

I always take 50% downpayment before I start to work on the project :)

Hi Darrel, I really love to see ur video, what you said is true I have been there too. I have been doing freelancing for almost a year and a half. I have one client told me that he wants a website urgently, so I did all the things he needs, end up he didn't pay me until now, it has been almost a year to now. He recently asks his designer to called me and ask for the design, I just told his designer off, if he wants the design please pay me. The work has been done for a long long time. Then the boss called and told me again whats their future plan and how they will need to get their website to SEO and this and that. But still, I told the boss. Sorry to said, you will need to pay me before I release anything. End the end ... no more calls from him. But sometimes we just need to protect ourselves. I know is a long way to learn.

Amazing video Darrel, Could you please make a video on "How you find clients for web design work?"

Yes, today was the day! Put me through loops for days and didn't even buy the products. Price was listed upfront. Then the questions were growing. I have fired her.

hff so much to talk about I will definitely share my experiences here.

The next amazon... Some thing we all want

Thanks this advices, help avoid a client from the list

Lack of communication is a an absolute nightmare.. the client thinks you can magically create what they want without actually telling you.. that not annoying, it’s plain stupid.

I love your vids

Yes, I fired a client that was not paying me for website maintenance. Because I was the one that design the website, he always come back to me to fix something on the site and never payment me for any issues I fixed on the site.

Great video! I get so nervous firing clients that deserve to be fired especially when they come referred from a great client , but my husband is so unbothered by it. It keeps me up all night because they always call me as if I were customer service , not sure how to get past this feeling. Any suggestions for this ?

can you share your basic contract and its term or make a video on it

Thanks darrel i really had client that he want to have "small aliexpress" web site, and worse part is after i finish the design with 978 product-category he didn't paid ;) hahaha

one client all deal conversations done, he just placed the order, it was a month project, the second day the client said i need ASAP :p

Laughed my ass off with the drinker story! 😂

funny how everything you said daryl is exactly what i have been through these days lol

I always ask for 25% upfront, then get the final FULL or REST of the payment before I install it. I have had a very bad experience with a long time client. I'll try to make this short, LOL I had originally built her site in ALL CSS/HTML, no WordPress. I have been trying since then to get her to change to WordPress so that she could update her site on her own and not have the fees that I charge her every time she has an update. She's a baker and wants lots of photos uploaded. Anyways one year I had an emergency hospitalization and was on bed rest after that for about 1 month and had made an announcement of my health break on my blog. She didn't read it and thought that I had something to do with her website going down, what happened was she didn't pay her yearly domain for that year and of course, we know what happens. Well, my husband and daughter were real good with not letting me get on the computer, I had NO access, no emails, etc., they held me hostage, LOL In a good way.. So, my daughter decided to check my emails one day and I had over 30 emails from a very hostile and violent client she said. She even went on Facebook and bad-mouthed me and blamed me for her site going down, gave out my site name, etc. I BEGGED my daughter and husband to please let me explain to her that her domain fees were NOT paid (and not to me, directly to her registrar) and that she needed to pay them, etc.. she then said she was sorry but refused to go on Facebook and explain to her own clients and friends what happened was her fault, not mine. I don't work with her any longer and her site is still on basic HTML/CSS and no updates.. it's bad really, it's when "character" design was big, she even took what I created and somehow got a local printer to make her a decal for the front of her shop, it doesn't look pixelated, but it's very very bad, LOL

First! I ❤️ Darrel

Hi Could you do a tutorial on Jetwoobulider and jetwoo menu (mega menu creation) with elementor ?

Sir please create a video for how to send effectively proposal in Fiverr

Hey @darrelwilson please what software do you use for your video exiting?

Yes, I fire one due to too much customer demand!!!

Hello Party Man! Please can you show the video tutorial on how to find influencers to promote an ecom website.... We set up these websites by following you but no buyers or visitors to most of our websites.....!!!

How do I get rid of a client when they are providing me with the majority of my income? The project has turned into a full time job almost but I hate working with them and I am constantly concerned they will drop me if they find someone else (they don’t want a contract just “as and when” work)

always get 50% upfront and 50% at completion. Never had any problems with that. If I did, I already have the 50% deposit that is non refundable. Red flags will appear before the final payment in which case I stop working on the website and fire the client.

Brother can you tell us how to make a smma website for a company

Hi Darren, Is there an free plugins to convert your woocommerce website into a mobile application?

How can i fire a client who's already given me a 75% downpayment but does not communicate? It's been 5 months now and my client still hasn't given me any content lol? I've made follow ups and now I am tired of it. Their website is still full of lorem ipsums but beautifully design and highly optimized except for the content

Hi Darrel Can you suggest a WordPress plugin that will enable and allow users to a comparison of products on my website? The comparison will be done by blog readers and not the blog owner- I have seen this on competitors' website but don't know how it is done Please help Cheers

I had a client wanting a website for $400 and I said NO. So she threatened me with bad reputation, and said that in her country in Bulgaria she can make even a better website for only $100. After two months she came back, offering me $600 but again I said NO. This was last year and until now she still doesn’t have any website. People are so weird.

No.6 referral can be a pain in the ass No.7 Client that wants apple.com I got a client that is referral from my good friend he want a double language website and design like apple.com front page with nice parallax effect I at least changed 10 times for the font size and their reason will always say look at apple and screenshot from apple.com and i cant say heavy word because they are referral. And the budget is LAF Nightmare....

4:55 Yes, save their work. Then charge a $750 "Re-engagement fee" for the time you need to get refamiliarized with their project.

I never signed up for anything!🙄

Hey Darrell did you end up buying that house in Vegas?

comic book client who had third party to tell her to tell me how to work... yes i fired her

We used to take everyone. Almost never charged upfront. Now I only take clients who pay minimum 50% upfront, we deliver work at 30-40% for approval, at which time they have to pay for the other 50%. I have fired several clients. They mismanage their business and it is your fault. Actually had a client go to the house of their customer and threaten them over a bad review. I fixed the situation but the guy was a scumbag. Poor communication No pay or slow pay. Lack of interest. Disrespectful. I have no problems dropping them. But I also block them from ever calling again. I block their emails, numbers - everything. Everyone of them either went out of business or downsized. I am the expert. Take my advice or fail.

Im a ProPhotographer i had a client that she is F**ng crazy i do to her the best photos in a 10 years career and she still dosent like the pohotos and she say things like that photo dosent work for me or that photo its to dark i dont want shadows, and the photos were dramatic portraits WTF?

Please i need a help. I have ecommerce website i use woocommerce but i want to customers make a buy with just phone number. They will see one click buy button and click . And put himself phone number and click. And i want recive what customers number and what is product they want.

i didn't fire any client but some of my client fire me. some of did scamming with me

Clients that want it done immediately usually devalue your work.

50% upfront / 50% go live I go through my clients annually and fire the bad ones, to then make room for new good ones

Ik lm late however l love your vidoes l wana suggest an idea maybe make a website using GitHub files l mean dont code just dow load the files and make a video

A mistake that I made recently twice, was, I calculated the prices wrong😅 yeah... the next one will be Right.

Hi, i want to make Salon wordpress website. Can you please guide / assist me on this?

all true )

Hello Sir, can you make a tutorial on "How we can create a Bitcoin investment Website" where people can invest and after buying packages they watch the ads and after 7 days they get their earnings and they can also withdraw their amount. Thanks alot .

Hey Darrel I Tried to connect with you via email but no response. Amazing content, I literally resigned my job due to this. Note to all: This could apply in your job too.

Pleaaseee talk about PWA's and Mstoree!!! jajaja

I can only advice everybody make you have full control about the website, make you are doing the hosting also. I had a restaurant and they didn't pay the hosting the second year. Well after 1month asking for paying the hosting, he always ignored me. So i closed his website, and guess what, he paid in 2 days 😁😁😁. Meanwhile he is bankrupt 😂

My experiences: Client 1) My client paid me $1600 for a year project which included domain name registration, designing, hosting, maintenance, and SEO services (for which he listed no1 in google now) and at the end of the year, I came to know that ohh shit this client took more than $2500 services from me during the entire year. I am thinking to ditch him now. Client 2) After availing SEO services and getting good positions (on the first page) on google this client thought that why he was paying for SEO services as his positions are already there on google and it will not go anywhere if he did not pay me so before the time I removed all optimized things from each webpage and removed all analytics settings and uploaded his website again and then gave him FTP details as he asked for it Client 3 to 25) Yes it is more than 20 clients I am talking about, they just think like as a designer, optimizer what we have to do? nothing just seat on lapy and do something so why to pay? I don't know about your country but this is the typical mentality of an Indian customer. Since these are very old clients I am keeping them but now not on their condition but mine. Other) I have also experienced that many customers don't have value for our work and they give last priority or importance to website designing and SEO Thanks Guys Love from India!

There are people on Fiverr wanting to create amazon for $250 and 7 days. really.