True dat.

As for people looking for the 'best deal'... whether you pay 0/30/50/100% upfront or at the end, the price for the design work would be the same.

So there is really no 'deal' to payment portion, other than keeping the designer motivated to complete their work instead of playing XBOX all day.

I'm not sure you get it. It's not a matter of how MUCH the client is going to pay. It's a matter of IF he is going to pay. I'm not saying YOU don't pay. But, trust me, there are LOTS of "clients" out there who order and have NO intention of paying. And, yeah, I realize there are designers out there who have no intention of delivering, as well.
So, what it all comes down to is, that there is a risk both ways. Hence, the 50/50.

Trust me champ, I get it.

Over a decade in this business and I have tried/worked with a lot of different designers. So paying more is not always the best, nor is a lancer site paying at the end always the best. There is no standard, or 'best'. I have even had some highly recommended who fell into the 'classics' (i.e. excuses).

Experience has shown paying, any new designer, a big chunk of money upfront is a mistake.

As I said earlier in the thread, I am sure there are a few clients who do not pay, or dangle a carrot for completion of work, or some other shit. But the flip side of designers blowing deadlines by a mile, or not completing work to specifications, etc. far outweighs those couple of clients who chase around.

Many more designers flake then clients not pay.

True dat.

Can't say I disagree entirely... It's a shame that those designers choose to ruin their reputations and businesses like that... but, all things considered, there are far more clients out there than designers so the pool of non-paying clients is probably bigger hehe

never here again got too much un usable crap in the past anyone that wants $$$$ upfront can gfy there is a few designers i use regularly that dont require it that i can always use.

True fucking dat.
:thumbsup

Mainphrase being "i use regularly that dont require it that i can always use." with keywords "i use regularly"

There's a difference in taking in a totally new unknown client vs taking on a job for a client you have an ongoing relationship with or that you have had good experiences with in the past.

I work with 3 people and invoice them monthly after all work is completed, if something is not signed off it rolls over to next months bill. It's all about trust.

Exactly. Trust.

Would you extend the same credit to any random new client the first few times he orders from you? On $100 and $5.000 orders alike?

Actually I picked up a new client over Christmas off GFY have billed them monthly in arrears since.

I will take this risk as I can understand why people are wary of sending $$ in advance.
I do check that they've not previously scammed anyone though.

An order over say $2k I would agree a point in the design process to release a % of funds. say an agreed mock up.

To many bullshitters in this business, designers that are always whoring for work and it turns out they're behind by months on prepaid designs.

You're a designer yourself, you know that we have to price low to be competitive, and can work stupid hours to get everything done, it's easy to spend the prepaid stuff and find yourself taking more work to get the $$ back.. I find people work harder when they're paid after the act rather than before.

Well said my friend on ALL accounts. Nice to see some honest input on this issue.

:thumbsup

Yup, very true. Don't get me wrong. Practically all our work is paid after or upon delivery. Some is and has been prepaid way in advance too but that doesn't mean the work doesn't get done. I'd consider that sort of like the retainer you pay an attorney.
However, there are those cases where someone comes along and has weird specs, is difficult to talk to and is very iffy about the ideas you present to him, yet still wants to move ahead. And then there is the type that insists that he's very picky and has a very limited budget. And many other similar types, where too many alarm bells go off that trigger that little advance prepayment retainer button. Time wasted is money lost.

I no longer do design for anyone but myself... though, if I still did I would definitely charge upfront, and I would charge a lot. :pimp