I usually build enough wiggle room into quotes to cover unexpected one-off purchases
How do you do that? Do you have anyway to calculate the amount which can occur in the future? It might be useful for me in future.
Through years of experience and client observation … and learning from mistakes that come with the lack of which.
1 Like
I don’t have a secret formula. As @Eriskay wrote, I’ve been in this line of work for many years. I’ve learned through experience how long jobs will take, what to charge, what they will entail, what might go wrong, which clients to accept, and which to avoid.
When I was starting out, a university professor told me to carefully consider all aspects of a job and to do some research before estimating costs. After doing that, he said to add an extra 15 percent (which he called a “nuisance fee”). Sometimes, you spend that 15 percent on unplanned purchases or time, and sometimes, you don’t. Over the long haul, it averages out.
1 Like
I see, thank you for this. It will be great learning for me.
Wow, your professor do care for you. Thank You, for this tip. It might be so helpful for me in future projects. 
. From now on, I would definitely save some percent of the amount which I paid, just for this circumstances which might occur in future.
Might be worth mentioning we’ve been where you are.
Burnt
Life goes on. I once spent 16 hours on a project worth 1000s for the client to pull the plug and found they used my work.
Part and parcel
1 Like
Used your work? What do you mean, does the client have used your work and not paid you?
Yep. It sucks
1 Like
A-grade clients, such as government agencies always pay. They have no incentive not to. There’s no need to get a deposit, and they typically can’t give you one if you ask because of internal fiscal rules. However, always get a purchase order number from them.
Dealing with B-grade clients, such as big and long-established companies, requires a meticulous approach. While they always pay, it’s important to remember that they can be sloppy and neglectful. To avoid any potential misunderstandings, always ensure that everything is in writing and save all emails.
C-grade clients, such as start-ups and small businesses, are risky. They have limited cash on hand and are looking for deals. The dishonest ones look for ways to avoid paying. Always get 50% in advance, then don’t proceed any further until they approve the work and pay in full for the remainder.
When it comes to D-grade clients, such as individuals working on a hobby or vanity project or who seem a bit flakey, the risk is high, and the pay is poor. Always get paid before doing any work. As often as not, they’re cheapskates, and this ensures you will get paid for the work done.
Always turn down F-grade clients. For example, those for whom an internet search turns up nothing or a bunch of iffy stuff. Always turn down those with a record of past problems or those who give off the wrong vibes or display signs of dishonesty, manipulative tendencies, or personality disorders.
Keep in mind that these rankings are flexible. If you work with a lower-ranking client and they turn out great, a C-grade client can become an A-grade client or vice versa.
A few other things to consider
Remember that new clients also have good reason to be suspicious since they don’t know you. Build confidence with them. Go the extra mile, always be honest with them, and keep their best interests in mind. If you do that, and if they’re like you, you’ll have a good client who will recommend you to others.
Underpromise and overdeliver. For example, if you think it will take five days to finish a project, tell them it will take six. If you get it done in five, the client will be pleased. If you take longer than expected and it takes an extra day, no harm is done.
Cut your ties with clients who see you as a pair of hands to implement their ideas unless, of course, you don’t mind working on those sorts of projects.
Cut your ties with clients who can’t bother to return calls or adequately respond to emailed questions in a timely manner. Even if they pay you, they’ve wasted your time and money by making you wait and repeatedly ask for information. If you don’t want to cut ties, increase your rates in anticipation of them wasting your time through their lack of respect.
There are lots of tire kickers — those who waste your time corresponding about things that they never commit to doing. Once you identify a possible tire kicker, tell them they need to make a decision and then politely cut ties with them when they don’t commit.
Do what’s necessary to avoid legal hassles. Nobody wins in court. Even when you win, you’ll lose in terms of wasted time and stress. If you win, professional deadbeats are experts at finding ways not to pay you, and they usually have no money anyway. U.S. small claims courts, for example, are a nearly complete waste of time.
When you’re not enjoying the project or don’t feel respected, you accepted a project you never should have agreed to do unless, of course, you need the money.
You can’t change a client’s personality. If they’re jerks, cheapskates, procrastinators, manipulators, or have some other negative trait, increase your rates to compensate or drop them entirely. If they turn out to be great people, hold on to them and treat them the same way.
Never do business with family or friends unless you’re OK with doing it for free. Family and friends are too important to risk spoiling your relationship with them over a business deal.
I could probably write three times this much and still not mention all the rules of thumb I’ve learned over the years. This is enough for now, though.
2 Likes
Once a client you me to court. They owed me 10k and the court ruled in my favor.
They took me to court. The gall.
Winning was sweet but was never in doubt.
1 Like
What happened if Client don’t pay after the lost the case in court? Can court put them in jail, if they don’t pay?
Well, that’s great information which you might gather from experience. Too bad, in first essence we can’t judge the client, due to lack of experience. Still, these are informative and great info, I will try to follow it.
I suppose they could - or cease assets/cars/houses/bank accounts etc.
Up to the courts.
1 Like
I see, thanks for the information.
There is a trick you can do using Illustrator but it has nothing to do with finding a font or missing fonts.
Open a new blank illustrator file.
Take your client artwork and place it on top of your blank illustrator file and then choose
“object” tab, “flatten transparency” tick the box marked “convert all text to outlines” choose “ok” then adjust your artboard as needed, and save as whatever file format you want.
No font to buy, and you’re good to go.
1 Like
^I’m pretty sure that only works if the client provided an Illy file with PDF compatibility turned on (granted it’s the default state, but I know I shut it off sometimes when the file gets too bloated.)
1 Like
Correct.
Most of my clients send me pdf’s with missing fonts, which in this case, works like a charm.
Depends on what you are doing with it but Yup.
I particularly dislike live fonts in logos.
1 Like
You can use acrobat preflight to outline text in a PDF. Then grab the outlines in illustrator.
Saves flattening issues.
1 Like
If there are flattening issues, I’m on the phone telling them how to send it the right way. 
1 Like