FFN #89 The client seemed ✨perfect✨—until they weren’t.

Hey friends,

Let’s talk about something every freelancer knows way too well: that moment your gut whispers, “Hmm, this doesn’t feel quite right,”—and you ignore it anyway.

Yep. I’ve been there.

In the early days of freelancing, I once signed with a client who sent me a 14-paragraph brief... via my personal Instagram DMs. Red flag? Oh, for sure. But back then, I was so excited to land the gig, I thought, “I’ll just make it work.”

Trust me, I did not make it work.

We never had a proper contract. Timelines were vague. They ghosted after the first invoice and then popped up 3 weeks later expecting me to deliver tomorrow. Lesson learned (and learned again, tbh).

So in the spirit of learning the hard way so you don’t have to, here are the top 5 red flags I now take very seriously—and what I do when I spot them.

 #partner

🚩 Top 5 Client Red Flags to Watch For:

1. “We don’t really need a contract, do we?”

   • Yes, yes you do. Always. No matter how “friendly” the client seems.

2. Unclear scope + changing expectations.

   • If they can’t tell you exactly what success looks like, you’re in trouble.

3. Slow to reply—unless they need something.

   • Radio silence on emails but urgent on deliverables? Bye.

4. Talking badly about past freelancers.

   • Huge red flag. If “no one ever gets their vision,” you won’t either.

5. Asking for discounts or “trial” work.

   • Your time is not a sample sale.

✨ Email Templates to Push Back (Politely + Professionally)

Here are a few scripts I keep in my back pocket:

When they want to skip a contract

“I work best when everything is clear upfront, so I use a contract to outline expectations, deliverables, and timelines for both of us. It protects your project and my time.”

When they ask for a discount

“I totally understand wanting to stay on budget. My current rates reflect the time, strategy, and experience I bring to the project—so I’m not able to offer discounts, but I’m happy to suggest ways we can adjust the scope to meet your budget.”

When they disappear mid-project

“Just checking in—wanted to confirm we’re still on track. If I don’t hear back by [X date], I’ll pause the project until we’re aligned again.”

📝 5 Questions I Now Ask Before Saying Yes

1. What does success look like for this project?

2. Who else will be involved in reviews/approvals?

3. What’s your communication style (Slack? Email? Carrier pigeon? Don’t accept if later)

4. Have you worked with freelancers before? (If not, expect extra hand-holding.)

5. What’s your timeline and budget for this?

✨ Bonus: I also check if they follow through on initial asks. If they say they’ll send a brief by Friday and it’s crickets until Tuesday... noted.

Let me be clear: not all tricky clients are bad people. But misaligned expectations and communication can turn even the nicest client relationship sour.

So here’s your reminder to trust your gut, set boundaries early, and value your time—because clients who respect you will always respect your process.

We’ve all got those “ugh” stories. Hit reply if you’ve got one to share—I’ll be sipping tea and nodding in solidarity 🍵

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