First, as a disclaimer to any future clients (love you!) let me say that very few clients fit into the client from hell category. If you’re an average Joe or Jane who’s spent the majority of your life not getting slugged square in the face, you’re excluded by a mile. Welcome!

That said, here are some warning phrases that any freelancer should tune his ears to. If you hear a lot of these from the same client, not just a couple here or there, be very sure to clarify down to the finest detail everything that’s needed and wanted. And get a contract signed. In blood. On ancient parchment from the fertile crescent. Or, don’t even take …

We’re a litigious society. Some people get sued more than I eat breakfast. The psychiatric profession industry alone currently has more than 28,000 active suits against it. So this post is not without purpose, and the main point is that you need a contract.

Contracts are essential. They don’t have to be big or confusing or full of legal jargon or anything like that. But they do have to be agreed upon and they have to define the responsibilities of both parties. And they should be signed by both parties.

Now, there are cut/paste contracts floating around online. They’re free to use but I would recommend writing your own or getting a lawyer to prepare a standard one for you.

Regardless, contract writers and lawyers, not being designers, …