12 Freelance Client Red Flags to Save Yourself From

If you see any of these, RUN!

Anangsha Alammyan
The Startup
Published in
4 min readMar 17, 2023

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Photo by Content Pixie on Unsplash

Freelancing is a powerful way to work on your own terms and get paid what you deserve.

But it comes with its own share of pitfalls that can leave you feeling lost and confused.

I’ve been freelancing for over three years now, and in this post, I’m sharing the twelve red flags in clients I’ve learned to identify.

If you spot them during any prospect interview, run. Knowing this list will save you time and a lot of heartache. 💔

1. They ask you for a free sample

It’s fine to create if you have nothing to show.

But providing free samples of your work doesn’t make sense when you have a portfolio.

The clients can judge your skills from the work you already did.

If they insist on a free sample, it’s a red flag. They probably never intend to pay you, and are only looking for free work.

2. They pay low rates now but promise more $$$ when they get funding

Drop a “🖐️” in the comments below if you’ve heard this line before from a startup.

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