PSA: I keep seeing people skip the contract step and it's a huge mistake

I mean, maybe it's just me, but I see this all the time in the forums. I used to think a handshake deal was fine, but after a client in Austin ghosted on a $2,500 project last year, I learned the hard way. Now I use a simple template from Docracy for every single job, even the small ones. Has anyone else found a good free tool for this that doesn't feel too stiff?

3 comments

3 Comments

felix_black1mo ago

Contracts can be a real pain for quick jobs though. They slow everything down when you just want to start the work. I've built my whole business on trust and repeat clients, never had a real issue. The time spent on legal stuff for a small project often isn't worth it. A clear email with the scope and price has always worked fine for me.

robert5821mo ago

Wait, you've NEVER had a single issue? That's some insane luck right there.

spencer81mo ago

Man, I wish I had that luck. I tried the no contract thing once like felix_black said, just a clear email. Client ended up asking for like five extra rounds of changes for free. Never again for me. My "trust" turned into a bunch of unpaid hours real fast. Now even my small jobs get a simple one page agreement. It takes ten minutes to make and saves so much headache. I'm just not built for that risk.