Had another client try to negotiate down my invoice after the work was already delivered and approved. They suddenly found issues that weren’t there during our review calls.
Starting to think I need better contracts upfront, but honestly just venting here because these situations drain so much energy.
Had this happen more than once. I switched to milestone payments for projects over $500.
I divide work into stages and get paid as we go. Mostly 50% upfront, 25% at halfway, and 25% on final delivery. This makes it tough for clients to negotiate after they’ve paid most of it.
I also added a clause for extra revisions after final approval. It helps to put a stop to the surprise issues.
Totally get the energy drain, though. Clients causing these headaches aren’t usually worth keeping.
Make it costly for clients to dispute payments. I charge a flat fee for discussions about payment changes after project completion. Clients often drop their complaints once they realize they have to pay for my time. Additionally, send a final checklist before considering the job complete. This encourages clients to review everything, giving you a chance to address any issues as part of the original work.
I learned to add a revision deadline to my contracts after getting burned like this.
Once the client approves the work, they get 48 hours to request changes. After that window closes, any new issues cost extra.
Also started requiring written approval via email instead of just verbal confirmation on calls. Makes it harder for them to backtrack later when everything is documented.