So I just had a client ask me to start working before the contract was even sent over, saying we could “sort the paperwork later.” I pushed back gently, but now the whole vibe feels a bit off. Has anyone else dealt with this push on payment terms and found a way to keep things smooth without seeming difficult?
I feel you The urge to start before a contract shows up can feel like momentum and then the vibe shifts when the real terms land I would slow it down and sort the basics first
From a process view the contract is a boundary If you begin work now you risk scope creep and payment delays and you lose leverage later it also makes the client commit to a plan they can hold you to
Sounds like a tactic more than a plan I would not assume the client will go easy on contract terms instead push for a clear payment schedule and a small retainer or upfront fee
Maybe the real question is how you define value and risk in the first week Without a contract you are testing trust yet you can still lock in deliverables and a partial payment with a simple outline
Would a one page outline that lists deliverables and a partial payment for the contract help you keep momentum without exposing you to risk
Notice how the client frames urgency as a reason to skip the contract and paperwork If you want to manage expectations you can name the deliverables and the revision limits in a short note and still wait for the contract