Photo by graphiteBP.

Before most companies will sign a contract, they complete their ‘due diligence’: they look into the company they’ll be working with, check out references and generally do everything they can to minimize risks that a project won’t be completed or they won’t get paid. Most companies will take a close look at freelancers they’re handing projects off to. So why don’t freelancers return the favor?

I know that I’ve been guilty of wanting to get right to work and accept projects as quickly as they came my way, and I’m not alone. But I’ve also gotten burned by a client who, if I had simply typed his name into a search engine, I never would have taken on. Even the simplest levels of due diligence can make a freelancer’s life go much smoother. The process doesn’t need to be particularly time-consuming, either. It can be a ten-minute process, especially when you’ve made it a part of your routine for taking on any new client.

1. Check the search engines: In the majority of cases, running a prospective client’s name through Google will be enough to convince you one way or the other whether he or she will be a good client. It’s usually easy to tell pretty quickly if someone’s running a scam, if only by the lack of information about the company. It’s a little harder to be sure that an absence of negative information means only good things about a client, but I’ve found that my instincts in such situations are pretty good.
2. Review complaints and reports from other freelancers: There are a number of sites that offer writers, designers and other freelancers the opportunity to list problems with clients. WritersWeekly’s Whispers And Warnings column is one such example — it’s generally limited to writers reporting clients who did not pay for work, and offers those clients a chance to issue a rebuttal. I find that last part especially important. It’s not impossible for a person to post a negative report about a client out of spite and I don’t want to make an unfair judgment. Looking at sources that vet complaints makes it a little easier to be sure that a complaint is reason enough to turn down a client.
3. Ask freelancers who have worked with that client: If someone you know sent this particular client your way, it may be fairly easy to track down another freelancer who’s willing to give you his or her impression of the client. Even having a heads up that the client needs extra hand-holding along the way can make a big difference in how you progress with a particular client. An alternative for clients not in your area is to check out sites like LinkedIn. I’ve gone to a prospective client’s LinkedIn page and checked out the recommendations they’ve made. If those recommendations include a freelancer or two, I have no qualms sending out an email asking how a client was to work with.

As you look at a prospective client’s background, you may find some factors that lead you to think he or she might not be a great choice to work with. It’s okay to choose not to work with a client — and you don’t have to wave your research around to justify it, either. I tend to use the excuse that my schedule just doesn’t allow me to take on that specific project at this time. It’s as simple as that. If you have any suggestions on the best places to look for information about how a prospective client is to work with, please share in the comments.