How to Run Background Checks on Clients
When you work freelance, reputation is everything, and I don’t mean just yours. It’s important that you also take into consideration, the reputation of the clients you take on.
It’s entirely possible to find what may seem like a dream client: a start-up blog network specializing in your niche, a design firm claiming ties to internationally known brands or many other situations that seem ideal. Problem is, hidden behind the hyperbole of their job ads, can lie a shady reputation. Unreliability when it comes to payments, unpleasantness to work with, or just negative associations with their company.
A wise move is to do some background checks on your clients, the way an employer might on potential employees.
Run a Google Search
We all know how easy it is to research a subject with Google, so why not a client. Search their company name, the name of your contact, or even do a search to find links back to your client’s website by appending the word ‘link:’ before their URL (e.g. type ‘link:freelanceswitch.com’ into Google).
Search the Blogosphere
If the potential client is a large company that frequently employs freelancers, there’s a reasonable chance that some of those freelancers have blogged about their experience. Do a search on the client’s name using Google Blog Search and Technorati to find out what they’ve said. If the client is a particularly huge nightmare, some may have even broken non-disclosure agreements to make their warnings heard.
Try Other Tracking and Search Tools
LifeHacker published a great article recently titled How to Track Down Anyone Online. Along with the creepy undertone are some great applications and sites that can help you go where Google doesn’t including Pipl a service to search the “Deep Web” and Wink a service that searches social networks like Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and so on.
Beware of Revenue-Share
Revenue-share is popular model for web start-ups since it poses almost no risk to the site owner. If their website doesn’t make any money, well, they don’t have pay out much to the freelancers they commissioned to put it together. And there’s the problem. A 25 per cent share of nothing is still nothing.
That said, revenue share can potentially be lucrative, especially if it’s on-going (as in, you’re still getting a share for your content years later.) So, be sure to check out the site in question thoroughly. If all their advertising consists of AdSense blocks, run fast and run far.
Ask to see traffic graphs and RSS subscriber numbers. If the client is serious, they shouldn’t have an issue supplying these.
Yet Another Reason to Network
Here at FreelanceSwitch, we frequently discuss networking and this is another reason to start getting to know your fellow freelancers.
If you’re weary of a large client, inquire with other freelancers in your field. Somewhere in that network, someone’s probably dealt with them and knows if they’re on the level or not.
Trust your gut
Finally, trust your own instincts. If something doesn’t seem right, there’s a good chance it probably isn’t. Don’t be afraid to walk away, even if you really need the work. Some jobs are simply going to be more trouble than they are worth.
Leave a Comment
Thanks for the nice tips Robert…Through this tips might be aware us on client’s background.
Great job!
This is very true, before accepting projects to the client I mean new client, we really should check its background so that we can avoid clients that doesn’t pay on us so be sure we first check its background.. This is very nice article it really helps me gather infos on my business. Thanks a lot Robert, Two thumbs up, hehehe, nice picture right there. Angry, lol.
I have had some problems of getting paid because of taking the project with out a BG check. Now I will remember these advices
Thank you and just in time. I was contacted today by 3 prospective clients that need to be researched. I had never heard of a couple of the places you gave links for. Good advice.
Great! That is good advice. Thanks you!
I get asked frequently to “develop online apps” and then be in for a cut of the profits. I’ve done two of them and both of them failed due to the owners inability to manage the process and get the business.
So now I have a simple rule. If somebody approaches me with a “web venture” and offers me partnership, I always analyze the situation and say “okay, but you need to fund half and I’ll fund the other half”.
So I cut my hourly rate by 1/2 and they pay me for my time while I remain 50% owner.
The whole revenue sharing thing is like playing the stock market. You might luck out and hook up with a great website or it might be a bust. Theres no shortage of these types of offers on craigslist, thats for sure.
This is a good articel.
The good thing about one of the site i use to get freelance work (rentacoder.com) is taht you have to review all your clients and they all review you. This is good to see what they are like.
Great article! Another thing to think about is a combination of the networking and trust your gut methods. It’s whether or not you know and trust the client or colleague who referred you the client. Generally someone will only refer clients they know, have worked with, and trust themselves. Not foolproof, of course, but clients especially won’t want to ruin their own reputation by referring a deadbeat or difficult client.
We actually had a situation earlier this year where background checks would have saved us a good bit of time and energy. If anyone is interested, here’s the story: http://www.onwired.com/blog/if-it-sounds-too-good-to-be-true-it-probably-is/
Google should show a lot if the client has done some networking, or went public.
Forgive a n00b, but why does Google’s AdSense throw up red flags? Laziness?
Regarding tracking and other search tools: http://www.coworkers.com is another site where you can search reviews of people. Asking colleagues really is helpful as mentioned.
@Madking – AdSense is a red flag when you’re offered revenue share because frankly, except for rare cases, it doesn’t pay much. On say a 25 per cent revenue share with AdSense as the ONLY monetization, you’ll be lucky to make a whole dollar for your effort.
Thanks!
I own an investigation firm. We do not provide this service.
The first place you should start is with public records. Almost all major counties offer public records for free online. Don’t pay a website for this information. There are a few reference sites online that keep up to date lists of various cities, counties and states online records.
Find your local county court online (usually by searching with “.gov” and the name of the county) and search for the business record and/or by the owners names. Then run those names thru the counties civil and criminal records. Again, these are offered free online by most jurisdictions.
The people you want to avoid will be found there. Anyone shady will do a good enough job to make searching Google or any other public online forum useless.
Lastly, don’t ever pay any service online for this info. They will rip you off as well. LOL!
* With deception and fraud becoming more common in the modern world, a background search and investigation can reflect a higher financial risk to you or your business. Many con artists and scammers portray themselves as honest and legitimate people, but in truth they want to steal your money or identity. A background search and investigationy deception and allow you to take precautions to minimize any financial risks.
* The threat of workplace violence is all too real today, and a background search and investigation can reveal background facts about a person which can indicate an increased risk for this type of behavior. No business wants an employee that poses a danger or liability to the business or other employees. A background search and investigation can make you aware of any higher workplace violence risks so that you can take measures to lower these risks and protect your business and employees.
* A background search and investigation can reveal information which shows your company may be at an increased risk of liability by association with a specific person, so that you can do what is necessary to lower the risks of liability to your business.
These tips are so simple, but so hard to do on weekday
Ralph
Great Article, thanks for the tips.