Signs that a Client May Not Be The Right Fit

Independent professionals from around the world choose to make Upwork their home for work. In 2022 alone, these freelancers earned over $3.8 billion on the platform. Because of these very positive results, scammers and clients who want to take advantage of talent see this as an opportunity. Upwork has an entire team dedicated to taking down job posts and banning accounts that aren't legitimate.

Scammers get creative and may occasionally make it past these layers of defense. Certain clients may follow the Upwork Terms of Service (ToS) but be unreasonable and difficult to work with. Spotting these client red flags early on prevents you from wasting any time or having to close a contract you've already started.

Upwork has built-in security measures, like Payment Protection, for freelancers to make sure that you always get paid for the work that you do. The best way to protect yourself as a freelancer is to spot red flags with potential clients before you accept an offer and start working on the contract. As soon as you notice a potential scammer or a client who violates the ToS, report it to the Trust & Safety team. This helps keep Upwork a safer place for everyone.

Client red flags to look out for during application and interview processes:

1. Suspicious job posting or profile
2. Requests to work for free
3. Pressure to work off-platform
4. Poor management skills
5. Bad attitude
6. Excessive communication
7. Lack of respect for boundaries
8. Paying below market rate
9. Scope creep
10. Unrealistic expectations

‍

1. Suspicious job posting or profile

The first red flag you may see is often in the job posting or client's profile. If you're new to Upwork, you may not know how to spot a fake job post yet. You may come across these types of postings every once in a while before the Trust & Safety team can take them down.

These are some of the initial warning signs to look for in a job posting:

• Payment unverified
• Many negative reviews from freelancers
• Positive reviews that sound fake
• Multiple job postings without interviews or hires
• Short and vague job descriptions
• Budgets that are greatly above or below market rate

In the beginning, many freelancers submit proposals to any and every job to increase the odds they'll get an interview. Paying attention to the job posting and looking for major red flags is important so you don't start accidentally working with a scammer or bad client. Some scammers pay for reviews and even real Upwork profiles, which can make it harder for the Trust & Safety team (and you) to flag them right away.

Whether you're an experienced independent professional or brand new to the platform, you want to read job postings carefully. Don’t submit a job proposal to something that looks suspicious. When you do start a proposal, screen your clients in the interview stage before accepting any offer.

It's easier to decline an offer than to end a contract, which can affect your ratings if the client technically follows the ToS. Some clients target new freelancers and have unrealistic demands or low pay, knowing novices may continue the contract to avoid risking receiving negative feedback.

After you've submitted a proposal and begin meeting and interviewing with potential clients, there are additional red flags to be on the lookout for.

2. Requests to work for free

Clients who ask for freelancers to do unpaid tests or other versions of free work are violating the Upwork ToS. As a freelancer on Upwork, you should never feel pressured to work for free. If you see any job postings that have an unpaid test as a requirement, you can click << Flag as inappropriate>> and choose <<Client is asking for free work>>. This will alert the Trust & Safety team so they can evaluate.

Some clients who are new to Upwork may not realize this isn't part of Upwork's policies and are used to unpaid test projects as part of their company's hiring process. If this happens during the interview, you can let them know that this violates the ToS, but you would be willing to do a smaller paid test project instead.

Clients may intentionally ask each freelancer they're "interviewing" for a different unpaid test and then end up with a completed project for free. They likely won't hire or continue talking to any freelancers they interviewed. Their goal was to get this free labor. You can report specific Upwork messages or Zoom calls to let the Trust & Safety team know about any experience like this and they will look into it. This is always confidential; the client will not know you reported them.

If a client is asking you for free work and is not responsive when you tell them this is against Upwork policy, you're likely not the only freelancer they're asking. You can help protect others in the future by reporting them. Seeing clients with a history of many proposals and interviews but a low hire rate is a red flag; you want to be wary of them asking for free work or personal information.

3. Pressure to work off platform

One of the biggest red flags to look out for on Upwork is clients pressuring you to work off the platform. They may not want to use Upwork Messages for communications or ask to pay you directly to "avoid fees." Both of these violate Upwork's ToS and put you at risk for scams and fraud—this practice also helps scammers temporarily get past the Trust & Safety team.

Freelancers and clients on Upwork have payment protection when they follow the ToS. Freelancers working hourly contracts can log and track their hours using the Desktop App. It takes random screenshots and adds this activity to your Work Diary for clients to see. This helps ensure that you get paid for every hour that you work.

When working on a fixed-price contract, clients fund the project in escrow before you start. After you submit your work, the client has 14 days to approve it before the funds are automatically released to you.

If you have an hourly payment dispute or a client asking for an escrow refund, determination of an agreement is handled by the Resolution Center. The case manager will use the communication between you and the client to make a decision. You only have payment protection when following the ToS. The case manager cannot use communications or payments you had off-platform.

Let's say you submitted a proposal for a project, and the client said they liked it but wanted to talk more before opening a contract. They ask for your email. When emailing back and forth, they say they want to work with you and give you an assignment but never open a contract or add a milestone on Upwork. You submit the work and then stop hearing from them. The work you did does not have payment protection, and because you didn't stay on the platform, Upwork cannot help you get paid.

Clients may ask to pay you directly using PayPal, Venmo, or a link they provide to "avoid service fees." Freelancers pay a 10% service fee on earnings through Upwork to use the platform. Accepting payment outside of Upwork violates the ToS, which can lead to account suspension and banning and puts you at risk for fraud.

After submitting your work, the client may appear to send you payment on another platform or a cashier's check, but the funds will stay pending, or they can issue a chargeback so they get the work for free. In some instances, you may even get charged a fee or have money taken out of your account. The client could also ask for your personal and banking information or send a link that is a disguised phishing scam to access your accounts or personal identity for fraud.

4. Poor management skills

As a freelancer, you’ll encounter many different work and management styles. Poor management skills can make it difficult for you to do your job well and get positive feedback, which can hurt your reputation as a freelancer. Being on the lookout for red flags in job postings and during interviews can help you evaluate a client before accepting an offer and starting a contract.

Some clients aren't used to working with independent professionals yet, and their fear of delegation becomes micromanagement. Freelancers are not employees; they control when, where, and how they work. One red flag to look for is an overly detailed job posting with a long list of requirements and responsibilities.

During the interview process, a micromanager may have many different rounds of interviews (two or three are considered the max in most cases) with highly specific and detailed questions that don't seem to match the level of responsibility for the project. They may also expect you to be available to them 24/7 or during their working hours, even if it's not relevant to the job. Micromanagers may also want an unreasonable amount of revisions.

Before accepting an offer, make sure you're on the same page with your client as far as the project scope, time requirements, and number of revisions to your work. Be professional and communicate your expectations, work style, and boundaries to the client. Let them know when and how they can reach you and your turnaround times.

Poor management skills can look like:

• Inconsistent feedback
• Excessive oversight
• Disorganization
• Lack of clear direction
• Not listening to suggestions and recommendations
• Frequent last-minute changes
• Being unavailable for questions and clarification

5. Bad attitude

Every now and then, you may come across clients who have bad attitudes. Before accepting a contract on Upwork, always check to see a client's feedback. If they have more negative reviews from past freelancers than positive ones, this can be a red flag that they're difficult to work for-–which can make it harder for you to earn positive feedback yourself. Read the reviews to check for any common themes or repeated complaints.

As a freelancer, you want to work with clients who respect independent professionals so you can have a positive working relationship. Meeting with a client in a video call before accepting an offer can help you better gauge their attitude and personality.

Client attitude red flags during the interview to look out for:

• Overly negative
• Talks badly about past freelancers
• Condescending behavior
• Dismissive of your suggestions
• Doesn't listen when you talk

Successful client relationships require mutual respect and communication to collaborate effectively. Difficult clients can hinder your productivity and make it harder for you to succeed—and even lead to burnout. When interviewing with clients and reading job descriptions, listen to your intuition. You may sense reg flags before you can actually spot them and pinpoint what they are.

If you accept an offer and, after working with the client for a bit, you realize they are difficult, you may need to end the contract. While this may affect your Job Success Score and potentially lead to negative feedback, working with a client with a bad attitude can take a toll on your mental health.

Before ending the contract, you can talk to the client and see if you can come up with a resolution that makes you feel better. Try to set boundaries and get more clarity on expectations. Remember to always stay calm and professional even if the client escalates the situation. Keep the communication on Upwork and contact Upwork Support if you need further assistance.

6. Excessive communication

Clients who micromanage may also have excessive communication. As a freelancer, you can work on your own schedule unless a project requires you to be online for specific hours or the contract states otherwise. Some newer clients may not understand the difference and expect you to be always available for questions.

Excessive communication can get in the way of productivity, interrupting your workflow unnecessarily. Clients constantly sending messages and asking for updates can signal a lack of trust. Clients who are new to working with independent professionals may be unsure how to navigate this relationship.

When working with clients, having clear and concise communication helps to maintain professionalism and keep everyone on the same page. You can help set boundaries from the beginning and let clients know what to expect from you during the interview process. Tell them what hours you're available for questions, your typical turnaround time, and how often you'll check in and give updates.

Being upfront and giving your clients communication guidelines helps set the relationship up for success. If they start overstepping, you can gently remind them of your process. Sometimes, you have to teach clients how to work with you. Let them know what you need and what to expect before accepting an offer to see if you're in agreement.

7. Lack of respect for boundaries

Before starting a contract, be clear on the project's terms and what the client expects from you. Clients need to respect your boundaries as an independent professional. Freelancers should always be paid for the time they're working and have a good work-life balance. Clients may not realize they're taking advantage when they ask you to work outside your agreed hours or assign a task at the last minute.

As a freelancer, you need to set and maintain professional boundaries. Building client relationships is important and can even turn into friendship down the road, but while you have an open contract, you want to keep it professional. Having boundaries with clients helps to avoid burnout.

Make sure clients know how and when they can contact you and expect a response. You could tell your clients that you're online and available during specific hours and will respond within the hour during these periods. If they contact you outside that window, you may need 12 hours to respond.

Inform clients of your turnaround time for new milestones and tasks. Last-minute and rush projects may require an upcharge, especially if it cuts into your personal time and requires you to work during your off hours.

Clients who don't respect boundaries may act as if you're their salaried employee. They don't understand that you're running a business and may have other clients. These types of clients may expect you to drop everything and be available at all times. A red flag is when clients have multiple "crises" and try to pressure or manipulate you into doing last-minute or free work.

8. Paying below market rate

Some clients try to take advantage of freelancers by paying below the market rate. They want to get high-quality work without paying a fair hourly rate or fixed price. As a new freelancer, you may be tempted to accept these lower-paying jobs to build your portfolio and gain experience. Paying below the market rate can be a red flag that the client doesn't value freelance work and is difficult.

Before you start submitting proposals, you should have an idea of what a fair hourly rate would be for your services and skills. The Hourly Rates Guide is a great place to start. As a new freelancer, you may want to set your rate initially to the lower end of the range and then raise it as you gain experience. You can even include scheduled rate increases with your proposal.

Clients who underpay talent may also have other problematic behaviors like a lack of respect and boundaries. They may ask for free work or try to add on tasks without assigning new milestones. These are often not the types of clients you want to work with. Make sure you know your value and submit proposals to high-quality clients who offer a competitive and fair budget.  

9. Scope creep

Clients may try to change a project's scope, often by adding on work without adjusting the timeline or adding new milestones. This is called scope creep; it can be innocent or a way for clients to try to get free work. Scope creep often looks like adding deliverables or asking for changes and revisions that you did not agree to when you accepted the project or milestone.

Before accepting an offer or starting a new milestone, make sure you're clear on the full scope of the project and its requirements. Vague job postings can be a red flag. Schedule a call with the client to go over the project beforehand so you can get more clarity. Small changes now and then may be harmless, but if the client repeatedly asks for more work, you may need to push back.

If you're working on a fixed-price project, you can tell your client you're happy to do the additional work, but you'll need to set up a new milestone for the deliverable. When working an hourly contract, you can ask your client to add more hours or adjust the timeline.

10. Unrealistic expectations

Clients may sometimes have unrealistic expectations, which can make delivering a great client experience difficult. This can look like unreasonable demands about turnaround time or performance based on the resources available to you. Some clients may be managing projects they're not familiar with and not understand the time and skill requirements on the freelancer's end.

These types of clients may also want different results than what you agreed upon and try to spin it around as poor performance on your end. They may not accept that their wants are not feasible. Continuing working with clients who have unrealistic expectations can add unnecessary stress to your workweek. Even if you do your best, they may be unhappy and leave negative feedback.

The best way to prevent this is by meeting with your clients before accepting the offer and establishing expectations. Keep communicating during the project, giving updates, and checking in. If you're not on the same page as your client and do something wrong, it's better to know early on so you can make changes. Ask questions and clarify anything you're unclear about. You want to avoid getting into a project that is more work than you'd thought it would be, with a client who is impossible to please.

Conclusion

Freelancers are independent professionals who run their own businesses. Part of this ownership is knowing when to accept an offer and when to walk away at the end of the day. Everyone has different workstyles and personalities, and not every client will be the right fit. When in doubt, meet with clients before accepting an offer and trust your instincts.

Learning to say no can take some time and practice, especially if you're a newer freelancer, but in the long run, it can protect your business and personal well-being. If you need advice and guidance, you can join the Upwork Community to get advice from other freelancers, attend workshops, and learn how to position yourself best to win proposals.

Many people turn to freelancing to have more control over their careers and the types of projects they work on. As a freelancer, you get to decide which clients you work with. If you think a client may have the wrong mindset or unrealistic expectations, you can say no and submit proposals to other projects that align with your values. Clients from around the world post jobs on Upwork's Talent Marketplace, looking for freelancers just like you to help with their projects.