Rules for Web designers to protect himself from Bad Clients

While not all clients are bad here some basic rules for Web designers to protect himself from Bad Clients.

Web designer should always protect yourself in the following ways:

1. Always get 50% upfront
2. Make the client sign a contract that states specific dates and deliverables for her as well as for you
3. Send the client wireframes before doing a mockup
4. Have the client send you examples of websites they like, detailing exactly what they like
5. Have them do the same for websites they don’t like
6. Get any branding guidelines up front
7. Create 3 web design mockups for them to choose from based on the info gathered from 3-6
8. Once the client has agreed to a design, make them sign another contract stating they have agreed to the exact design and will pay a set hourly rate if they sway from that design
9. Keep all the files on your own proof server NOT THEIRS
10. Do not put the files up on their server until they’ve paid you the remaining 50 % of what they owe you.