Client Management and Workflow

[glorybound]

Feeling the room here. What does your client management workflow look like?

• 50% deposit on all projects (never questioned)
• Contract signed for all projects (never questioned)
• Two gray-scale proofs, which is only to verify the model accuracy and doesn't include composition and, for exteriors, doesn't include the site
  • I quote design changes per hour
• Two low-resolution color proofs
• Final balance paid
• Final deliverable sent

The only issues I ever have are, the client doesn't read the contract or my process page. The second is when the person who I start with hands things over to someone else after the initial contact (addressed in my contact - single point of contact). This is the biggest issue for me. Recently I had one comment on a color revision, and one comment on the second. Then, the person hands it over to a team, who sends dozens of comments, which I then charge per hour, and they wonder why. When I send updates I always say, Revision 1 of 2, or Revision 2 of 2, but this seems to be ineffective.

Thought?

[dayna_beaver]

Ever any problems with clients refusing to pay for revision work? Do you water mark your low-res color proofs?

[glorybound]

Ever any problems with clients refusing to pay for revision work? Do you water mark your low-res color proofs?

I use a review site, so they can't download unless I enable it. The review site also prevents right mouse click saving. 90% of my clients are fine paying for extra revisions. The other 10% change their mind when I quote what they are asking for. I never used to charge for extras, until covid and things got strange. Although my workload wasn't effected, I was preparing myself for it, and started quoting extra for extra things. I also do work for larger marketing firms and they always ask their client for more money when they ask me for extras, so I am getting used to it being pretty standard protocal. I mean, common, who does work for free? It almost makes you look more profossonal. Heck, Chick-fil-A charges you for extra sauce

[dayna_beaver]

The Architectural Industry is quite strange...! Congrats on navigating it for so many years... the stories you must have!