I do contract work and own a cleaning LLC. Just got off the phone with my biggest client because he’s been underpaying me. It sucks. I feel like I’ve been taken advantage of and it’s definitely a lesson learned on my part.
My question is, is it normal for everyone to try to screw you over? Should I require every single client to sign a contract?
I didn’t originally because me and this guy used to work maintenance together. He taught me everything and was almost like a father figure. I let my guard down and got burned.
Sorry if my writing is a little jumbled. I’m not used to these sort of conversations with people and the entire thing just feels slimy and gross. I hope most people are not like this.
In business, it’s a little bit like the far-west. People are after your money and their are only a few rules.
So yes, do get used to having challenging conversations, otherwise, people will try to bully you. It doesn’t mean being rude, but rather be very clear about you expect and when to step out.