Screw you. Pay me.

Most entrepreneurs – especially those in the b-to-b space – have found themselves saddled with a client who decides at the end of a project that they want to either renegotiate the terms of the deal or not pay at all.

Excuses vary – from “We ended up not using the work” to “it’s really not what we were after”. Mike Monteiro, co-founder and design director at Mule Design, replies to all of them the same way: “F*ck you. Pay me.”

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This talk, explaining the philosophy and co-presented with his attorney Gabe Levine, is geared toward the creative services industry, but should resonate with any small business owner who has problem clients.

Topics covered include the importance of contract creation (along with useful tips on what should be included) and how to handle worst-case scenarios, such as clients shifting direction mid-stream and lay offs. (Warning: As you might guess from Monteiro’s reply, the language in this talk can get a bit salty.)

http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=22053820&server=vimeo.com&show_title=0&show_byline=0&show_portrait=0&color=00ADEF&fullscreen=1&autoplay=0&loop=0