Developer open-sources 200+ hr project after client refuses to pay

Post by kposehn » Wed, Aug 17, 2011, 1:58 PM UTC

ra wrote: post #128

kposehn wrote: post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've run my own marketing firm for the last few years and have dealt with similar issues as the OP. How you structure up front payment is always up to you. We've always had a setup fee, typically a few thousand dollars, which is due before any work starts. However, there has been one single thing which has kept our revenue flowing month after month for years: Freshbooks.com I seriously love that site. We use it for:…

Nice. I've started using freshbooks recently but haven't looked at the estimate side yet. Side question, what (in percentage terms) do you call a 'nasty fee'?

Post by tptacek » Wed, Aug 17, 2011, 3:24 PM UTC

furyg3 wrote: post #132

robryan wrote: post #117

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What do you think of putting less than +30? I've only ever done any large work with long standing clients that pay quickly. Would the majority of clients not agree to it? Could be a way to ensure that it ends up being +30 even with the client dragging their feet.

I did business with a department which was in the process of spinning off from a big Fortune 100 company. They had plenty of funds, but there was a lot of bureaucracy during the transition. As such, they told me they 'required' net-60 I asked for clarification, and they were apologetic about it. They could only run payments on a 60 day schedule. Solution: I billed net-30, 15% monthly surcharge for late payments, whic…

Post by fadzlan » Thu, Aug 18, 2011, 3:09 AM UTC

dkokelley wrote: post #36

simmons wrote: post #12

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Why would the nonpaying client, or future potential clients, care what the developer does with his property? If they wanted it, they could have bought it from him. (I'm assuming that the developer didn't sign any IP assignments upfront, or is violating any NDAs or similar agreements about this code.) If I was a sculptor and a client commissioned me to create a work of art, then didn't want it, surely nobody would fau…

I disagree that the commissioned art analogy applies directly. My argument is that this was not a work of art, but a business tool, designed to provide the client with a competitive advantage. Donated art doesn't harm the commissioner, but publicizing this code CAN harm the client. A competitor can take this code and use it against the client now. It does sound like there was no proper contract between the coder and…