Can we talk about using standard contracts for small jobs in Amarillo?

I had a client just last week who hired me to set up their network for their new boutique on 6th Street. We agreed on a price over text, I did the work, and then they tried to pay me half because they said I was too slow. I didn't have a contract, just a handshake, so I had no way to push back. I ended up taking the half payment just to avoid a bigger fight. Now I write up a simple one page agreement for every job no matter how small. It spells out the scope, timeline, and payment terms plain and clear. Has anyone else had trouble getting paid after a verbal agreement?

2 comments

2 Comments

sethmartinez2d ago

Wait, they tried to pay you half and just said you were "too slow"? That's wild. A handshake deal should mean something, especially when you both agreed on a price upfront. I had a similar thing happen with a buddy who painted my neighbor's fence last year, no contract, and he ended up eating the cost of extra paint because they argued about the color after the fact. Now I print out a one pager for anything over $50, even if it feels like overkill.

patricia6342d agoOG Member

I mean, a one pager for anything over 50 bucks? That seems a little extra to me. Half the time people don't even read those things anyway.

-1