Freelancing with Companies in Other Countries?

DutchSter asks: "I've been doing PHP web development for a few years now, including a few small jobs for a client in the UK (I'm currently in the US). The jobs have been so small I've never worried about a contract or anything. I was recently offered to do some long-term projects (about 6 months of full-time work). Does anyone have experience doing freelance work for another country, and if so, how did you handle contractual issues? Basically, I'm looking to minimize the risk of me being ripped off, and second, eliminate problems caused by miscommunication due to the lack of a written agreement."

Comments

GET A WRITTEN CONTRACT

[ptomblin]

I got badly burned by a company whose name rhymes with "Horacle" when I did some work without a written contract. I'd done three things for them, each one taking about a month, and got paid for all of them, and then I did a fourth that took two months, and they refused to pay me. Unfortunately I didn't have anything in writing to prove that they'd promised to pay me for this work.

Re:Retainer

[DuckDuckBOOM!]

Payment by major milestone is good practice for any development contract.

Re:subject goes here

[DuckDuckBOOM!]

I don't know anything about contract work, but I don't see why you can't have a written agreement. If it's something that worries you, just have them fedex you a contract, you sign it, save a copy, and send it back.

He can, should, and probably will have a written contract. The problem is, contract or no, if the client is intent on ripping him off he'll be in a situation where he has to pursue legal action overseas, under laws and in courts that frequently aren't enthusiastic about upholding rights of non-citizens. Far better to negotiate a payment schedule that minimizes the chance of being screwed this way.