They Demanded 100% Upfront, Then Disappeared for Weeks
You’ve just hit ‘Send’ on the bank transfer. The deposit is on its way. The first week, the developer is responsive and enthusiastic. The second week, replies take a day. By the third week, there is only silence. Every unread email amplifies the growing panic. This scenario is every client’s nightmare.
Let me be clear: a demand for 100% (or even 50%) upfront payment without robust guarantees is a massive red flag in 2025. Professional relationships are not built on blind faith; they are built on transparent, secure systems. Today, we’ll dissect the dangerous payment schemes and show you how a professional partnership should be structured to protect your investment.
Red Flags in Payment Schemes
Your gut feeling is usually right. If a payment structure feels risky, it probably is. Here are the common traps to avoid:
The Professional Standard: Milestone-Based Payments
The gold standard in the IT industry, which protects both the client and the developer, is milestone-based billing. My entire process is built around this principle. You only pay for work that has been completed, reviewed, and approved by you. It’s that simple.
Here’s How It Works, Mapped to My 4-Stage Process:
- Deposit & Stage 1 (Architecture): The project kicks off with a modest deposit (e.g., 25%). I then get to work on the foundational architecture: setting up the dedicated server, hardening security, and configuring the network. Once this stage is complete and you have reviewed the work, the first milestone payment is made.
- Stage 2 (Strategy & Design): The next payment is due only after you have approved the complete UI/UX design and the strategic SEO blueprint. You know exactly what your site will look and feel like before a single line of code is written.
- Stage 3 (Development): The third payment is made after the website is fully developed on a staging server and you have tested all the core functionality.
- Stage 4 (Launch): The final payment is made only *after* the site has been successfully migrated to your live domain, tested again, and is fully operational.
“This model transforms the relationship. We are no longer a client and a contractor; we are partners, equally invested in moving the project forward to the next successful milestone.”
Tools for Civilized Financial Relationships
A professional approach is supported by professional tools. Vague emails asking for money are not part of my process. Here’s what you should expect:
- Professional Invoicing: For every milestone payment, you will receive a detailed, official invoice. This is not just a payment request; it’s a formal financial document for your accounting, which I generate through secure platforms like Wise or Revolut Business.
- Escrow as an Option: For clients who require an additional layer of security, I am happy to work through trusted third-party escrow services like Upwork Direct Contracts or Escrow.com. These platforms hold your payment and release it to me only after you have officially approved my work for that milestone.
Trust is Built, Not Demanded
A developer’s payment structure is a litmus test of their professionalism. A true professional doesn’t ask you to blindly trust them with your money. They propose a system where trust is built step-by-step, based on real, delivered commitments.