What should I do about starting work before a signed contract?

[VioletYB]

I’ve had a client ask me to start working before the contract is finalized, saying the paperwork is “just a formality.” They seem trustworthy, but I’m worried about scope creep or not getting paid for this initial work. Has anyone else faced this push to begin without that signed agreement in place?

[Addison_G]

Yep, this happened to me once. a client said the paperwork was just a formality and I started doing discovery and rough mocks. Then the scope crept like a tide, and I found myself delivering more than we’d agreed to on the basis of trust. I eventually asked for a retainer and a short scope document with milestones before anything else moved. It felt awkward, but it saved me later.

[Ronald77]

I told them I can’t start until the contract is signed. It’s one page of intent and a clear milestone plan. If they balk, I pause and offer a minimal scoped kickoff with a small retainer to cover my time.

[FrankW]

I once drifted into a tangent about coffee shop layouts before a project debate, which made me realize how easy it is to confuse comfort with clarity. The real question for me is whether the push to begin reflects real trust or a belief that time equals value. Anyway, do you have a formal acceptance process to lock the ball rolling without risk?

[Paul15]

Short version: I waited. The client vanished or changed the scope later, and I tracked hours but got paid a mess. In the end I learned to confirm a signed scope before starting and to define milestones for payment.