Clients stalling

Let him take his time. You don't need to do anything with the site until he sends you the stuff.

My contracts always have a time specific goal set ( preliminary go live or launch date )... Then milestones backed out from that.

There's also a clause that basically states that if the site owner does not provide what is agreed upon in the contract, any monies paid are forfeited at the go live date, and a new contract can be re-nogotiated at that time if all parties agree.

I've only had to elect to use that clause once, and a year later they came back, wanted to continue where we left off. I sent them I've a new contract identical to the original, but this time they had to pay 100% up front on contract signing for 2 times the amount of the original.

When they questioned why, I explained to them that I already had mor shouts invested in the project when they walked out. Not only that, but at that time I didn't have as many obligations, for me to complete the new project would require me to work some weekends ( which I rarely ever do ), but I was willing if they were willing to pay the rate...

Not only did they send back a signed contract, they sent a check for the full amount of the project, and all the files I had asked for a year earlier.

I guess depending on your contract, I'd give them a deadline, citing that you have other obligations that warrant your time and attention and you can't be sitting around waiting for this project.

I'd ask, would you take your car to get painted, let the shop prep it, get it ready for the final coat of paint, and then not choose the color ? Do you think the paint shop is going to wait a month for them to choose the color ? Don't think so...

For those that I'm just waiting on image that they agreed to provide, I've made some really god awful colored place holders using hideous colors with the words "waiting for owner provided images"....

Once they see those, I usually get something pretty quickly.

I'd call it a lesson learned.

Part of my contract, before beginng any site "re-design"... If they currently are on a hosting platform I don't have access to... Is get access to it, or move their site to one of my servers ( whatever can be negotiated )...

The reasons I give them for needing this access is, the need to access their log files or stats if they have them turned on, or the ability to put some tracking or logging scripts in place if they don't. I also need access to make sure I have full access to anything that has been used in the past that may indicate any potential issues ( black hat scripts, content rewriting, etc... )...

Ultimately it comes down to control. Sure I can do the job without access and have done so numerous times. Anytime you do a turn key site ( you hand them all files at the end of the project, but have no access to their system)... You take a chance of exactly this happening.

Again, it comes down to the contract, and mine for a turn key has out clauses, milestone reviews and payments scheduled in, and a tentative go live date and final payment specified. Also a clause that specifies that if information they are responsible for providing is not provided prior tithe tentative go live date, that all funds are forfitted and the contract is considered completed and fully executed.

Explanation of this clause is key, I'm up front and give the examples of worst case. I have used this contract over 100 times and never had anyone complain, and only had to execute it once, when they came back a year later to finish the project, they willing signed a new contract, and paid 100% upfront before my having to re-start the project.

*** disclaimer ** I am not a legal consultant and this is not legal advice... Because laws and business regulations vary greatly from location to location, you should consult a legal advisor in your area for creating and or executing any legal contracts.

Fortunately a very good friend of mine is a lawyer, has provided me legal advice and reviewed my contracts to make sure they are appropriate and enforceable. ( the clause mentioned above is not enforceable in some states and localities according to him )... But as written, is appropriate where I do business.