pro
Arya Bhatta
Top 1% | 10+ Yrs | Design, Engineering & Growth Systems
- $5k+
- Earned
- 9x
- Hired
- 5.00
- Rating
- 131
- Followers
@SanganakHQ X @ContraHQ 😃
61
46
2.6K
2
27
31
2.3K
What 2 Unpaid Projects Taught Me About Protecting Yourself
I learned these lessons the expensive way. Sharing so you don't have to.
1. Get payment milestones in writing before you start.
Not "we'll figure it out." Not a handshake. A contract with clear milestones, amounts, and deadlines. On-platform, where there's a record.
2. Never deliver 100% before final payment clears.
I delivered a complete project, handed over all credentials, and trusted the client to pay. He didn't. Once everything is in their hands, your leverage is gone.
3. Silence is a red flag, not patience.
When a client goes quiet for weeks after delivery, they're not "busy." They're hoping you'll give up. Set a deadline: if payment doesn't come within 7 days of delivery, escalate immediately.
4. Document everything outside the platform too.
Screenshots of WhatsApp conversations, email confirmations, deployment logs, Git commits. If a dispute happens, your paper trail is your case.
5. Partial delivery is your best protection.
On a multi-milestone project, never build ahead of payment. Finish milestone 1, get paid, then start milestone 2. If the client disappears after milestone 1, you've lost time but not unpaid work.
6. Threats mean you have leverage.
When a client suddenly threatens legal action, bad reviews, and bans instead of just paying, it tells you one thing: they know they owe you and they're trying to scare you into walking away. Don't.
7. Keep your emotions out of your communication.
Every message to support, every email, every response should be factual and professional. The moment you sound emotional, the focus shifts from "client didn't pay" to "freelancer is being difficult."
I'm sharing this because I wish someone had told me before I lost sleep over it. Protect your work. Protect your time. And never feel guilty about expecting to be paid for what you delivered.
@contrahq @sanganakhq
10
8
430
Aashman — Donation & Impact Platform
10
9
Digital Platform for 24/7 Roadside Assistance in Dubai
10
7
Digital Transformation for FabSeating's Legacy Brand
10
3
Development of B2B Commerce Operating System for BRND Direct
10
3
Scalable Web Infrastructure for Event Management
10
3
GoHighLevel CRM System Integration for Hollywood Wigs Brand
10
10
HANGUT — Social Platform for Real-World Connections
10
6
2
23
21
1
12
15
1
11
11
1
24
26
Dorin Wigs International – Store Visual & UX Refinement
11
5
Custom Shopify VFX Marketplace – Advanced Catalog Architecture
10
5
Enbloom Marketing Website Redesign
10
9
Strategic Website Redesign for Pennworth
10
1
Texas Tank Pools Framer Website Redesign
10
0
Spent most of this week @Sanganak HQ inside Kajabi :)
Audited 3 Kajabi builds across coaching, courses, and memberships. Different niches, same issues.
UI things I kept seeing:
pages trying to say too much
inconsistent CTAs
mobile spacing breaking flow
poor color contrast
UX issues were clearer:
unclear audience above the fold
funnels jumping steps
checkouts lacking reassurance
dashboards confusing first-time users
Extensions/Plugins: They messed too
Everything worked. The experience didn’t.
Kajabi makes launching easy. Clarity takes judgment.
Back to the next audit.
7
11
546
Last week @SanganakHQ team started handling socials for a luxury brand operating across multiple continents.
They were strong offline, but their online presence had been dormant for over 400+ days.
We brought them online properly. Website first. Then socials with clear intent, not noise.
Now we are moving into paid ads, built on understanding the brand and the people behind it.
When intent is right and the relationship stays human, growth follows :)
5
10
736
2
7
22
1.7K
1
11
4
2
23
20
1
10
1
1
9
4
1
10
2
Take back the control of your digital life. Built with @Anything Ai
5
13
647
2
9
24
1.4K
1
27
30
1.6K
1
23
8
Luxury E-Com & Growth System for 50 yrs old EU Gourmet Brand
22
8
PHP to React.js Revamp for UrbanMandaiGlobal
22
5
1
23
23
1
22
4
1
22
10
Mandados.Live Cross-Platform Delivery App Development
22
9
1
22
13
1
22
10
1
22
13
NutMama – Shopify E-commerce Store for Organic Superfoods
22
18
1
22
18
1
22
13
1
22
14
1
23
13
1
23
19
1
22
9
1
22
7
1
23
6
1
21
5