Questions I Ask Prospective Clients Before Working With Them

I personally feel that the success of a project comes from how well you vibe with your client. Getting to know your client (and their business) can help you verify if you want to actually work them, identify any red flags, and prevent scope creep – before the project starts. It’s so important to ask the right questions and that’s why I’m here to tell you what’s worked for me.

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If you include these 8 questions in your intake form, you’ll be golden.

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1. WHEN IS YOUR IDEAL LAUNCH DATE?
This will give you an estimation of how soon they want to start and launch their brand, which can then lead to you evaluating if you can fit the project into your schedule.

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2. HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN IN BUSINESS?
When a client comes to you with a brand new business, or if they are established and have a clear visual direction they want to head in – This will allow you to determine what package they need, and what the timeline would roughly look like.

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3. DESCRIBE WHAT YOUR BUSINESS DOES IN ONE SENTENCE.
If your potential client struggles to describe their business clearly, this can be considered a red flag. Since they don’t really know what they do, you can’t be expected to read their mind. Make sure you’re only working with clients who can confidently answer this question.

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4. WHAT SERVICES ARE YOU INTERESTED IN?
If they already did their homework and are familiar with your packages, this can be a good indicator that they have an understanding and are serious about the commitment of outsourcing a branding project.

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5. DESCRIBE THE SCOPE OF YOUR PROJECT.
Give them the floor to describe what they’re looking for. This is where you can sit back and listen to their overall vision (if they have one). This will give you a clear understanding of what deliverables they need and how to accurately quote the project.

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6. WHY DO YOU WANT TO WORK WITH ME?
This lets you get down to the nitty-gritty. What is the reason they want to hire a Brand and Web Designer? Maybe they like your design style, or align with your values.

It’s always good to give some tips and insight on what package would work best for their business!

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7. WHAT IS YOUR BUDGET?
Let’s be honest, it can be uncomfortable to bring up the topic of money right from the get-go but knowing your client’s budget early on is paramount to moving any project forward. Budget will determine whether or not your lead is a good fit financially, will help determine the scope of the project, and prevent scope creep.

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8. HOW DID YOU HEAR ABOUT ME?
This can truly benefit you by seeing where most of your prospective clients find you. If your clients mostly find you on Instagram – then optimize your Instagram!

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By asking these 8 simple, yet important questions you will be able to determine whether if you’re a good fit for working together. You never know, it could lead you to working with your dream client!

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At the end of the day – it all comes down to trusting yourself (and your gut), but knowing how to ask the right questions will be a total game-changer!