The $28K Job from Hell

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Key Takeaways
Always perform a 'gate call' to pre-qualify clients before committing to a bid, screening for compatibility, budget, and potential issues.
Trust data from experienced peers about problematic clients or jobs; if multiple people warn you, consider it a strong red flag.
Maintain control of your projects from the outset by setting clear terms and expectations, asserting your expertise as the professional.
Never let a client dictate the sequencing, scheduling, or operational aspects of a project; it compromises efficiency and profitability.
Calculate your true job costs, including labor burden and overhead, and price projects based on your numbers, not the 'going rate,' using a minimum 2x markup on expenses.
Set all expectations and processes in writing before starting any work to avoid misunderstandings and potential disputes.
View expensive lessons as one-time costs if you learn from them; implement processes like gate calls and proper pricing to prevent recurrence.
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