I had to choose between a steady client with low pay or a risky project with a big payout

I picked the risky project, a full website rebuild for a new restaurant, and it paid off with a $5,000 fee. How do you guys decide when to take a chance on a new client versus sticking with the safe, regular work?

3 comments

3 Comments

noahclark3mo ago

One angle is checking if the risky project builds a portfolio piece you actually want. A restaurant site might lead to more food service work, which could be a niche you enjoy. I've passed on bigger payouts because the work itself didn't align with where I wanted my skills to go long term. It's not just about the money now, but what doors it opens.

johnh823mo ago

That's the grown-up advice, sure. But let's be real, sometimes you just need the cash to keep the lights on. It's easy to talk about long-term vision when you're not staring at an empty bank account. The portfolio piece is a nice bonus if you can afford to think that way.

perez.barbara2mo ago

My cousin runs a food truck and he said yes to every catering gig at first, even the weird ones. Now he only takes the jobs that get him in front of the right crowds. It's like that, you figure out what kind of work actually feeds you.