Is Unpaid Work Worth the Risk?

Free trials.?

In other words, unpaid work.?

Occasionally, I see freelancers facing a dilemma: they've engaged a new prospect who's interested in working together, but as a way to test the waters and minimize their own risk, the prospect requests a free project or trial period.

Why on earth would a freelancer ever agree to this??

Similarly, how can a business expect a writer, photographer, graphic designer, or translator to provide their services at no cost??

That’s generally a red flag — if a business isn’t willing to pay for a service upfront, how can we trust them to pay down the road?

A post on the subject by Cyrus Vanover really resonated with me a while back. He pointed out that you wouldn’t expect someone to give you a free haircut just so you can gauge their ability, which makes too much sense.?

And you could make an argument that, between freelancing and hair styling services, it’s easier to evaluate a freelancer thanks to their portfolio. I don’t know how my haircut will look — I wouldn’t call up my barber’s prior clients and ask for before-and-after pictures of their heads. On the other hand, a business could review my portfolio and see examples of my writing style and range.?

But that got me wondering…

Why would we, as freelancers who are solely responsible for every dollar we earn, ever work for free??

Well, I can think of two situations.?

1. If I really wanted to work with a specific company. The opportunity would have to meet tight criteria though — established brand, high-paying space, right in my wheelhouse, and zero red flags. But, in all likelihood, this type of company would be willing to pay me in the first place, so I would imagine this is a rare situation.?
2. If I really needed money. This sounds paradoxical, but I liken this scenario to a short-term investment (my time) with, hopefully, long-term yields (steady paid work). In short, if I were confident that a prospect was worth the risk, I could justify a one-time unpaid project.?

I don't recommend working for free, but I wholeheartedly support doing what’s in your best interest from a business standpoint. Sometimes, that could be a temporary free trial as a long-term strategy.?

Could a few hours of free work evolve into a stable, well-paying relationship? Yes, it’s possible.?

That said, I’m curious how often this happens. Personally, I’ve never offered my services for free — anytime a prospect has been unwilling to budge, the negotiation dies.?

Have you ever offered free work? Did it pan out?