Left a $85k IT job for landscaping and got ghosted by clients last month in Austin

I walked away from a stable desk gig three months ago thinking outdoor work would be simpler and more honest. Last month alone, three clients in Austin didn't pay me for jobs I finished, and one guy argued about the $200 tree trim quote he agreed to. How do you handle people who just don't pay after you switch careers into a trade?

2 comments

2 Comments

xenan647d ago

And here I thought the only thing I'd have to worry about switching from a desk job was replacing my ergonomic chair with a sunburn, not becoming a debt collector with a leaf blower. You're basically running a small business now, and small businesses have to get payment upfront or at least a deposit before you start the work. I learned that the hard way too when I did side jobs for neighbors and one guy paid me in "exposure" by posting my number on a community page. Now I just send a simple text before I even load the truck saying "card or cash before I start" and if they argue I tell them I'll find a better paying tree to trim elsewhere. It feels awkward at first but less awkward than chasing $200 from someone who ghosted you.

lily_stone766d ago

My buddy did the same thing and ended up putting a lien on a dude's house to get paid.