is this client worth your time?
Use this scorecard during discovery calls, or after when you’re second-guessing fit. Get a vetting score based on budget clarity, communication style, not-so-obvious red flags, and whether they’ll treat you like the expert you are.
setup
What to expect
This is a pre-work prospect check. Answer with what you can tell from the brief, discovery call, email thread, contract and public footprint. If something is not clear yet, choose unsure and make it a follow-up question before you accept.
Prospect score
0%not startedStart with the setup, then move category by category. Unsure answers become follow-up questions.
clarify before signing
- Is the rate stated and fair for the deliverables, niche and your experience level?
- Are payment timing, deposit, milestone or net terms clearly agreed?
- Is additional work outside scope priced separately?
- Can you verify the prospect through their website, LinkedIn, references or public footprint?
View score breakdown
- Answered
- 0/32
- Progress
- 0%
- Critical open
- 16
- Included categories
- 8
category breakdown
Made with 💛 by TheMinCave.
wall of praise
"This is even better than the spreadsheet version! Definitely opening this tab on my next discovery call."
"Used this to decide between two client offers last week. I'm not even a writer/marketer but the budget, communication and availability categories were spot on. I like that I can also add my own questions. Great tool."
High fit score? Protect your project with a scope-aware agreement. Use the freelance writer invoice generator → or how I found 100 potential freelance writing clients in 5 days →
This Prospect Fit Scorecard provides estimates only and does not constitute financial, tax or legal advice. By using this tool, you agree that you are solely responsible for your business and pricing decisions, and the creators are not liable for any outcomes resulting from its use.
FAQs on vetting freelance prospects
How do I score a prospective client?
Answer questions about your potential client across categories like budget, communication, red flags, and project scope. Each question has an importance level from 1-3. The tool calculates a percentage score and tells you if the prospect is a good fit, needs negotiation, or should be declined.
Which client red flags should I weight most heavily?
Questions have different importance levels to help calculate your fit score accurately:
Critical: Non-negotiables that can make or break a project, like clear payment terms, respectful communication, and major red flags. Answering “no” to these significantly lowers your score.
Useful: Preferred factors that improve project success, like having a content strategy or dedicated point of contact. Important, but negotiable depending on the situation.
Nice to have: Optional extras that make work easier, like flexible hours or portfolio usage rights. Helpful bonuses, but not dealbreakers.
The higher the importance, the more impact that question has on your final score.
Can I customize the scorecard to fit my needs?
Yes, you can add custom questions with importance levels that fit your specific vetting criteria, or exclude entire categories that aren’t relevant to your type of work/work style.
All customizations are saved in your browser, so your personalized scorecard stays with you for future client evaluations.
What should I vet a client on?
For writers: Budget & Payment, Communication, Content Requirements, Contract & Legal, Red Flags, Editorial Process, Risk Assessment, and more.
For marketers: Marketing Strategy, Budget & Payment, Communication, KPIs & Reporting, Team & Stakeholders, Technology Access, Risk Assessment, and more.
How long does the scorecard take to fill in?
5-10 minutes depending on how much you know about the prospect. You can save your progress and come back later.
Can I use this during discovery calls?
YES! Keep this open during discovery calls to make sure you’re asking the right questions. It helps you stay organized and catch red flags in real-time.
