[consulting] Unsigned Contract Breach Question

[Greg Knaddison]

Thanks for sharing this event with the list - hopefully it will serve
as a reminder of the importance of crossing the t's and dotting the
i's.

I guess here are two possible strategies you could follow.

1. You want to work with them and that is a possibility OR they might
refer you to other people. You could use this moment to say "Boy,
really wanted to work with you and had a team who was also excited.
Hopefully you'll keep me in mind in the future. If you encounter other
people who are looking to hire someone with my skills I'd really
appreciate it if you refer me to them." People ask me for referrals
pretty often and I am horrible at remembering beyond a very short list
- explicitly asking for that should help keep you in his mind.

2. You don't want to work with them and/or something on their end
means they'll never work with you and won't refer you. Send an invoice
for time you and the rest of the team spent getting ready for the
project. Don't expect to get anything other than a little closure -
for sure a risky move.

Either way - yeah, lesson learned. During the 4 years where I was in
charge of contracts, I only began work without a counter-signed
contract or check in my hand on 4 occasions. Several were as I was
starting the company and 1 under a rushed timeframe at the end. Three
out of 4 of them sucked. I think it's more than a coincidence :)

Cheers,
Greg

--
Greg Knaddison | 720-310-5623 | http://knaddison.com |
http://twitter.com/greggles


On Thu, Mar 14, 2013 at 8:25 AM, Sam Cohen <sam at samcohen.com> wrote:
>
> On Thu, Mar 14, 2013 at 10:17 AM, Ryan Cross <drupal at ryancross.com> wrote:
>>
>> Here is a different angle:
>>
>> they went another way. it sucks. there is plenty of work out there. learn
>> from the experience and spend your time lining up a new gig.
>>
>
> It's likely that's what I will do, but I did turn down another job in the
> three weeks -- because I thought I was booked with this one -- I had also
> arranged with other consultants to work on this project -- and they too may
> have turned down other work because of it.
>
> My question is really whether or not they have any legal obligation to pay
> at least a part of the contract.
>
>  I doubt I'd get a lawyer over this, but I am certainly considering sending
> them an invoice.
>
>
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