I built a tool that tells freelancers when to say no (and how to get paid for it)
Source: Dev.to
Lesson Learned
Three years freelancing taught me an expensive lesson: a request like “Hey, can you add user profiles real quick?” sounds reasonable until you realize the contract only covers a “landing page build” and you’ve just agreed to 12 hours of free work. You either do the work and lose money, or have an awkward conversation and risk the relationship. Neither option feels good.
The Problem
The actual problem: most scope creep happens because…
What I Built
- A tool that tells freelancers when to say no and how to get paid for it.
- Includes a clause generator that adds protections you may have forgotten.
Why Email Gateway Matters
Email makes the process instant. You forward a request, get a verdict, and reply—no context switching required.
Features
- Clause generator (adds protections you forgot)
- Email gateway as the hook; everything else leverages existing contract‑management tools.
Current State
The email gateway is the core hook. All other functionality builds on contract‑management tools that already exist.
What I’m Learning
Version 2 is planned for release in about two weeks, with features aimed at agencies. The current focus is on solo freelancers.
Contact
Happy to answer questions about the technology or the problem itself.