The fifth mistake I made: I treated the client's word as enough. No paper, no signature, not even a written message. This is the fifth article in the "Early-Stage Mistakes" series.
How We Used to Work
The client says "approved", we start. We agree on the design in a call, we build it. We deliver a part and the client says "fine", we move on. It all felt completely normal: things were simple, the relationship was good and the people were respectful.
I saw paperwork and signatures as routine bureaucracy with no real purpose.
The Day the Client Says "I Never Approved That"
Then comes the day the client tells you: "I never approved that," or "I never received that part."
And the client isn't necessarily lying or trying to dodge anything. They may genuinely remember it differently, or simply have forgotten what we agreed on. Months have passed, we've discussed a hundred things, and the details got mixed up.
Each side has its own version of the story, and you have nothing to go back to that settles it.
From a Small Disagreement to Legal Action
That can escalate into a serious dispute, and sometimes into legal proceedings the company never needed. At the very least, the company would have been in a much stronger position with a simple record proving the agreement or the delivery.
Three Lessons I Learned
- Every stage of the work needs a written approval. Requirements, design, every change request and the final delivery.
- Documentation doesn't have to be a complicated contract. An email or a clear WhatsApp message with the details and an explicit "approved" reply can be strong evidence when a dispute comes up.
- After every meeting or call, send a summary of what you agreed. And ask the client to confirm it in writing.
Documentation Isn't Distrust
Documenting doesn't mean you don't trust your client. It protects both of you: it protects you from denial, and it protects the client from misunderstanding. A good relationship stays good when everything in it is clear.
The Bottom Line
What I thought was routine turned out to be what protects the whole business. One clear message today can save you months of dispute tomorrow.
Want to Skip These Mistakes?
If you are building a business or a system from scratch and want to avoid these mistakes from day one, talk to us directly.
Message us on WhatsAppLearn more about Alaa Samir, founder of Darory, or send us a message.
The Early-Stage Mistakes Series
- Episode 1: Hiring Before the Work Is Stable: The Most Expensive Mistake of My Early Days
- Episode 2: Polishing One Part While the Whole Project Waits
- Episode 3: "A Technical Fault": The Vague Answer That Almost Cost Us Our Clients
- Episode 4: No Real Rest for the Founder: When Breakdowns Come at the Worst Time
- Episode 5: Taking the Client's Word for It: Why Every Stage Needs a Written Approval
