Before You Trust That Brand: Simple Business Checks Every Designer Should Do
If you’ve been designing or freelancing for any amount of time, this will probably sound familiar. A new brand pops into your inbox with a clean brief, a reasonable budget, and a tight deadline. Everything checks out at first glance. The logo looks legit. The website feels polished. The email reads like it was written by someone who knows what they’re doing.
And yet… something doesn’t quite sit right.
These days, creatives are running into fake clients more often, not because they’re careless, but because the way we work makes it easy to get caught out. Projects move fast, most conversations happen online, and trust is usually assumed early on. For someone pretending to be a real brand, that’s the perfect cover.
The reassuring part is you don’t need to turn into a detective or slow everything down. A couple of small checks at the right moment can spare you a lot of wasted time, awkward conversations, and the kind of stress no project is worth.
Why Designers and Creative Businesses Are Being Targeted
Remote work has made it easier than ever for brands to hire creatives online. That’s a win for designers, but it also removes many of the traditional signals that used to confirm legitimacy, like in-person meetings or known referrals.
Fake clients know this. They often rely on speed and urgency, hoping you’ll jump straight into the work before asking questions. Designers are especially attractive targets because they’re used to adapting quickly and delivering first drafts before contracts or payments are fully finalised.
Most scams don’t look like scams at first. They look like opportunities.
What Fake Clients Look Like in the Real World
The biggest misconception is that fake clients are obvious. In reality, they often look very convincing.
You might see:
- A professional-looking website with generic copy
- A LinkedIn page with a logo but little real activity
- A brief that sounds slightly vague but urgent
- Promises of long-term collaboration after a “quick first project”
Sometimes the scam only becomes clear when payment is delayed, details keep changing, or communication suddenly stops.
Why “Trust Signals” Aren’t Enough Anymore
Designers are often told to “trust their gut” or look for surface-level signals like reviews, social media presence, or email professionalism. Unfortunately, those signals are easy to fake.
Websites can be spun up in a day. Logos can be copied. Email domains can be purchased cheaply. Even testimonials can be fabricated.
That doesn’t mean you should distrust everyone. It just means trust alone isn’t enough anymore. A small amount of verification adds clarity without killing creativity.
Simple Business Checks Every Designer Can Do
You don’t need legal training or financial expertise to protect yourself. These checks are practical, quick, and fit naturally into a creative workflow.
Check if the Business Actually Exists
Before you start working, it’s reasonable to confirm that the company you’re dealing with is actually registered. A real business should have a traceable identity beyond a logo, a website, or a nicely written email.
Some creatives do a quick EIN & TIN lookup using tools like EINSearch to check whether a company exists as a registered entity before moving forward. It’s a fast way to add clarity when you’re working with a brand you haven’t dealt with before.
This isn’t about tax forms or bureaucracy. It’s simply about making sure there’s a real business behind the name in your inbox, and protecting yourself before you invest time and effort into the project.
Look for Consistency Across Channels
Check whether the company’s details line up across its website, email address, and social profiles. Inconsistencies don’t always mean fraud, but they’re worth questioning.
Pay attention to:
- Company name variations
- Mismatched addresses
- Recently created domains
- Profiles with no real engagement history
Consistency builds confidence. Gaps deserve follow-up.
Validate Payment and Contract Details Early
Clear payment terms protect both sides. Before starting work, make sure you know:
- Who is paying you
- How and when payment will be made
- Whether the contract is customised or generic
Vagueness here is often a warning sign. Legitimate clients are usually happy to clarify.
Why Verification Protects More Than Just Your Money
The obvious risk is unpaid work, but the real cost often goes deeper.
Designers lose time they can’t get back. They delay real projects. They experience unnecessary stress and self-doubt. In some cases, association with fake brands can even harm reputation.
A five-minute check can prevent weeks of frustration. That’s not paranoia, it’s professionalism.
Making Client Checks Part of Your Creative Workflow
Verification doesn’t need to feel heavy or awkward. The easiest way to handle it is to make it routine.
Think of it like file backups or version control. You don’t do those because you expect things to go wrong. You do them because they protect your work when something does.
By checking a client’s legitimacy before you start, you give yourself peace of mind and the freedom to focus on what you do best: creating.
Final Thoughts: Trust Is Important, But Clarity Is Better
Most clients are real. Most projects are genuine. And most creative collaborations work out just fine.
But in a world where anyone can look professional online, a little clarity goes a long way. Simple business checks aren’t about suspicion, they’re about protecting your time, your energy, and your craft.
You don’t need to slow down or become overly cautious. You just need a clearer picture before you say yes.