Friends and family work — the price, the paperwork, and the friendship

A friend or family member asking for work is not a normal enquiry. The job is real, but so is the relationship, and the two do not always pull the same way. This guide covers the parts that go wrong most often. That is the price, the paperwork, and what to do when either one turns awkward.

Decide first if you want the job

Before you talk price, decide if you actually want to do the work. A slow week can make you say yes out of guilt rather than choice. It is fair to say no to family work, the same as any other job you turn down.

Pick a price, and say it out loud

There are three honest options: full price, a named discount, or a free favour. Pick one before the job starts, not part-way through it. Say your choice to your friend in plain words. Try "I'll do this at my normal rate" or "I'll take 20% off as a favour". A price that changes its mind halfway through reads as unfair, even when you meant well.

The discount check tool shows what a given discount actually costs you, in profit, not just in price. Run the number before you offer it.

Send a quote anyway

A written quote is not a sign of distrust. It writes down what the job covers. Then "helping out" does not quietly grow into a bigger job than you agreed. Send it the way you would to any other client, with the same scope and the same detail.

How to write a quote that wins the work covers what to put on it.

Invoice it like any other job

Raise the invoice the same way you would for a stranger. If you agreed a discount, put it on the invoice. Give it its own labelled line, not a lower price with no explanation. Your friend sees exactly what they are being charged, and what they are not.

Reminders follow the same schedule on every sent invoice. There is no setting to switch them off for one client. Tell your friend the schedule before you send the first invoice. A reminder they expected reads very differently from one they did not.

The friends and family scripts have the words for the invoice message, and for the rest of this guide.

When a friend pays late

Chase a late payment from a friend the same way you would chase anyone. Send a plain message, on the same schedule as your other invoices. Delaying the chase because it feels awkward tends to make the amount, and the awkwardness, bigger over time.

When a friend is unhappy with the work

Listen to what they say went wrong, and check it against the scope you quoted. If the work fell short of that scope, fix it. If they are asking for something outside the quote, say so, and price the extra separately. A clear line between the two keeps a disagreement from turning into a falling-out.

Saying no to a friend without losing them

You can decline family work. Give a short, honest reason. A full diary is one reason. Work outside your trade is another. Not wanting to mix work with family is a third reason, and it is a fair one. A plain "no, but here's why" keeps more goodwill than a vague delay that never turns into a yes.

The friend-of-a-friend referral

A friend-of-a-friend is a new client, not an extension of the friendship discount. Quote and invoice them at your normal rate, the same as anyone who found you another way. Mentioning who referred them is a courtesy, not a price list.

The scripts for all of this

The friends and family pack has six scripts for these messages. Fill in your details once, and every script updates.

Common questions

Should I give a friend a discount?

Only if you choose to. Decide on full price, a named discount, or a free favour before you start. Say your choice out loud, so it is not a surprise on the invoice.

Do I still need a quote for family work?

Yes. A quote writes down the scope, even for a small job. It stops a guess about "helping out" turning into a dispute about what was agreed.

Can I turn off payment reminders for one client?

No. Reminders follow the same schedule on every sent invoice, family or not. Tell your friend the schedule up front, so a reminder does not read as a chase.

How do I say no to a friend who wants free work?

Thank them for asking, then give a plain reason and your normal price. A short, honest answer keeps the friendship in better shape than a vague delay.