Hello!

we have recently started doing overseas projects of web design
and cheated by few clients, like after doing the complete site and showing them the mockup, they will not turn up or may be they will not pay us

so do we have any agreements before starting work, and all the clients will be bound to that, if not what kind of actions we can take on them

please suggest me

thanks
sudha

Wrong forum.

That's the problem with design work. If you create a mockup of the site ... they really don't have to purchase it. Unless you have a contractual agreement with them.

A lot of design companies will require some money upfront as a non-returnable deposit, maybe consider this unless you feel the client is trustworthy.

Matt is spot on here. I would suggest a 50 - 50 principle.

50% at the start and 50% at the end when the website is finished.

I second Reality Hosting. You need to get some cash before you start the design work so that they will feel some sort of an obligation to work with you because they have a specific amount of money invested in your work. Some clients may not accept 50 % upfront however you should at least be demanding somewhere in the vicinity of 20-40 %.

Definitely take a deposit. Maybe write up a contract to say that once a design gets passed a certain stage (near completion or complete) they have to pay even if they change their mind. If they sign it you can sue for your money.
I know a few companies who do this sucessfully.

When we get involved with design work, or redesign/ extension work, we opearte under a 1/3rd upfront, 1/3 on delivery 1/3 30 days later, all *fixes* and corrections (rather than extensions/extras) in that 30 days free

Works well, only ever had 1 customer try and not pay the final installment