hey there! Who's ready to stop working for free? Hopefully you are! If you have any doubts, consult this handy chart below. Start in the middle and work your way to your answer!

DEUTSCH

ESPAÑOL

CZECH Since I am a crazy person and we are all nerds, this chart is entirely css and html. Faster loading and you can translate it into any language! Google translation is a little funky, but it should hopefully get the point across.

No The word "start-up" is used pretty loosely by businesses to get you to charge them less.

No This is the most toxic line of bullshit anyone will ever feed you.

No MAKE IT RAIN, BITCHES!

No

Are they a "start-up"?

No

Did they promise you "lots of future work"?

No

Did they promise you "exposure" or "a good portfolio piece"?

No Just because a business isn't profitable, that doesn't make them a non-profit.

No plus angry letter.

Yes I'm shocked you made it this far in the chart. You could have been done with the project already!

Yes Don't be a dick. You owe them.

No Yippee. The promise of more cheap/free work. Hooray.

is it for a legitimate business? a legitimate business?

You mean a band?

Enough to write an angry letter for even considering you'd work for them?

No

No Respectfully decline.

Are you altruistic?

No

Are they promising you their proverbial kidney?

No

Do you owe them a proverbial kidney?

is it for your friend? your friend?

should I work for free? by Jessica Hische

is it for a charity or non-profit? a charity or non-profit?

Do you vehemently oppose the cause or what they do?

No

Is it through an ad agency or design firm?

No

Yes But don't be their slave. Clearly define what you can and can't do for them.

Are you sure about that?

No

Will they flake out on you when you need them?

Are we talking, like, brother-from-another-mother friend?

No

You mean the company your friend works for?

is it for your mom? your mom?

Yes Double karma points.

No They probably have a budget for you if they're charging the client.

No

Are they doing it pro-bono?

Yes You may end up broke, but you'll be knee deep in promised organs.

Are you "good friends" ifyaknowwhatimean?

No Companies often ask their employees about friends hungry for work and use the friend connection to take advantage.

No

No

Do you still really want to do it?

No

Will they give you creative freedom?

No

Are they a buncha a-holes?

No

No

Are you masochistic?

No You're no prostitute!

Yes 22 hours of labor and you can't do ONE goddamn garage sale flyer?? COME ON!

Yes Why not? Good karma and all.

No Fuck that. Who wants to work for free under those conditions? Contact the charity directly and THEN work for free.

Yes

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

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Yes

Yes

No

No

All Content Copyright Jessica Hische 2011