Serious question, why do so many freelancers think you can just skip a formal contract for a quick $500 gig?
I just had to chase a client for two weeks over a simple logo payment because our 'deal' was just a few texts, and my friend in graphic design said the same thing happened to her last month with a project in Tampa.
My neighbor's handyman lost a grand last year on a deck job with just a handshake. It's that same gamble, trusting a quick deal over a solid piece of paper.