I wouldn’t. So why should you?

A handshake might feel easy in the moment. But what happens after they have your money and stop answering? What if the information they gave you is wrong? What if the application is incomplete, the process gets delayed, or you end up facing deficiencies, extra costs, or penalties?

Who is responsible for fixing it? What did you actually pay for? What were they supposed to deliver?

If you don’t have those things in writing, you may be left with nothing but your memory of what someone said.

This work is too important for “just trust me”

The work we do is connected to highly regulated care facilities. You are taking care of people’s lives. The state regulates your facility, your application, and many of the services connected to your operation for a reason.

Some application packages are extremely detailed and can reach hundreds of pages. This is not something where you want to cross your fingers and hope the person helping you knows what they are doing. Incorrect information, missing documents, and inconsistent answers can lead to delays, defects, and serious problems for your facility.

And yes, you might find someone willing to do the work for less money. Maybe they do not have a formal company. Maybe everything is based on a handshake. Maybe they have very little online presence.

That does not automatically mean they are bad at what they do. But you need to ask yourself: if something goes wrong, what do you have to hold them accountable?

When a consultant has almost no public presence, it can also be harder to find honest reviews or share your experience where other potential clients will see it. That is not a small thing. Before you pay, ask questions. Look for ways to verify who you are hiring. Get the scope and promises in writing.

I have been burned before

I have always tried to see the best in people. I have tried to deliver my best on every project and give people the benefit of the doubt.

But I have been burned too many times.

I have had things promised to me verbally that I never received. Then I went back to the contract and realized the promise was not in there. That taught me something: if it matters, it needs to be written down.

I do not rely on verbal promises anymore. I read contracts. I ask questions. I review the details before I sign. If I expect other people to take my agreements seriously, I have to take theirs seriously too.

That is exactly why RCCS service agreements are detailed. They explain what we are doing, what we are not doing, what the client needs to provide, what the fees cover, and what happens if the work changes or gets delayed. The agreement is there so nobody has to guess later.

I protect myself and my business

I am a person who wants to protect himself. I live and do business in California, and I take the possibility of disputes seriously.

There is a quote from either Nicki Minaj or Cardi B—I honestly can’t remember which one—about getting sued, winning, and suing back. That mindset stuck with me. If somebody takes me to court trying to damage me or my business, and I prove that I was not liable, I am going to look at every legitimate option available to me. I am not going to treat an attack on my business like it was nothing.

That is how I think. I will defend myself.

Our legal team and I work hard to make our agreements as strong and clear as we can. No agreement can promise that nobody will ever sue you, and I am not going to pretend otherwise. But I am going to do everything I can to make sure the agreement says what we mean, protects the work, and spells out the expectations.

If you won’t read it, we should not start

I also do not want to waste your time or mine.

If you are unsure, ask questions. Take time to read the agreement. Make sure you understand it. That is completely fine.

But if you do not want to read the service agreement, do not want to ask questions, and do not want to sign it, then we are not ready to work together. I am not going to start a project based on “just trust me” when I have learned the hard way what can happen when the important promises are not written down.

Our policy before work begins

For services or consultations priced at $500 or more, I will not start without a signed agreement.

And if you pay but the agreement is still unsigned after 72 hours, I refund the payment. That applies even if the service costs $5,000. No signed agreement, no work started, and your payment is returned.

That is not me trying to make things difficult. That is me setting a clear boundary before either side gets too far into the project.

Pay for the service you understand

You are free to choose the consultant you want. You are free to choose a lower-priced option. But before you send someone a substantial payment, ask yourself whether you know exactly what you are getting and what happens if the work is not delivered.

Do not let a friendly conversation replace a written agreement. Do not assume a promise is included if it is not in the contract. And do not be afraid to ask questions before you sign.

At RCCS, the agreements are detailed because the work is detailed, the industry is regulated, and the stakes are real. I have been burned by relying on what somebody told me. I am not building my business that way, and I do not expect our clients to take that kind of risk either.

If we are going to work together, let’s put it in writing, make sure we both understand it, and start the project the right way.

This post reflects my personal views and RCCS’s business practices. It is not legal advice. The terms of each RCCS engagement are set out in its signed service agreement.