Real friends don't expect free work

We all know that real friends don't expect discounts.

Real friends also don't expect their friends to work for free.

It's understandable why it can sometimes feel like there is a fine line between asking for help and taking advantage. Of course, this is infinitely harder when you're starting and have little to no budget.

If you ever need help figuring this out, ask yourself these 2 questions:

1. Are they usually paid for this type of work? Or put simply, is this work how they earn a living?
2. If you're working with a stranger, is this work something you're expected to pay for?

Answering yes to any of the questions above means that the basic human thing to do is to pay for this service.

If you don't have the budget and could use a helping hand, ask yourself these 2 additional questions:

1. Did your friend offer their services for free or at a discount?
2. Did you two discuss and agree on the scope and timeline of these services?

If the answer is yes to both, then congrats! You're a real friend!

If in doubt, the best way to approach this is: We don't ever want to corner our friends into a position where they cannot refuse.