How to Vet a Client Before You Start the Work

Knowing how to vet a client used to mean an hour of open tabs: the state registry, a domain lookup, review sites, court news and the sanctions list. ClientVetter runs the same checks from one field. You type the client's website domain, we read the public records, and you get a scored report that explains every flag in plain words, so you can decide on terms before you send a proposal.

Studio owner at a plywood work counter comparing a printed report with a client contract, a pen and a signed proposal beside her, seen from behind her shoulder

Four steps from a domain to a decision

Every check follows the same path, whether the lead came from a cold email, a marketplace message or a referral from a friend. The steps below are what happens after you press the button.

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Step one. Enter the client's website domain, choose whether you are checking a company or a contact person at a company, pick the state of registration if you know it and set the project value.
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Step two. ClientVetter reads public records for that business: the state business registry, domain registration records (RDAP), DNS and mail records, the website itself, public listings and reviews, public court and news mentions, and government sanctions lists.
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Step three. You get one report with a risk score from 0 to 100, a band (Low, Watch or High), a list of red flags and the source behind each one.
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Step four. If you take the client on, add them to monitoring and ClientVetter tells you when something important changes.

Check a client

What the check reads and why each source matters

A real business leaves a consistent trail. A shell company or a fake buyer usually has gaps in that trail, and the gaps are what the report shows you.

Registry. We match the legal name with the state business registry and show the status (active, dissolved, forfeited), the formation date, the registered agent and the state. A forfeited status on a company that wants a $20,000 project is worth knowing before kickoff.
Domain. Public registration records show when the domain was created. A domain registered three weeks ago behind a company that claims ten years in business is a mismatch.
Website and mail setup. We check that the website answers over HTTPS and that the domain has mail records (MX, SPF, DMARC), which a working business normally sets up.
Reviews and listings. We summarize public ratings and listings with links, so you can read the originals yourself.
Disputes and payment. We look for public news and court record mentions tied to unpaid vendors, liens or lawsuits, and we search member non-payment reports that come with evidence and the company's reply.
Sanctions. The company name and listed principals are screened against the OFAC SDN list and other public government sanctions lists.

How the score is built

The score is not a black box. Each point is tied to a written reason and a source link, and the report lists those reasons next to the number. Two clients can both land in the Watch band for very different reasons, one because the domain is young and another because a vendor reported an unpaid invoice that is still under review, and the report makes that difference visible.

The band then drives the suggested terms. A Low band client may be fine on your usual net-30. A Watch band client might get a deposit and milestone billing. A High band client might get full payment up front or a polite no. These suggestions are guidance for your own decision, not legal advice.

Band	What it usually means	Typical terms to consider
Low	Consistent registry, domain and web footprint, no payment disputes found	Your standard terms
Watch	One or more signals need a closer look	Deposit, milestones, shorter payment terms
High	Serious mismatch, inactive status, sanctions hit or documented non-payment	Payment up front or decline

Checking the person who sent the email

Sometimes the only thing you have is a name and a title in an email signature. In contact person mode, ClientVetter checks that person only in their business role for the company named: whether the role appears on the company's own public pages, public professional profiles, and the sanctions list. We never look at home addresses, criminal records, family or private life, and the report never rates a person as an individual. This keeps the check useful and keeps it inside the rules described on our fcra compliant background check page.

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After you say yes

Vetting does not end at the signature. Companies change status, domains lapse and other vendors file reports. With business credit monitoring you add active clients to a watch list and get an alert when the registry status, domain or report history changes. Agencies often add the check to their intake checklist, so every new client gets the same documented review. Our client due diligence guide shows how to fit it into an intake process without slowing sales down.

Will the client know I checked them?

No. A check reads public records and stays private to your account. The only time a business is contacted is when a member files a non-payment report about it, because the reported business has a right of reply.

What if the client is a brand new LLC?

A new company is not a bad sign by itself. The report shows a thin footprint as a signal with an explanation, so you can ask for a deposit instead of turning the work down.

How many checks do I get?

Starter includes 25 full client checks a month, Team 120, Agency 400 and Enterprise 1,500. Limits reset each billing period, and deleting a report does not return a check. See ClientVetter pricing for every plan.

Is this legal advice?

No. The report gives facts from public sources and suggested terms as guidance. For contracts and collections, talk to your own attorney.

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Try it on your next lead

Paste the domain from the last email that asked for a quote and see what the public records say. The preview needs no card, and the full report opens with your account.

Check this client