Checklist
Client discovery call checklist
Keep this open during a first call or while you read a client's brief. It lists what you need to know before you price, so you are not quoting a vague project with missing information. Tick each topic once you have an answer, and write the answers in your own notes. Allow a 30 to 45 minute call.
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Why discovery comes before pricing
A price is a prediction about work you have not yet seen clearly. The less you know, the more of that prediction is a guess, and a guess usually errs in the client's favor because freelancers fear losing the job. Spending a call on the topics above turns unknowns into either facts or written assumptions, which is the start of a clear scope. It also tells the client you are careful, which many value.
How to ask
Ask open questions first ("what is this project for?"), then narrow ("who signs off?"). If the client cannot answer something, note it as an assumption in your proposal rather than guessing silently. If they will not discuss money or approvals at all, pause and look at the client fit checklist.
Limits
The list is general. Add field-specific questions: a designer asks about brand rules, a developer about hosting, a writer about sources and approvals. It is not legal advice, and it does not replace a written agreement.
Where this comes from
The topics reflect common discovery practice described in the site's own guides, not a formal standard, and we have not tested them on live calls.