I run a weld and fab shop and I certainly have a couple customers that need let go because they bring junk and always “don’t wanna spend too much on it” types of people.

Set a dollar amount that your not comfortable letting a stranger hold for you, and make that your customer needs skin in the game threshold at which point a deposit for work needs to be made. Investing time and resources into work for a stranger who will never pay is a feeling that will make you want to throw in the towel. You will lose trust and faith in all of your future customers.

There is rich people everywhere amongst us, what’s your definition of rich? I’m in business, and I can tell you that they will only consult and mentor you. Possibly lead you to new prosperous contacts. But the trick to being rich is attracting the money not chasing the money. If you have to “chase” a dollar, you won’t be rich.