Protected delivery guide

Let clients review the work without giving away the handoff.

A strong delivery process gives the client enough to judge the work while keeping the final, source, editable, or production-ready package for the release step you agreed together.

Create a Dealokr deal Use the guide

Dealokr protects the deal journey and keeps its proof record connected. Payment processing and third-party file permissions remain with their respective providers.

The framework

Protected delivery is a service design choice, not a barrier.

The client still needs a fair opportunity to inspect the work. The difference is that review access and final ownership or editable access are not treated as the same thing.

01
List
Separate review assets from the final items promised in the deal.
02
Prepare
Create a preview that supports a real approval decision.
03
Explain
Tell the client what they can review and what happens after validation.
04
Validate
Record the approval or revision decision against the right version.
05
Hand over
Release the promised final package through the agreed route.

Put it into practice

Make the next action unambiguous.

These prompts turn delivery from a moment of uncertainty into a client-ready route with a clear decision and a clear record.

Decide what the client needs to review.

A preview should answer the client’s real decision. A PDF can show copy and layout; a watermarked video can show edit, timing, and sound direction; a staging link can show a product flow; a flattened image can show a design. The right preview depends on the deliverable, not on a single technical trick.

Be precise about what is not yet part of that preview: editable files, source projects, high-resolution exports, deployment credentials, or reusable asset libraries may be separate final items when the deal says so.

Tell the client why the route is structured this way.

The best explanation is practical: the preview exists for review, and the final package is released after the agreed step is complete. This gives the client a clear review path while helping the freelancer keep the delivery sequence reliable.

Avoid using a protection rule as a surprise at the end of the project. Include it in the scope and delivery plan before work starts, alongside the project’s actual payment and validation terms.

Keep external access honest.

Figma, Drive, Dropbox, GitHub, Vercel, Notion, and similar tools have their own permissions. Dealokr can record a link and organise the workflow around it, but it cannot override the external provider’s access model. Check the provider settings before calling a link protected or final.

The most useful record keeps the relevant link, version, client decision, and final handoff message together so a new project contact can understand what happened.

Working checklist

A final-file protection check before every delivery.

Use this list to protect the review experience and the handoff at the same time.

Preview quality

The preview is sufficient for the client to check the agreed result.
It is clearly labelled with version and date where useful.
It does not accidentally contain the complete editable or production package.

Release rule

The client has seen the expected validation or payment step before delivery.
The final package is listed rather than assumed.
The release condition is consistent with the actual deal terms.

Access hygiene

External links have the intended provider-side permissions.
Source files, credentials, and reusable assets are checked separately.
The final handoff is recorded with the correct version or package name.

Client-ready wording

Useful language for the moments that matter.

Use these as starting points, then replace the bracketed details with the real scope, timing, and decision for the project. They are practical prompts, not legal clauses.

When you share a preview

Make the purpose of the preview explicit.

“This is the review version of [deliverable]. It is designed for you to check [the agreed points]. Once the review and release step in our deal are complete, I will share the final package: [list].”

It reassures the client that they can make a real decision now.

When the client asks for final files early

Hold the agreed boundary without becoming defensive.

“I want you to have what you need for a proper review, which is why this version includes [what they can inspect]. The final editable or production files are released through the handoff step we agreed after [condition].”

The message explains the route instead of making the client feel blocked.

When you complete handoff

List what is actually being released.

“The release condition is complete, so I have made the following final items available: [list]. The project record now shows the validated version and handoff date.”

A named package is much easier to find and verify later.

A practical boundary

Clear terms and a clear record work better together.

A good delivery workflow does not manufacture certainty. It makes the agreed scope, review version, client response, and final handoff easier for both sides to inspect. Keep your own commercial, legal, invoicing, and provider obligations separate and up to date.

Common questions

Clear answers before the project gets complicated.

Can a client review work without receiving source files?

Yes. A useful preview can give the client enough information to review the agreed result while source or editable files remain part of the final handoff if the deal says so.

Does Dealokr control permissions in Figma, Drive, or GitHub?

No. Those providers control their own permissions. Dealokr can organise and record the delivery workflow, but you must set and verify external access in the provider itself.

Does protected delivery guarantee payment?

No. It makes the delivery sequence clearer and preserves a record. Payment outcomes depend on the parties, agreement, configured payment provider, and applicable rules.

A protected next deal

Protect the payment journey and final handoff in one deal.

Start with clear terms, a protected payment journey through the configured provider, and protected delivery instead of trying to reconstruct the end of a project from scattered messages.

Create a Dealokr deal See how it works