Ask Can a client on a freelance platform ask for work to start before the contract is officially activated?

[Edward22]

This comes up more than people expect, especially with clients who seem impatient or who say they just want to see a small sample before committing. Some freelancers feel pressured to start early because they do not want to lose the job. But starting work before the contract is active means you have no protection if things go wrong. Most platforms are clear that work should only begin once everything is confirmed and funds are in place. Has anyone here been asked to start early, and how did you handle that situation?