/ic/ - Artwork/Critique

this has probably been asked a thousand times but i have some specific questions, and im dumb as fuck so i don't know omg

here's some context so

I took my first commission and I already started working on the thing, i told the guy the price it seems like theyre okay with it. I then sent them a rough sketch they were okay with it, did a few adjustments on it.

so i started working on the rendering, the character is almost done i just have to work on a simple background now and check if there's anything weird that i haven't noticed yet.

so here's the questions:

1. i know i was supposed to ask for the money upfront but since it's my first time i have like no reputation or anything, so i was planning on asking for it now that's about to be done or when it's done (before i send them the actual files)
is that okay? or should I straight stop now, ask for the money and then continue??

2. how many times do u ask the client for input/opinions? I sent them the first rough sketch to know if they were okay with it. ended up doing some adjustments. now i sent them a thumbnail of the render to know if they're okay with it (probably shouldn't have).