A staggering 81% of independent freelancers have been paid late for a project they completed. That is a lot of freelancers waiting around to be paid their dues!
Here are some ways you can encourage clients to pay up in a timely manner.
Agree on Payment in Advance
This is solid advance for any freelance work you do. Make sure that you and your client have agreed on the fee ahead of time. That way, there are no surprises and no way that your client can back out and say, “Wait, I thought it was only going to cost this much…” Part of this is also documentation and ensuring that everything agreed on is recorded somewhere.
Act Quickly
Send the invoice right after you complete the project. That way, your work is still at the forefront of your client’s mind. Don’t let yourself be forgotten! Even though many freelance professionals like to send out invoices in batches to save time, that method could be encouraging late payments.
Know Who Holds the Purse Strings
If you are working with a business, make sure you know the right person to contact about your invoices. Get to know the accounting team and ensure that they cut your check on time.
Be Professional
Lastly, if you want to be paid like a professional, you must act like one too. Have a system in place for billing, invoicing, and following up and always make sure to come across as a professional.
