Work as a freelance writer long enough and you will have some kind of issue with getting paid. Since writers often work on a tight schedule–and budget, this can be more than a mere inconvenience. There are some things you can do to try and rectify the issue. Try these:
- Screen clients when possible. Try to check out a client ahead of time if you can. If you don’t feel good about taking them on, then don’t. Sometimes your gut instinct is right.
- Give a little time. I can’t tell you how many checks came two or three days after I was ready to pick up the phone and call. Try to build in a grace period if you can.
- Follow up politely. Often a missing check is just an oversight, and one that can be fixed quickly. Don’t have an attitude when you follow up. It won’t get you anywhere.
- Ask when you can expect payment. Once someone has followed up on the issue, be sure to nail down a time frame within which you can expect your check.
- Get it in writing. Do your follow up by e-mail whenever possible. This gives you a solid record of all communications. Even if you don’t plan small claims court action, people tend to feel more nervous about going back on something they put in writing.
- Be persistent. I once had to follow up…you won’t believe this…twelve times before I got paid. I think they just got totally sick of me and wanted me to go away. I sent reminders on a regular basis.
- Add a late fee. If you are coming up with a project bid, tack on a late payment fee.
- Go over the person’s head. I only recommend this in cases where the person you are dealing with doesn’t seem to be doing anything. Do a little investigating and see if you can come up with a contact that is higher on the food chain.
If you have had success at getting a payment from a client who initially didn’t make it on time, please feel free to share your techniques here for others. After all, we’re all in this together, right?
I’ve written over 200 college textbook supplements in my freelance writing career. Only once did I have a problem with an editor who didn’t want to pay me. I contacted her superior, who had hired me to do the project. He immediately apologized and authorized my payment.
I usually get paid within 4-8 weeks. I did have one project many years ago that took 6 reminders and a year before I got my check. He apologized after every reminder and said he’d get right on it. I think he just was not well organized.
That’s a pretty good record! I’m afraid to say that it has only happened to me one time where I had to repeatedly remind them…
Let’s hope it doesn’t happen to either of us again!
Unfortunately, I can’t say the same thing. I racked up a $7,000 fee in back pay on a freelance project. What I did when it became clear that prompt payment wouldn’t be happening? I kept at the project and waited until an absolutely critical juncture, then told them I’d deliver the goods once I got my money.
That did the trick, and I worked with them without further incident for quite some time.
Obviously a hot topic, particularly with the chilly economy! I recently blogged about it (http://jakepoinier.blogspot.com) and the Wall Street Journal ran a feature article about the topic, too. I didn’t agree with half of their solutions, which seemed way too hardball.
In any case, I think your first bullet is the most important one: Most payment problems have a root cause long before the invoice ever gets sent. Protect yourself by having some sort of a simple contract and ask for a deposit.
Two of my blog readers suggested interesting ideas that I’ll pass along here: 1) Subcontract invoicing and collections to a third party, which saves you the hassle and also keeps you from being the bad guy. And 2) Send a certified letter cc’d to your lawyer, so you’re not going the full lawsuit route, but at least showing you’re very serious.
Good blog–I’ve rss’d you!
Thanks Jake–and I appreciate the additional tips as well. Glad you like FZ! I’ll check out your blog too….