How do you handle slow paying clients?

A. Accept full payment upfront and offer a guarantee

B. Accept 1/2 payment and get CC number to charge so many days after services rendered. (like you said)

C. Get CC number and offer a payment plan with guarantee

You can guarantee that the product will be delivered as per contract in x amount of time upon receipt of full payment, i.e., $x -- then restate all this in your store policy (or terms of service, or whatever) and provide a link to your store policy in your invoice or email with job description.

If a client tries to barter down or whatever, just say, "Oh, that is our policy." Then immediately redirect them to the project , "Yes, and about your project... did you mean....?"

Good luck!

I agree with the above post.
I freelance and at times outsource basic work.
I pay my workers regardless of my clients payment status.
I also NEVER let me workers know MY business nor even have any contact with my clients.
That way no drama and it stays business not personal

There a thing called chargeback. Even if you have someone's CC number
doesn't mean that you have their money. It's tricky when dealing with
clients and receiving payment on time. There is always a risk even
when you receive full payment upfront.

I have clients who pay me after the job is completed because they
are long-time clients so I don't even require a deposit. And there
are clients who never paid the balance and you have to just move
on and monitor if they use your copy.

-Ray Edwards

Thanks, Ken, Bamma and Ray. I appreciate your posts.

Ray, do you state in your contract that the client cannot use the copy if they don't pay? Or am I misunderstanding your post?

That makes complete sense.

A lot to learn...thanks again, Ray.

Melody

You really should apply late charges, that sort of treatment is disgusting! If the client is in genuine difficulty they should explain.

The screen shot idea is a great one, Mike.

Steve, you're right. Late fees can and should be applied. When I worked in corporate America, they always treated late payment like we were financing the customer and added fees accordingly.

Thank you both. I've got some great ideas for how to handle my own clients now.

Melody

This is only my personal opinion, but if I was her I would only accept full upfront payment. You can back this up with a full 100% guarantee on your work.

In my opinion, this is the best thing you can do
I hope this helped
Clint

Mike,

Interesting idea RE: the screen shots.

Do you just take 20 screenshots and send them all at once?

Interested about this process.

-Dan

I say...YOU'RE FIRED. I've fired clients on RentACoder...and that means giving up ANY money! If someone is trying to stiff you and play hard-to-get-money-out-of, even if they DO use your copy, they are NEVER going to make any impact, and if they do...time to call in the legal beagles

Thanks to everyone. I really appreciate your help.

I struggled with this issue in the beginning. After I started sending requiring part of my fee up-front and including the invoice with my completed work, most problems stopped. I have made the occassional call to the person in charge of remitting payment, but I haven't had anyone stiff me on what is rightfully mine. That's the way we must look at non-payment; the client is holding our property hostage.

I actually go the opposite, asking for quite a low deposit as it lowers the barrier.

Then I work WITH the client as much as possible, building a relationship and letting them see that I leave no stone unturned while trying to help. I also make absolutely certain I know what they want and expect.

Then I sprinkle a little magical dust - by pointing out other stuff they'll need and get cheap from me, such as press releases, re-doing their 'about us' page and so on - after the salesletter project is complete.

Then I hit em with a good salesletter, a bunch of research docs and study material showing why I'd written it the way I have, pre-empting objections.

Bottom line, the value, care, and attention, coupled with delivering exactly what they were expecting but tempered with my knowledge, makes for happy clients that love me.

Touch wood I've never been stiffed yet... and how I managed to put 'wood' and 'stiff' in that innocent little sentence I'm not sure - but I'm liking it



B.

And to answer the OP... I get my full fee before I start writing the letter.

Pretty hard to get "stiffed" when you work like that.

-Dan

I often hear this but here's a question.

If you had a client selling a service, would you advise THEM to demand full money in advance?



B.

Always get paid first hand, if they don't like your job then refund the money.
But don't do the job first and then charge, because they have you over a barrel

These comments have really given me something to think about with my own clients. I'm a long way off from having to sub-contract, but if and when I do, they will be paid when their work is done.

Thank you.

Unless you are in a business partnership with this copywriter (i.e. you split expenses and profits) this isn't your problem.

Getting advice here on how SHE should make her payment arrangements doesn't help YOU.

YOU need to begin working with a sub-contractor agreement of your own; one that specifies how and when YOU get paid.

So, for example, if you want $X deposit to begin work, and balance due paid on delivery of the first draft (to her), have an agreement that specifies this.

It is unfortunate that your senior copywriter hasn't figured out how to avoid being held fiscal hostage to her client's whims. However, again - that's not your problem.

YOUR problem is making sure that YOU get paid on time. SHE is YOUR "client". It is your responsibility to make sure that YOUR client pays you in a timely manner.

You're absolutely right, Collette. That was my mistake from the start.

If you are still having troubles collecting after 30 or 60 days, complete a small claims court filing (but don't file), say if you do not have a check in hand within 72 hours you will file and send it to them with your invoice. Always worked for lawyers I have worked with.