Thoughts on clients paying after they receive the service?

Payment up front. Always. That is until you build a solid reputation with them. Then it's payment up front, still.

Collect the money first.

I'm a middle of the road kind of dude and have thresholds before certain things are done for the client.

10% before setting up a meeting and hashing out all of the requirements and details for the project. Even if things aren't settled and the client decides to go in a different direction you are still compensated for your time and the insight that you gave to the piece. (Penny per word writers: this isn't practical for you since what you'd be paid won't be worth the time you put in.)

20% before beginning the information gathering process. Things like personal research, interviewing the client, finalizing an outline and gathering supplementary things I think I will use (photos, videos, etc.).

20% before beginning to write the first draft. You'll notice that I've now collected 50% of the quoted price before beginning to write the actual article. Once the first draft is completed the client and I will go back and forth as needed to identify any changes that need to be made.

25% before making those corrections. Also, that supplementary info isn't added in yet. That gets put in after this threshold as well. [A bracketed statement like this acts as a placeholder as well as a general idea of what that media will accomplish when inserted.]

25% due when the article is turned over.

I've had limited interactions with online freelance writing; but the system has worked fairly well so far. From what I have researched about other writers though this doesn't seem to be the normal way to do things. To each their own.

It sounds like the kind of client not worth dealing with. Pay for it don't, no need to break arms.

When a project runs in the thousands then a partial payment upfront
is the standard for any service type business along with an agreement
or contract. For a service below $100 then upfront payment is pretty
much the standard. If a potential client squirms at paying upfront for
articles then I would not deal with them. What are you going to do with
articles you have written at the request of one client? Of course you may
be able to sell them but these mean you have to find a customer (advertise)
which still cuts into your profit.

So for articles it's always upfront payment except they are paying for a package
deal that run over $1000.

-Ray Edwards

As a writer, you should be ready to provide at least a sample or first assignment before the first payment. After that, you can require it upfront. Both sides are relying on trust, so that has to be built by time.

Any outsourced work I've had done in a variety of online businesses, companies have always said half up front, half after, upon satisfaction. If you've got a store front business, clients should be able to pay after. But not anything online related. Best of luck.

Go by the simple rule – trust nobody – especially so in the online world. Even if you think you have built a relationship with a client online and you can start taking payments after you have delivered the work – think again. One fine day, you will find that after deliver a truck load of articles – the client has not paid you. Then what???
All the best. Regards

Payment first. Get the money then provide the services.

I am a writer too and I get money upfront for all work. If they have an issue with it, then I don't do the work. It's that simple. I do admit I have bent my own rules occasionally for regular customers but never for first timers.

Yes, you require payment upfront - no matter if the client's a corporate or a "fundless" wannabe John Chow!

How do you word it?

If its the client who approached you for work, the 2nd email from you should clearly define your working terms - the first one being the "what do you need and thanks for considering me" email.

It gets a bit more difficult if it's YOU who approaches the client in reply to an advert or just a forced application.

Almost always the client requirement gets discussed first! Wait for him to pop the question. If he doesn't, just tell him "I hate to discuss money, but would have to now so I can always maintain the quality I'm known for and my deliverables don't get affected".

If it's a $100 deal, tell him "I'd accept 100% upfront via paypal and in case of any discrepancy either party can seek help from the Paypal resolution desk. Your money and my work - both would be safe".

If its a $5000 deal, its best to chose a pay as you go plan and a written contract works best. He'll pay upfront for a week's work, you'll deliver and then proceed to week two.

Caution: Never Ever fall for the "my secretary is absent today so I'll pay you tomorrow morning" trap!

Hope that helps!

Thanks for all the feedback guys! I always provide samples in PDF format. I understand how both parties are a little nervous at first, but I would hate to spend hours on a project and not get paid.

I'll try and come up with a tactful way to deny clients who suggest payment afterwards.

100% now. Always.

Unless, the project is a HUGE sum - in which case you would probably be better off with a 50% in the beginning, 50% upon delivery.

With such orders, when you deliver, make note that the person canNOT use it unless full payment is made - otherwise, he/she will be in copyright infringement, since you retain rights until full payment is made.

Here's a "tactful" way to say it:

"I appreciate your concerns, but I require 100% upfront pay on orders less than ____. All my clients have decided to deal thus with me, believing in my integrity. If you don't like this proposition, then hit the back button on the website and find another writer."

How's that for tactful?

I charge a minimum of 50% upfront.

If the client can't agree to that then I simply find a new client.

Most people will be happy to pay a percentage upfront.

I also do 50% upfront and 50% when project is sent. I've only had two issues of not receiving final payment. But that was enough to make me reconsider. I may change to 100% upfront payments.

Rose

ALWAYS upfront, except in cases where I know a client for a long time and we set up a subscription or similar.

Also..for "large" projects, say ebook writing...also a certain percentage like 1/3 or so upfront.

Always get the money upfront. I've dealt with a few "upstanding companies in North America" who I billed at the end of each month -- and, inevitably, they wound up falling behind on their payments and eventually stopped paying altogether. Now, everyone who places an order with my company pays 100% upfront. The vast majority of people have absolutely no problem with it. As for the very few who do, I have to wonder if they were planning to rip me off all along!

As far as having a tactful response, just be honest -- the bad apples out there have ruined it for everyone. Most people who work on the web will get it!

Let me start off by saying that I agree that getting paid UPFRONT is by far the most ideal way to go about it.

Although I am [pleasantly] surprised to see how many people collect 100% upfront, even for design work.

I think anywhere between 25% - 100% upfront is completely fair.

Both parties are protected to a certain extent in this case, not just the buyer.

If a freelancer takes money and then doesn't deliver, there is usually recourse for the buyer (chargebacks, disputes, etc. since transactions like this are very rarely paid in cash) and on top of that, the reputation of the freelancer would be tarnished.

You can only stiff someone once. Creating long term relationships with clients is a much better business model.

That's what I tell prospects when they are reluctant to pay upfront or a partial upfront payment. If they don't want to compromise in order to allow both parties to feel secure, then like others have said here: They're not worth doing business with.

Best,
Shane

Payment up front. Period. If they don't accept that, they can go elsewhere. There's been plenty of stories on this forum, especially from writers who wrote the articles and delivered them and never got paid.

When working with freelancers on sites like eLance or oDesk, we normally setup terms to be split in thirds. One third up front, one third in the middle at a major milestone, and the final third at the final delivery. For contractors that we work with on an ongoing basis, they almost always bill us at the end after the hours have been submitted.

For creative work where you are delivering files, or even application code, I'd request payment up front.

Percentage up front, remainder on the backend. Has worked well for me in the past.

Like 50% up front, 50% on completion.

Or 30/70

Or even 25/75

(I was doing websites, mobile web apps, and PHP programming)