payment
- Started
- Last post
- 23 Responses
- fyoucher10
Been through this many times (might even be with your same client) and couldn't agree more with Continuity.
Fact is, just don't work WITHOUT A CONTRACT and make sure it states payment terms and late fees. I have clients that I've started out with a very long time ago without using contracts and almost all of them have run into issues where they want to pay late, especially this time of year, even with clients that I literally have over 100 projects with.
Whenever you get a new client, make sure you have a contract (signed) BEFORE you start any work. No matter if it's a client who you think is so big, that you probably won't have to deal with it. Just don't take the chance. You'll spend long hours tracking late invoices, etc. Major headaches.
Finance department doesn't care about you. They need to pay you as late as possible in order to maximize cash flow. You'll get the "lost check", "corporate policy is that we pay vendors when client pays us", "looking into it", "we didn't get that invoice", "oh you forgot to fill out our new vendor policy (90 days later)", and just about any other excuse to delay payment. I've gotten so much BS from finance over the years, I know what to expect.
The sad part is that it's likely you work with really cool people who have nothing to do with paying you but finance screws the biz relationship up.
Always always have your own cash flow though, so you don't have to be in those situations where you absolutely need the loot.
Good luck.
- jamble0
Did you not have a contract with them?
You should at least have that, check out http://docpool.co if you need an idea of a sample contract doc for the future.
There's no excuse for a freelancer to not be collecting your money on time. Cashflow is a kick in the bollocks at the best of times when you're self employed so set your T&C's and stick to them because you're only doing yourself damage. They don't care if your invoice sits at the bottom of the pile.
- A contract?! I can't believe nobody mentioned that until the second page.monospaced
- Can't be reiterated enough :)fyoucher1
- ben_0
Yeah, unless you have a contract stipulating otherwise this agency is going to pay you when they say they will (or worse, when they feel like it). You have a contract for things as mundane as your cell phone and domain names, you should make sure to have something for how you make a living.
Speaking from having been on both sides, we make every attempt to pay net 30 over here, but I'm not going to lie, there's times when cash flow is an issue for everyone including agencies. Talk with them to see if you can't get it a bit earlier, realizing you're asking them for a favour (provided you didn't have a contract), despite what some may tell you there are actually a handful of good people working in AP.
Or, it could be a total nightmare. Get a contract, good luck.