freelance payment
- Started
- Last post
- 29 Responses
- Mick0
Also, be sure to charge your clients for every hour you sleep.
DUnno about you but I do all my best creative thinking in my sleep and damnnit there's 6 hours a day I could be charging.
Hmmm does that make me a web-design whore?
- ********0
this reminds me to get my baseball bat and collect some money.
- nmdtht0
kona -
i'm curious what type of clients you're working for. any client i've ever done freelance for that i've billed over $600 has issued me a 1099 (required by law). If the total income you claim on your taxes is less than that stated on your 1099s the man will come looking for you.
- intoxicated0
This is great thread. I think it would help everyone - not just me - if there were some good examples of design contracts out there, or do I need to get a lawyer?
- dreez0
I have no idea how it works outside the U.S. but for me it's liek this:
1. Get a contract put together if you don't have one check out http://www.startupbiz.com/ find a WORK FOR HIRE agreement and modify it by adding what you are going to do for your client and type out the exact dollar amount you are quoting to do the project and include a statement regarding getting paid for additional expenses as well (cover your ass). Put in exact dollar amounts $500.00 deposit, and $1500.00 upon completion, or whatever. Make two copies sign both and keep one for your self, other for client.
2. Unless you made an agreement to do some comps for the client don't do shit until you get the deposit (cover your ass, time is money).
3. Once you have received the deposit and later finished the product, send an invoice (invoice bascially a document with information on what was completed and what they need to pay, I have sent this via snail mail, fax, and email, they all work).
4. If you did your WORK FOR HIRE agreement right you stated the product is legally yours until you receive final payment. So once you are paid in full by PayPal, Direct Wire, Check, whatever then turn 100% of the product over to the client and then go take your cash you made and buy a trip to Amsterdam and pretend your Bob Marley (thats what I do).
5. If you are working for yourself pay the fuckin taxes and if your working enough you will find write-offs: rent for the amount of space your office takes in your apt. or home, cell phone, cable modem or dsl, computer parts and software, office supplies, traveling expenses.
6. Be smart your working for yourself now so if you have no employees and are just doing some freelance on your own shouldnt be too much of a hassle with having or not having biz license. Most clients want to know if you have biz license so they know if your licensed and bonded for insurance reasons, if your designing web sites like me you dont need fuckin insurance to pay for a broken .jpg or .gif image.
7. Every single client I have worked for I have done this and it has worked very well, never had to go to court or hassle about money. Not sure if having an agreement had anything to do with it or not.
Good Luck.
- dreez0
Oh and keep records of every payment you received. Once tax time comes figure out what you were paid and pay what you owe whether you have receied 1099's or not.
Sometimes client forget to take care of their taxes and 6 months after you file you taxes the gov't sends you a mail saying you owe $7000.00 for taxes you didn't pay on (COVER YOUR ASS).
If you want to try to get away with the depositing under $3000.00 thing I read earlier go ahead but it's better to be safe then sorry, theres ways around getting the shaft with the IRS legally (write offs).
- nmdtht0
solid advice dreez
- intoxicated0
dreez you rock!
- monNom0
http://www.aiga.org has a good graphic design contract...