I'm a freelancer and haven't been paid yet? What can I do?
New York City, home to the pinnacle of creatives and advertising.
If you're a freelancer, you will know exactly what I'm talking about.
“Hey there,
Just emailing to follow up once again regarding my invoice ..””
When you work for yourself, own your own business, and are not on a payroll, the unpredictability of getting paid on time is a real concern — especially across the creative industry.
So, what can you do if you haven't been paid?
Well. Here's a few tips for dealing with an unpaid invoice and a non-responsive client.
Hopefully, you've got your scope of work in writing. Gather copies of any communication in regards to your payment. Save emails and screenshots of text messages. If you signed a contract, revisit the terms and agreement. Did you sign the contract? Did you send an invoice with the correct information? Was the job done on time?
Review the payment terms. Often companies will pay their vendors net in 30, 60, or 90 days. Review your agreement and check with someone who deals with their accounts. If your client is still struggling to pay you and being unresponsive, make sure you have all your ducks in a row when things escalate, you'll be ready.
Always, always, always put things in writing before starting a project. In a written agreement, you can include small important details on exactly what you are going to do and how you will be paid.
Few key things to consider:
• Scope of work •
A clear scope of work so everyone has a better understanding of what is expected of you. Helpful to include a timeline, key milestones, deadlines, drafts, and revisions. Discuss the unexpected, if the client is asking you to do more work than originally agreed upon, what would that look like and how could you charge them for your time?
• Payment schedule •
When are they going to pay you? Net 30? Net 50? You could always ask for 1/2 payment upfront and the 1/2 once the job is complete
• Kill Fee •
What happens if the client cancels the project halfway? Be sure to include some terms and how you are paid when the unexpected happens. For example, you could ask for 50% of the project cost if the project gets canceled before it is due.
Even if you can't secure a long-form contract, having any sort of written record will be helpful down the line.
