Been freelancing for years and still dealing with clients who conveniently forget payment deadlines. Recently started being way more specific about terms upfront.
Instead of just saying “payment due in 30 days” I now spell out exactly what happens if they’re late, what my preferred payment methods are, and when I consider an invoice overdue.
Honestly wish I’d done this sooner because the difference is pretty noticeable.
What really changed things for me was putting payment terms right on the first page of contracts instead of burying them in the fine print.
I also started asking for partial payment upfront. Even 25% makes clients more invested in finishing the project and paying the rest.
The biggest shift was realizing that clients who push back hard on clear payment terms are usually the ones who cause problems later anyway.
Payment method matters more than people think. I stopped accepting checks years ago after too many clients used that as a stalling tactic. Now it’s ACH transfer or credit card only, and I tell them this before we shake hands on the deal. Takes away their excuse about mailing checks or waiting for signatures. Most clients don’t care as long as you tell them upfront.
Adding late fees on invoices helps a lot. I usually charge 1.5% per month after the due date.
Clients tend to pay faster when they know there is a cost for being late. Those who still delay payments are often not worth the trouble.
I just ask for half up front now.
I learned this the hard way after getting burned by a few clients who just vanished when invoices came due.
Now I send a simple payment expectations email before we even start working. It covers:
The key thing is making it sound professional but firm. Most good clients actually appreciate knowing what to expect.
Also started tracking payment patterns by client. Some always pay in 45 days no matter what you put on the invoice. Others pay the same day every time. Knowing this helps me plan cash flow better and decide who gets priority when I’m booking new work.
Sounds right. Being clear helps a lot. It took me a while to figure that out too.