Three clients went dark on me this year after I delivered their work. One still owes me $2,400 and hasn’t replied to any of my emails.
I’m starting to wonder if I need stronger contracts. Honestly, I’m just exhausted from chasing people for my hard-earned money.
Always get payment terms in writing before starting any work.
For the client who owes you $2,400, send a final invoice with a clear deadline. After that, consider small claims court or write it off as a lesson.
Some clients will push boundaries to see what they can get away with.
Getting paid half up front helps a lot
Stop working for free. That $2,400 client knows exactly what they’re doing.
Send a demand letter first. Certified mail. Give them 10 days to pay or you file in small claims. Most will pay up when they see you’re serious.
For new jobs, get at least 50% before you start and the rest before final delivery. No exceptions. Clients who complain about this are the ones who won’t pay anyway.
I’ve been doing this for years and learned the hard way. Good clients understand payment terms. Bad ones will always find excuses.
Been there with the ghosting clients. It sucks but you can still salvage this situation.
For the $2,400 client, try these steps:
Going forward, change your process:
I learned this the hard way too. Now I treat late payers like red flags and cut them loose fast. Your time chasing money could be spent finding better clients who actually pay.