Freelancing has taught me a lot about client behavior when it comes to payments. Just recently, I had one client who promptly apologized and paid after my first reminder, while another seems to think ignoring my reminders is okay.
It definitely reveals the type of person you’re collaborating with. Clients who respond usually turn out to be the better partners.
Some people just hate paying bills. I’ll give them one reminder, then move on to better customers.
Clients who ignore reminders usually nickel and dime you on everything else too. I spotted this pattern pretty quickly.
I ask for 50% upfront from new clients now. Anyone who pushes back or makes excuses about the deposit will drag out payments later. Saves me tons of headaches.
Good clients don’t mind reasonable payment terms. They get it.
Clients who pay on time are great to work with. They understand it’s business and respect your time. Late payers often have excuses and want everything done immediately but take forever to approve. I’ve learned to spot these red flags early and charge more to cover the extra hassle.
The worst clients? The ones who vanish the second you send an invoice. They’ll blow up your phone during the project, then ghost you completely when it’s time to pay.
I track response times now:
I use this data when pricing. Serial dodgers get higher quotes or I just don’t work with them anymore. Not worth the headache chasing people who clearly don’t respect your time.
I watch how clients behave during projects too. Had one who nitpicked everything and constantly asked for discounts. When payment time came? Two months of excuses.
I’ve learned to connect the dots. Clients who constantly question costs or try renegotiating usually become payment headaches.
Good clients just pay and move on. Makes everything way smoother.
Yeah some folks just don’t like opening their wallets.
Payment behavior reveals a lot about clients. Those who pay promptly after reminders often communicate better during projects.
I keep a record of on-time payers versus late ones. This helps me decide who to prioritize for new work.