Have outstanding invoices? Here's how to get paid.

Freelancers should get paid for the work they do, and you're no

exception. We've got tips for those pesky outstanding invoices!

Too many outstanding invoices can turn into a low-budget flop.

What we’re going to do is start out by tackling «what you need to do now» and leave the «what you should do next time»

for the second half.

Wait a few days before you turn into Schwarzenegger.

Remember the human element of your client relationship, and try to give

them the benefit of the doubt.

Your ultimate goal is to get paid and preserve your relationship with a client.

Don’t start out with guns blazing.

Once you’ve reached 4-7 days past the due date, it’s time to start putting some gentle pressure on the client.

Again, you’re still giving the client the benefit of the doubt and attempting to preserve your relationship, so

you’re best off starting with a friendly payment reminder.

Give ‘em one more chance, then make the call.

By calling the client, you’ll not only show them that you mean business, but you’ll be getting across the message that you’re not just going to fizzle away.

If that doesn’t work, you can charge in and charge interest.

If you started this agreement with a contract that pre-warned the client of late-payment interest charges, now’s the time to send an invoice for the interest.

We’ve put it off for long enough… this is the “should have” part.

Starting out with a contract might seem like a pain, but it will be far less painful than losing out on your

hard-earned pay.

If you can’t afford a lawyer, then a contract template is a fantastic option. Freelancer’s Union offers a

contract creator that will help you protect yourself.

A few things to remember:

If you’re creating your own contract, be sure to set yourself up for payment success. This is the

part where you forewarn your client that late payments can result in interest. You’ll also want to

clearly outline your termination process.

Shoot for a realistically happy ending.

Want to learn more?

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Don’t get caught in a courtroom... with a contract that’s not legally binding.

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