Career✓ Follow-up at 8 weeks2,230 views
I'm freelancing and clients keep not paying me
A freelancer payment protection plan covering contracts, deposit requirements, payment terms, and collection strategies for unpaid invoices.
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Follow-Up Result
8 weeks laterImplemented contracts and deposits — haven't had a non-payment issue since
The Problem
I've been freelancing for a year and I'm owed over $4,000 from three different clients. One ghosted me after I delivered the work, another keeps saying "the check is coming," and the third disputes the amount. I didn't use contracts for the first two because they were "friends of friends." I'm doing great work but I'm terrible at the business side and it's costing me real money.
The Plan
Week 1-2: Fix the Current Situation
Send formal invoices with clear payment terms (Net 15 or Net 30) to all outstanding clients — professional invoices get taken more seriously than casual requests
For the ghoster: send a final demand letter via email with a deadline. If no response, consider small claims court for amounts over $1,000
For the "check is coming" client: set a firm deadline in writing. "I need payment by [date] or I'll need to pursue other options"
For the dispute: review any written communication (emails, texts) that confirm the agreed scope and price
Going forward: NEVER start work without a signed contract and a deposit. Ever. No exceptions, not even for friends
Week 3-4: Protect Future Income
Use a simple freelance contract template: scope of work, timeline, payment terms, revision limits, kill fee
Require 50% upfront deposit before starting any work — this filters out clients who won't pay
Use milestone payments for larger projects: 50% upfront, 25% at midpoint, 25% on delivery
Invoice immediately upon completion — don't wait. The longer you wait, the less likely you'll get paid
Use invoicing software (Wave, FreshBooks) that sends automatic payment reminders
Resources
AND CO or HoneyBook — freelance contract templates and invoicing
Small claims court — for amounts under $5,000-10,000 (varies by state)
r/freelance — community advice on getting paid
"The Freelancer's Bible" by Sara Horowitz — business fundamentals for freelancers
Follow-Up Result
8 weeks in: collected $2,800 of the $4,000 owed. The formal invoice with a deadline worked on the "check is coming" client — they paid within a week. The ghoster responded to a final demand letter and paid after I mentioned small claims court. The disputed amount I settled for 75% to avoid the hassle. More importantly, I now use contracts for everything and require 50% upfront. Two potential clients balked at the deposit requirement — which told me they probably wouldn't have paid anyway. Every client since has paid on time. The deposit requirement alone would have prevented all three of my original problems.Know someone with this problem?
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