WSJ: “Freelancers’ Guide to Getting Paid—on Time”

The Wall Street Journal’s Diana Middleton wrote this article with some good tips.

Here’s a summary:

1. Get over the embarrassment. Don’t be uncomfortable with asking about money—everyone works with the expectation of getting paid.

2. Deal directly with payroll. If you’re constantly getting the runaround from your main contact, cut out the middle man and ask to talk with payroll.

3. Withhold work, if you can. To soften the blow, tell the client you are still continuing work, but won’t deliver projects until payment is received.

4. Offer the company some flexibility (e.g. a bi-weekly payment plan).

5. If the company is local, offer to go to the office to pick up your check. Face-to-face meetings are harder to ignore.

6. Consider adding late fees to your contract, or a prepayment clause.

7. Consider working with freelance-liaison firms. At Guru.com, clients put money in escrow; it is released to the freelancer upon a project’s completion. On oDesk, employers can track freelancers’ work via screen grabs of work in progress.

8. Sue the company in small claims court. Before heading to small claims court, send a demand letter by certified mail to the employer.

Click here to go to the whole article on Wall Street Journal’s website.