This post by Carol Tice originally appeared on Make A Living Writing.
Has this happened to you? You slave away meeting a freelance client’s deadline, send in your invoice, and then…nothing.
Your client is smelling like a deadbeat.
What can you do about it? Plenty.
As it happens, I’ve had my share of clients who drag their heels on payment. Over the years, I’ve developed a system for making sure those checks arrive…more on that below.
First, here are my five best tips for rounding up those stray checks:
1. Friendly email reminder
I like to begin on the assumption that my lack of a payment is a simple oversight or mistake. The day after the payment was due, I send a friendly email:
“Hi, I’m just checking in because my final payment on this project was due yesterday. I know you got my final draft a couple weeks ago — are we all set? Please let me know if you need anything from me, and do let me know when I can expect payment. Let me know if you need another copy of the invoice.”
Sometimes, that’s all it takes. The invoice was mislaid, or the accountant was out sick a couple days, and your nudge will send the check your way.
Read the full post on Make A Living Writing.