Don’t get stiffed

January 9th, 2007

Gawker recently ran some fun yet illuminating posts about publications that neglect to pay their freelancers and what you can do should you find yourself working for one of these spineless outfits.

My cyberstudents and talked about this in an online class I taught last month through the Editorial Freelancers Association. My top tips for not getting stiffed:

1. Sniff out publications, editors, and clients. That is, before you get into bed with them. If you don’t know what your local newspaper, BBB, and fellow freelancers have to say about them, find out.

2. Get it in writing. Of course a contract isn’t a guarantee you’ll get paid. But it makes your case that much stronger should have you have to call a collection agency, an attorney, or the evening news.

3. Do a trial run. When you go on a blind date, you don’t give up the goods in the first five minutes, right? You meet the other party in a public venue that affords you an easy out should your new companion suddenly sprout antennae. Same with newbie clients. If you can’t find anyone to vouch for them, start with a couple small assignments from them. That way, if they turn out to be the Bride of Enron, you haven’t invested as much time.

4. Ask for half the cash up front. OK, this doesn’t work for article assignments, but it can for ghostwriting and corporate assignments. Many clients won’t bat an eye at this request; some will even offer to cut you a check for 50 percent from the get-go. Note to Pollyannas: If a client can’t afford the first half, they won’t be able to cough up the second either.

5. Charge a late penalty. Though I’ve never done this, I know that some freelancers charge a 2 percent penalty for late payments and adorn their invoices with this little advisory. Some who’ve tried this tactic tell me they’ve never collected their 2 percent fee, but the threat of it has scared several foot-dragging accounting departments into paying up quickly.

6. Trust your gut. As anyone will tell you, if a project sounds fishy or perhaps too good to be true, it probably is. So don’t be a dumbass. And if a client owes you money, don’t take another project from them until they FedEx you the check and a box of chocolates, dig?

Entry Filed under: This freelance life