The Most Important Thing You Need to Get Paid as a Freelancer
The Most Important Thing You Need to Get Paid as a Freelancer
This may not be the most glamorous topic, but it is a critical one if you want to get paid as a freelancer: contracts.
Let me tell you a little story. When I first started out as a freelancer, I was so excited to start working with clients and doing what I loved. I had a few early projects that went really well, and I was feeling pretty good about myself. But then, things started to get a little messy. One client ghosted halfway through the project, another kept slipping later and later with a big payment, and a third killed part of the project he’d booked. It was not good.
I was so stressed. I’d put time and effort into booking these clients, and now I was scrambling to chase down late payments. And even in the cases where I had a contract in place, I hadn’t paid close enough attention to the details, making it that much harder to get paid. It was a hard lesson to learn, but it taught me the importance of having a solid contract in place.
Now, I make sure that not only do I have a contract in place for every project I work on, but that each contract clearly spells out when, how, and how much you will be paid for your work.
What I Put in My Contracts
This includes any deadlines or milestones that need to be met in order to receive payment, as well as what happens if a client changes, delays, or cancels any part of the scope of work. It's also important to include what happens if a payment is late or if the client doesn't pay at all. Having these terms clearly defined in writing can help prevent any confusion or misunderstandings down the line.
Now, I know some of you might be thinking, "But I'm working with my best friend/relative/neighbor! I don't need a contract with them." Let me tell you, even if you're working with someone you trust implicitly, it's still important to have a contract in place. Not only does it protect you, but it also protects your relationship with the client. Having everything in writing can help prevent any disagreements or hurt feelings that might arise if there's a misunderstanding.
If you're not sure where to start with creating a contract, I highly recommend hiring an attorney to write a contract template that's tailored to your business. This was some of the best money I've spent as a freelancer, and it gave me peace of mind knowing that I had a solid contract in place.