Hot take: do you charge the late fee or let it slide to keep the peace? | Empty Invoice Freakout - Freelance Forum - The Community for Independent Professionals
Hot take: do you charge the late fee or let it slide to keep the peace?
I read a survey from the Freelancers Union last month that said 71% of us have waited past 30 days to get paid, and only about 12% of people actually charge the late fee they put in their contract. So now I'm stuck on two sides: one camp says an invoice without teeth is just a wish, and the other says pushing the fee burns the bridge for good. Which side do you land on, and has charging the fee ever actually worked for you?
Did you ever have a client pay late and then hand you a Starbucks gift card as an apology? Happened to me once, the card was for five bucks, and I still don't know if that counted as the late fee or not.