Rant: A client in Austin paid me 60 days late and it forced a change

I was at my kid's school play, trying to enjoy it, when I got an email from that client saying the check was 'in the mail'. I'd already finished their website six weeks prior. Sitting there in the auditorium, I knew I couldn't keep working like this, always waiting and hoping. The next day, I wrote a new rule into my contracts: 50% paid up front before any work starts. Has anyone else had to get this strict after a bad late payment?

3 comments

3 Comments

matthew_west13d ago

Doesn't that just shift the payment risk to the client before you've proven anything?

harper_burns5912d ago

I used to worry about that too, but getting burned by a late payer changed my whole view. I lost sleep over a big invoice once, and that stress isn't worth it. Now I require half down, and it filters out the clients who aren't serious. It just makes the whole process smoother.

skyler_johnson3212d ago

Started requiring half up front after a similar late payment nightmare. It sets clear expectations from day one and actually builds more trust, not less. @matthew_west, I've found serious clients respect the policy because it shows I run a real business.