Getting paid for the work you do as a freelance designer is insanely fulfilling. Not only does it reaffirm that your work actually has value in the eyes of your client, but it also motivates you to move forward even when times are difficult as a freelancer. But figuring out how to get paid isn’t quite as easy as it sounds. 

Sure, you can be diligent about sending invoices or you can make it extremely easy for them to pay their invoices.

Unfortunately, if you freelance long enough, you’ll always run up against clients who simply don’t pay you on time. It can be extremely frustrating. Having been on both sides of the equation (both as a freelancer and as a client) there are a few extremely common reasons for this.

Here are the 3 reasons your clients aren’t paying you on time (and simple solutions to tackle these):

1. They aren’t the ones to process the invoices

When I used to work in a corporate setting, I hired freelancers from time to time. When these freelancers would send me an invoice, I took a quick moment to ensure the amounts looked right and then I quickly forwarded the invoice to our Accounts Payable department.

At that point, I pretty much stopped thinking about the invoice as I assumed that the Accounts Payable department was handling the rest. Few freelancers realize that the person you send the actual invoice to isn’t always the person who issues the actual payment for the invoice.

How to get your clients to pay on time:

To avoid getting your invoice lost in the void between departments, ask your client who you can contact or follow-up with about any payments that come due. If they reply with “me,” follow up with something like, “So you’ll be cutting the check? I assumed maybe you had an accounts payable department I could be in touch with.” Usually that will lead your client to put you in touch with the right person in accounting. 

From there, build a positive, friendly relationship with that person. When that client pays on time, thank them profusely. Don’t become a nuisance. Respect that they’re probably busy and ask if there’s anything you can do to make their invoice payment process easier.

In fact, if you’re doing work for a company with more than about 10 people, it’s a pretty safe bet that someone else, besides your direct contact, is processing your invoices.

3 Big Reasons Your Clients Don’t Pay on Time

 

2. They forgot to pay the invoice (and keep forgetting)

This sounds overly simple, but one huge reason your clients aren’t paying their invoices on time is because they just keep forgetting. Your clients are busy and many of them work a “day job” where they get paid on a regular schedule, so the idea of actually waiting on someone to process a payment in order to make a living can be foreign. For this reason, paying you on time can sometimes fall to the bottom of their priority list.

How to get your clients to pay on time:

If you find you have clients who keep forgetting, there are a few things you can do:

  • Require upfront payment before you begin work on a project. The urgency of the project will naturally encourage them to process your invoice quickly.
  • Use these past-due invoice scripts to know exactly what to say if you have a mounting pile of past-due invoices.
  • Use an invoicing app like Freshbooks, Bonsai, or AND.CO, which will automatically follow-up with your clients about unpaid invoices so you don’t have to.

You can be caring and understanding when it comes to clients who forget to pay, but you don’t have to be a pushover. This is particularly true if you’ve already completed the work you’re meant to be paid for.

 

3. They didn’t understand the terms of the invoice (or you didn’t)

Finally, one huge reason clients don’t pay on time is they don’t understand the terms of the invoice. It’s possible, also, that you don’t understand the terms of your own invoice. For example, there’s a difference between “net 30” and “due in 30 days” and, as a freelancer, it’s critical you understand these kinds of nuanced differences.

How to get your clients to pay on time:

Take the time to learn how to write an invoice with all the correct terms, placement, and information required for a successful and quick payment.

When meeting with your clients to establish the terms of your partnership, you should also be 100% clear on payment terms: will you expect 50% upfront? Is there a late payment penalty? What happens if an invoice goes past-due for more than 30 days? Clarity and communication can be one of your most important tools when it comes to getting paid on time as a graphic designer.

You deserve to get paid

Unfortunately, there are some people out there who will blatantly ignore your frequent reminders or even try to get you to agree to forfeit your payment because they didn’t use your final work or they changed their mind. Don’t let clients walk all over you.

You deserve to get paid for the work you do just as much as they deserve to get paid for clocking in at the office every day. Remember that, and you’ll be well on your way to getting paid on time for your design work.

Piggy Bank

This article was contributed by Preston Lee, the founder of Millo, where he and his team help designers find better clients, level up their Graphic Design Portfolio, raise their rates, and grow their business. Chat with Preston and thousands of fellow freelancers in their free Millo Mastermind Group on Facebook.