Payment problems are rarely about the client being difficult. They are usually about friction: an invoice that went to the wrong person, a due date written as a duration rather than a date, or a deposit that was never taken so you carried the whole risk from day one.
The principle underneath everything in this section: never be owed more than you can afford to lose. A freelancer who delivers an entire project before invoicing anything is extending an interest-free loan to a client they may barely know.
Rules on late payment interest, statutory rights and debt recovery vary by country and state, so the guides here cover the practical sequence rather than asserting legal entitlements.
Payment Terms & Invoicing
Answered
How much deposit should a freelancer charge?
Fifty percent is the common default for standard projects and is rarely questioned. Take the full fee upfront on small jobs where chasing a balance would cost more than the balance, and 25 to 33% on larger projects with milestone payments after.
What payment terms should a freelancer use?
Net 7 or net 14 suits most solo freelancers working with small businesses. Larger companies frequently impose net 30 through a finance policy your contact cannot override, so ask at kickoff what their actual payment cycle is rather than assuming the agreed terms.
How do I chase a late invoice?
On a schedule rather than by feel. A neutral nudge the day after the due date, a firmer note asking who handles accounts at day seven, a formal one stating the terms at day fourteen, and a final notice at day thirty. Most invoices are paid at the first or second stage.
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