English translation of a Persian article from the WebTarget archive. The date above is the original publication date. Some advice, especially technical details, may be outdated.
How do you protect your work as a freelancer? You may spend hours on a project, hoping to deliver something that impresses the client. Then, just as the project is finished and ready to hand over, the client refuses to settle the invoice. They might have a cash-flow problem, or they might disappear altogether.
What is a freelancer?
A freelancer is a self-employed person who does not work full-time for one particular company.
Experiences like this are a reason to prepare a checklist before starting a project. Planning can help you complete work, receive your fee, and limit avoidable losses. Some freelancers find this preparation difficult, but thinking ahead is one of the most useful steps you can take before accepting work.
Remember that you run a business. Treat the relationship professionally and use clear agreements to protect your time. Some freelancers feel that they are in a weaker position than their clients, which makes it harder to discuss terms, ask for payment, or refuse work beyond the agreed scope. That attitude can prevent them from taking basic precautions. Recognising yourself as the owner of your business makes it easier to prepare those safeguards before work begins. The following points can help you assess a potential client and organise the project.
Meet to understand each other’s needs
Even when most communication happens by phone or email, a meeting can help establish a working relationship. Talking through the project gives you an initial impression of the client and their expectations. It cannot guarantee that the project will run smoothly, so record the discussion and include the agreements in your written terms.
Understand how the client’s business works
Different businesses have different approval and payment processes. A company with several administrative layers may require a project contact to obtain authorisation before an invoice can be paid. Discuss this process early and make the payment arrangements clear. Projects where visual appearance is especially important also benefit from regular reviews. Define how much revision is included and stay in contact, so the final design does not come as a surprise to the client.
Build reliable communication
Find a workable way to stay in touch, especially when the main communication channel is unreliable. You do not need to hold constant meetings at the client’s office; a clear email update may be enough. Good communication builds trust and gives the client confidence that the project is progressing.
Establish clear and consistent terms
Before starting, agree on the work and the payment arrangements. The original article suggests taking an advance of around 30–40% so that some of the time invested is covered if the final payment is delayed. An advance can also reinforce both parties’ commitment. Prepare a schedule, work to it, and keep the client informed. Consistent terms help establish expectations, while some flexibility may still be appropriate. The more clearly you discuss payment and responsibilities at the beginning, the fewer ambiguities you will have to address at the end. This is the article’s historical business advice; the suitability and legal effect of any agreement depend on the circumstances.
Understand why payment has stopped
A client who has disappeared is in a different position from one who explains by email that payment will be late. Establish what has happened before choosing how to respond. Temporary payment difficulties and a refusal to honour an agreement may call for different approaches. Keep your own commitments too, so avoidable problems in your work do not become a reason for withholding payment.
Try to resolve the dispute before taking formal action
Before starting a legal dispute, consider other ways to resolve the problem, including direct negotiation. Court proceedings can take time and money, and the outcome depends on the agreement and the circumstances. A suitable adviser or mediator may help you understand your options and seek a resolution. The original article recommends getting appropriate professional help rather than spending all your time trying to recover the payment alone.