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Some clients are TERRIBLE virtually paying on time. That'due south why y'all need to larn the art of the payment request, specially if yous're a freelancer…

…but when information technology comes to how to ask for payment, what'due south the all-time mode to do it?

You practise information technology politely — and with scripts.

Specifically, this one:

Example of a polite email request for payment:

Of grade, yous're going to have to mold this script to fit your situation, simply I hope you it works.

I know considering it'south based on the same one I used when I freelanced. I created a simple, two-function system that has worked for me time and time again. At present, I'm giving information technology to you.

The 4-step system tin can be split up into two parts:

Function ane: How to ask for payment politely

• How to (nicely) send a payment request email
• Backup: How to send a follow-up e-mail that works

Office 2: How to break a client'southward legs firmly ask for payment

• How to cease them from hiding backside their computer
• The Nuclear options (for when all else fails)

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Part 1: How to ask for payment politely

The following system only works after i stipulation is fulfilled:

You've done great piece of work for your client.

If you lot haven't fulfilled your obligation to your client and given them nifty piece of work that you both agreed you'd provide, then you only have yourself to blame if they're non going to pay yous.

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Step one: Ship your client a payment request

When you complete the deliverables for your client, it's time to pull out that e-mail script we gave you upfront.

What practice you discover about the email?

Outset, information technology's friendly. When crafting an electronic mail asking for payment, it'southward like shooting fish in a barrel to default to the this-is-super-serious-business organization-so-I-demandhoped-for-super-serious tone — simply you accept to remember that y'all're trying to develop a good relationship with your client, and that's built on friendliness.

Some other great reason this e-mail only works is that the discipline line does not contain whatever mention of prices at all. There's no easier way to permit your email go unread than to include the price in the subject line and your bulletin will take a 100% better chance of being read if information technology didn't.

A few more observations:

• Ask for the payment merely and be straightforward. Tell them y'all have included the invoice as function of the electronic mail and how y'all want to exist paid.
• The decision is polite and lets them know that y'all'd beloved to work more with them in the future.
• This script as well uses the assertion point very strategically. Its placement at the terminate is intentional and leaves everything on a playful tone.

Overall, it's simple, direct, and actionable. Yous can use this email for both old and new clients. Use this script and most of your clients should pay you within two weeks.

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Step 2: Transport a follow-up e-mail

If your client hasn't responded in two weeks, send them a follow-upwardly electronic mail. This bulletin will exist more business firm and apply a little chip of pressure level while making it seem like you're doing them a favor.

Here's the script:

Notice the framing. You lot recognize that they're probably decorated and that you lot didn't want the message to "fall between the cracks," and so y'all're simply reminding them of the invoice before they're charged with a belatedly fee. You don't want to accuse your customer of anything, or else you take chances alienating them. Then always give them that chip of deniability.

Make information technology easy for your client to get back to y'all by attaching the invoice as well as the original email.

However, this email is clearly not as playful as the last one. Notice there's no assertion point at the terminate. When compared to the initial email, this message projects that yous're much more than serious. Y'all want your client to know you are serious about being paid.

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Function 2: How to firmly ask for payment (without breaking any legs)

In life, though, there are four things that are guaranteed:

1. Expiry
2. Taxes
3. Frugalistas being wrong
4. Clients non paying you on time

And you might exist at a betoken where you're set up to really shake downward your customer in gild to get your payment. That's okay. Problem clients happen from time to time. It's inevitable.

What matters near now is that you accept activeness in order to get them to pay you lot. That means you'll have to beginning dialing the telephone.

Step 3: Call them (so they tin can't hibernate behind their estimator)

If your client hasn't responded to your messages after 3 – 4 weeks since the beginning email, you lot'll want to phone call them.

Calling people takes away the protective layer of anonymity that emails provide — making it MUCH harder to ignore your payment request.

And if you're worried about not knowing what to say, fear not. Because I take a script that will kick the chat off:

"Hi, [CLIENT'South Proper name]. It's [YOUR Proper noun]. I worked on the XYZ projection with yous most a month ago. I've sent a couple of emails about payment for the projection, and I call back you might've missed them. Accept you lot received them?"

A few things of note:

• The script reminds them of the projection and your agreed-upon payment.
• You lot're still friendly and even assume that they oasis't seen your emails (this shows that you trust your client).
• If something did go incorrect (electronic mail went to the spam folder, yous used the wrong e-mail address, etc), you and your client can address the issue to prevent it from happening again.

When you're finished, make sure you shut the loop using this script:

As with the emails, you want to remain friendly and never lose your cool. It's surprisingly easy to start blowing upwardly at a person and demand, "YOU PAY ME NOW, OR ELSE!!!" but the moment yous practise that, y'all stand to both tarnish your reputation and lower your chances of always getting paid.

Remember: Exist like Fonzie.

Step 4: The nuclear options (for when all else fails)

If for some reason your client continues not paying later three emails and a telephone conversation, you have three options:

1. Cut ties with the client
2. Be annoyingly persistent
3. Hire a drove agency

ane.) Cut ties with the client

I actually suggest you do this selection above all others.

You'll want to cut ties with the client every bit soon as possible. The reasoning is elementary: As a freelancer, you are your own best nugget. You need to value your time and energy as such by non wasting either on awful clients.

2.) Exist annoyingly persistent

If the payment is worth the trouble, yous should email your client the invoice and call them…

…Every. Single. Mean solar day. Until they pay, that is (or you put them on Clients From Hell and call it even).

You demand to brand sure you keep your cool during these emails and phone calls because it'll be easier now more than e'er to accident up at them.

When you connect with them on the telephone, yous can use this simple script to get the conversation started:

"Howdy, [Client'S NAME]. It's [YOUR Proper name]. I worked on the XYZ project with you lot back in [TIME FRAME]. I've sent a couple of emails about payment for the projection and also tried connecting with you lot on the phone. When tin I expect my payment?"

Subsequently a while, your client should realize that you're not going to surrender and pay you. If they don't, though, yous can ever endeavor the side by side selection.

3.) Hire a collection bureau

This tactic is typically reserved for situations where yous put a lot of piece of work into any it was you provided for your client (and so the bill is LARGE).

Drove agencies exist to help businesses (e.g. yous) attain any debt that is owed to you. In order to practise that, though, they typically require that y'all have all the debt that is owed to y'all in writing, and then make sure you have records of all the email exchanges (as well as the invoices) with your client.

Unfortunately, many collection agencies accept a bad rap due to a few that continually harass debtors. That'southward why you're going to desire to find a reputable agency that will assistance yous get your money back without resorting to unscrupulous means.

Here are a few ways you tin can notice one that'll work for you:

• Refer to the Better Business organization Agency. The BBB provides ratings for all of the collection agencies near y'all. Definitely check them out if you're looking to rent one.
• Search the IDCA and ACA directory. The International Debt Collectors Association and the Association of Credit and Drove Professionals are organizations made upward of debt collection agencies that exist to promote ethical standards and practices in the industry.
• Ask other business people. Referrals are another swell way to notice out whether or not an agency is proficient.

No matter how they're plant, the agency you hire will have payment through a pct of the recovered debt (typically 10% – thirty%). Yes, it'due south a bummer that you won't get paid the full amount for the work you put in — just something is better than nothing.

If you lot've let the back payments stack up so much that they are worth bringing in an agency, you should learn a valuable lesson: Respect your own time enough that you never continue work with someone who is behind.

How do I avert this in the future?

Remember: Prevention is always amend than a cure. And then to avoid getting a late-paying client again, yous'll desire to brand sure you:

• Did the piece of work. It might sound obvious, but cipher'southward more embarrassing than asking your client for payment on deliverables you…well, never delivered. That's why you lot want to make sure that all the expectations you and your customer agreed upon have been fulfilled on your end.
• Invoice promptly. As soon as you've finished doing the piece of work for your client, brand sure yous immediately send an invoice. That way, it'll be fresh in your client's listen while they're happy because they received your service.
• Include a due date. Make certain your invoice includes a clear due date that the client needs to pay y'all before — lest they incur the wrath of your belatedly fee. Besides make sureyou didn't write down the incorrect due date or fifty-fifty charged your client for the wrong things.
• Don't deliver your service until y'all are paid. Another option is to have very strict criteria for when you evangelize your product or service. If lazy clients know they don't demand to pay to receive the deliverable, why would they?

These things might seem small only can get a long fashion in ensuring a solid human relationship with you and your customer.

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Source: https://www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com/blog/how-to-request-payment-and-actually-get-paid/

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