Was I Naive?

[John Brady]

I want to stress I got paid-$90.00 for three articles on online teaching. Each article was about 600 words. But here is the thing, I did all the work and she said she would mail me a check-she did (and it clearerd), but I could have just as easily gotten...well you know!

How do you guys work out payment terms? I'm getting hits for people that want me to write for them-usually about $20 an article. Do you use Paypal and how do you set up the terms of payment?

[Kiernansmom]

Yeah, you could have gotten screwed, but you didn't. I have had more clients pay me willingly than not. That being said, due to the few times I have not been paid, I'd suggest requesting 50% upfront for clients you do not know. If it is a content mill, someone you know, or a major company (with plenty of contact info and a reputation that can be damaged) you might be able to get by without charging a percentage upfront, but I know some people still insist on being paid at least something first. It just depends on what you are comfortable with.

[Icon]

I recently learned the hard way that it may be good practice to request half upfront from even someone you know.

[ErinHill226]

I charge up front if it's a job over a certain amount. For all jobs, I request that the client sign an independent contractor's agreement with payment terms included.

[WorkingMom227]

No, not naive but it is a good thing that the client actually paid you.. there are some clients out there who are using people for work and then not paying them. I have one client that pays me by check but I trust him as I have been doing work for him for about two months now. I do prefer to be paid via Paypal but certain clients, who are legit, sometimes need to pay through check.

[beanandpumpkin]

I have accepted payment both by check and by Paypal, and while I should not write this out loud, I have never been burned. I prefer Paypal because it's instant and once it's there, it's there, but if someone needed to send a check, that would be acceptable.

[al_mama]

I invoice through my paypal business account so they can pay through there by cc or with their own paypal balance. So far so good, and I don't ask for payment upfront (been lucky with payments so far). Seems to work.

With that being said, I do have one new client I just wrote a sales page for and I am patiently awaiting a response about my work and a payment. Fingers crossed...

[funmom91]

Originally Posted by Icon

I recently learned the hard way that it may be good practice to request half upfront from even someone you know.

This is very true. You can never say you know someone who is only communicated with through the web

[cfsfdf]

As a person who sometimes hires writers, I always pay 1/2 up front through Paypal. Is this naive? Has anyone ever heard of a writer walking away with that money without delivering?

[al_mama]

Originally Posted by cfsfdf

As a person who sometimes hires writers, I always pay 1/2 up front through Paypal. Is this naive? Has anyone ever heard of a writer walking away with that money without delivering?

It's entirely possible, but most writers worth their salt get a fire under their butts when they get paid half upfront. It's incentive to get the rest done to get paid in full, plus they know you will pay, so they're more likely to get your work done fast so you can give them more...