{"id":1776,"date":"2024-01-16T18:10:22","date_gmt":"2024-01-16T18:10:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dev.useme.com\/en\/blog\/?p=1776"},"modified":"2024-04-26T09:14:42","modified_gmt":"2024-04-26T09:14:42","slug":"6-steps-to-make-sure-that-you-get-paid-as-a-freelancer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/6-steps-to-make-sure-that-you-get-paid-as-a-freelancer,274\/","title":{"rendered":"6 steps to make sure that you get paid as a freelancer"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_79_2 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title ez-toc-toggle\" style=\"cursor:pointer\">Table of contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/6-steps-to-make-sure-that-you-get-paid-as-a-freelancer,274\/#Step_1_Conduct_a_background_check\" >Step 1: Conduct a background check<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/6-steps-to-make-sure-that-you-get-paid-as-a-freelancer,274\/#Step_2_Have_written_proof\" >Step 2: Have written proof<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/6-steps-to-make-sure-that-you-get-paid-as-a-freelancer,274\/#Step_3_Ask_for_a_deposit\" >Step 3: Ask for a deposit<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/6-steps-to-make-sure-that-you-get-paid-as-a-freelancer,274\/#Step_4_Confirm_the_details\" >Step 4: Confirm the details<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/6-steps-to-make-sure-that-you-get-paid-as-a-freelancer,274\/#Step_5_Send_the_invoice_with_full_details_at_the_right_timing\" >Step 5: Send the invoice with full details at the right timing<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/6-steps-to-make-sure-that-you-get-paid-as-a-freelancer,274\/#Step_6_Stay_organized_and_keep_all_of_the_records\" >Step 6: Stay organized and keep all of the records<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/6-steps-to-make-sure-that-you-get-paid-as-a-freelancer,274\/#Bonus_tip_A_simple_way_to_protect_your_work_and_get_paid_safly\" >Bonus tip: A simple way to protect your work and get paid safly<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Step_1_Conduct_a_background_check\"><\/span>Step 1: Conduct a background check<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>If you want to get paid on time, you must find the <strong>right<\/strong> clients to work with. Some people start by offering a lot of projects, and they need your help right away. Because of the short notice, you should start working right away. This way, you will not be able to think about other things. Run a background check to ensure that you know the <strong>real<\/strong> side of the company. Take <strong>30<\/strong> minutes to have a background check before taking on any project. A quick check will not take too much time, and you will know the truth about them. Use the following approaches to know more about them.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Search the company and check related reviews<\/li>\n<li>Check their social media, mention, and recommendation<\/li>\n<li>Search them on Facebook groups and LinkedIn groups for the freelancer<\/li>\n<li>Ask your network about this company<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Step_2_Have_written_proof\"><\/span>Step 2: Have written proof<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>A written <a href=\"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/what-a-freelance-contract-must-include,237\/\">contract<\/a> is one of the ways to protect your work and save your time from miscommunication. At the beginning of cooperation, sign a contract to protect your rights. You have to share the contract with your client, sign it, and exchange the copy. During the process, you can confirm the essential details like the detail of service, extra fee for revision, the timeline for receiving the payment, and when you will send an invoice. We recommend that you always start working <strong>after<\/strong> signing a contract. In Useme, we have <a href=\"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/secure-payment\/employer-choose\">special protection<\/a> when working with a <strong>new<\/strong> employer. We will <strong>double-check<\/strong> if they are ready to work with you. You have the right to work on the project <strong>after<\/strong> they confirm the cooperation. You can check more details <a href=\"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/new-feature-for-security,258\/\">here.<\/a> If the employer is hesitant to have a contract for protecting both of your rights, that is a <strong>red flag.<\/strong><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Step_3_Ask_for_a_deposit\"><\/span>Step 3: Ask for a deposit<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>It can be hard for your employer to send the whole payment in advance. To make it easy for both sides, the <strong>deposit<\/strong> is a solution. The <strong>amount<\/strong> of the deposit depends on the amount of the project, type of project, and scope of work. You can discuss the amount of the deposit while discussing the agreement. Then add them to your contract. You can discuss the following details with them.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Amount of the deposit: How much do they have to pay?<\/li>\n<li>Refund requirement: For example, if any party cancels the project, will you refund the deposit?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Step_4_Confirm_the_details\"><\/span>Step 4: Confirm the details<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Check with the employer <strong>when<\/strong> they should receive the invoice and <strong>requirements.<\/strong> Some financial departments may have <strong>special<\/strong> requirements, such as having a limited time to send the payment to the outside contractor. You need to send the invoice at a <strong>certain<\/strong> time of the month to receive the payment on time. The earlier you know those details, the better for you to organize your workflow. Also, ask the person who processes the invoice. Because the person in charge of the project may not be the person who takes care of the payment. This way will decrease the chance that your invoice <strong>gets lost<\/strong> between emails or they <strong>forget<\/strong> to process your invoice.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Step_5_Send_the_invoice_with_full_details_at_the_right_timing\"><\/span>Step 5: Send the invoice with full details at the right timing<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Your invoice will be a <strong>reminder<\/strong> of the payment. The client may not remember when they should send the payment. It is important to send the invoice at the <strong>right<\/strong> time to get paid quickly. Send it right after finishing work. So, everyone remembers the <strong>full<\/strong> details of the project, such as the extra revision fee. This will reduce the chance that anyone forgets about this project or asks for additional information. You can also provide several options ways for clients to pay for your work, such as Paypal, credit card payments, and your bank account number. If your employer delays the payment, you can send a follow-up email with the invoice.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Step_6_Stay_organized_and_keep_all_of_the_records\"><\/span>Step 6: Stay organized and keep all of the records<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>As a professional contractor, you have countless short-term and long-term projects. In every cooperation, you need to remember many things such as which bill you should send and when you should send an invoice. Keep all of the records in one place and stay organized. So you can always check them. Also, you will need those invoices for reporting taxes and organizing your work schedule.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Bonus_tip_A_simple_way_to_protect_your_work_and_get_paid_safly\"><\/span>Bonus tip: A simple way to protect your work and get paid safly<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>We know how hard to protect your work without the headache. The client may be hesitant to send the whole payment in advance. That is why we design a <a href=\"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/secure-payment\/employer-choose\">path,<\/a> especially to protect your payment. This <a href=\"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/secure-payment\/employer-choose\">path,<\/a> only allows the client to download the work <strong>after<\/strong> paying for it. You only need to fill one online form then we will guide them through the process. We will send a tax invoice to your employer so they can easily pay for your work.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/secure-payment\/employer-choose\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-2293 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/how-to-send-a-tax-invoice-in-simple-form-3.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1200\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/how-to-send-a-tax-invoice-in-simple-form-3.png 1200w, https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/how-to-send-a-tax-invoice-in-simple-form-3-980x327.png 980w, https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/how-to-send-a-tax-invoice-in-simple-form-3-480x160.png 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1200px, 100vw\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The way of receiving payment as a freelancer is different from a full-time employee. One more thing will decide how and when you will get paid. That is the client. Most of them are nice and know that they should send the payment to you. But sadly, some of them are not. They have endless reasons for delaying or not paying at all. You deserve to get paid for your work! Here are 6 steps to make sure that you get paid as a freelancer. In this guide, you will know to protect your right, take your payment quickly, and the best way to secure your money. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":1777,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","content-type":"","inline_featured_image":false,"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[23],"tags":[54,63],"class_list":["post-1776","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-for-freelancers","tag-freelance-tips","tag-transactions"],"modified_by":"Marta","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1776","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/16"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1776"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1776\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2954,"href":"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1776\/revisions\/2954"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1777"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1776"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1776"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1776"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}