How To Make Sure You Get Paid (Part 1) Steve details how you can avoid payment delays by taking the proper steps up front to ensure that your invoices to clients get paid promptly. You've completed a client project. And now you're waiting, waiting, and waiting to get paid. Not a great feeling. But you can avoid payment delays (and the lost sleep that goes with it) by taking the proper steps up front to ensure that your invoices to clients get paid promptly. Here are some ideas: 1. Set Clear Expectations Up Front In your fee agreement, make it clear exactly when your invoice will be sent and when payment is due. In my agreements, I explain that my invoice is sent one week after I submit the copy and that payment is due in 30 days. 2. Get the Name of the "Accounts Payable" Contact Ask your client who in the accounting department takes care of "accounts payable". This is the person responsible for vetting and paying invoices. You want to make friends with the accounts payable person! He or she will be able to give you the status of your invoice and tell you when to expect payment. In certain circumstances, he or she can speed things up for you, too. 3. Ask For Part of Your Fee Up Front It's standard practice in the creative freelancing world to get some of your fee up front; usually 50%. Now I admit, for clients that I trust and