When I take on one-off projects (e.g., writing content for a website), I generally take a deposit up front and then invoice whenever the project is complete. If it’s a large project that’ll go on for more than a month, I generally ask for monthly milestone payments simply for my own peace of mind (so I won’t get stiffed).

I’m lucky that at this point I don’t have a problem, financially or otherwise, dealing with the monthly payment system. My clients pay well, my bills are paid on time, and I’ve got more than enough saved up in case something comes up.

A few years ago, I wasn’t as financially stable and needed more frequent payments to make ends meet (translated, my monthly checks weren’t enough to feed me for a whole month). Then, I asked for weekly checks from regular clients and set up weekly milestone payment requirements with larger one-time clients. I worked hard at finding better paying work and at taking on extra work so I didn’t have to worry. But while I was in that struggle of a transition, I never had a client balk at my requests for weekly payments. Then again, I’m not a magazine writer, so I’m not set up to comply with a publication’s standard procedures. For corporate clients, though, I’ve found folks are more than willing to work with me on payment.

I don’t have that client anymore but I’ve come to understand the payment habits of my regular customers. Most pay me within a week of my invoicing and I initiate a PayPal payment request the minute I send them the finished work so there’s no confusion. I also follow up as soon as they’re later than usual to find out why. Some do pay by e-check and that can take a long time to clear depending on where they are.

I think that the regularly paid gigs can be nice. Too often I am waiting with bated breath for payments to arrive and sometimes (like around holidays) there can be delays. This year I had two clients bounce e-checks before going away on holidays and a few others closed down for a few weeks. Alot of the work I billed in late December is yet to be paid to it’s a tricky juggling act sometimes.

This year it’s my goal to get some better paying gigs so I’m prepared for a rainy day and doing better than working paypal notification to paypal notification

My experience – my husband is union and was offered a wicked rate on his card, 13.9 for life. A couple months back, he used it so I paid it 5 days before the due date sending the check in via the mail because the company (CitiGroup) will not take online payments unless you have a checking account with their bank, which I don’t. I got a call from them the day after the payment was due stating we hadn’t sent payment so they wanted payment immediately and had charged a $45 late fee. I’d sent the bill, had a copy of the duplicate with the date. When I told her the check number and date I’d mailed it, her response was that it can sit on their desks for up to 10 days to be processed and that if I’d read the fine print, I’d see that they state it can take up to 10 days to process payments that are mailed.

In the end, I made a second payment just in case over the phone. That same day, my check cleared, so they got two payments and then after cancelling that account, they took sixty days to return the money they owed us.

I am very ANTI credit card companies and their policies.

Mariella- He’s game for a raise AND said he’d pay me however, whenever I like. Love this client.

James- I do a lot of web content. Several blogs, one was monthly until last night The others are monthly. One content job I do occasionally to help out a friend is every two weeks. For single gigs I pick up from here or other places like CL, I ask for payment as soon as the job is finished. Most of the time I don’t have to ask.

@James> I have clients who’ll pay as soon as I ask them, too. I had one who insisted I be paid weekly instead of bi-weekly and another who paid me even before I sent an invoice.

But if it’s still possible to ask for bi-weekly or weekly payments instead of monthly, I talk to my clients about it. I have a sister I’m sending to university and a big house I need to maintain. Although I do have more than enough, it still makes me feel better if what I spend comes from my monthly earnings instead of from my savings.

“No, honey, we can’t by [insert overpriced, overpackaged, latest, loudest, brightest, largest gizmo at kids' eye-level on store shelves. It probably shakes and plays music, too.] I don’t have enough money today.” (My standard substitution for a flat-out no.)

“DAdeeeee… Yes, you do! You have LOTS of pretty cards!”

To handle “suprise” bills you mention, I find it helpful to use a credit card where possible, because it gives me 30 days to come up with the money. However, one has to be disciplined to do this to avoid excessive interest charges. I have a daughter who makes a beeline for the store every time she has money. All credit card offers to her get shredded immediately.

Maybe I should have said credit-related blogs. Habit to call everything an article.