You’re Leaving Money On The Table With this one mistake
If you’re doing this one thing every.single.month, we need to talk because it means you’re essentially working for free. And we BOTH know you did not go into business to make $0.
Every time you send an invoice after you complete client work, you run the risk of leaving so much money on the table.
I get it.
When you're excited about a new project, it's easy to forget to send the invoice right away. Or maybe you don’t want to seem too eager for payment, so you decide to request it once the work is done. But what I’ve learned the hard way is if you don't invoice upfront and still complete the work, there’s no guarantee you’re ever going to see the money you deserve. I’m cringing at the thought, and I know you are, too.
To make sure you’re not letting money slip through the cracks, this is what I recommend doing instead!
Require payment upfront.
At Champagne Collective, we send invoices before we do any work. This way, we know we’re not going to get screwed if the client decides to get up and ghost us.
There’s nothing worse than committing time to a project and never seeing payment for it.
One thing to remember about business is that you’re working with people on the internet. It’s so easy for them to vanish into thin air after you’ve spent 20 hours working on their sh*t. Oof.
Develop a system for late payments.
If a client misses a payment due date, have a solid system in place. You don’t want to spend your time chasing the money they owe you.
Here’s what we suggest:
Send 3 reminders the week before the due date. You can automate this!
Send daily reminders once the due date has passed. You can automate this, too!
Apply a late fee on day 8.
Cease work on day 10.
Don’t stress about seeming overly eager or pushy. You need to get paid for your time, services, and expertise.
It’s simple - no payment, no service.
Something I will always shout from the rooftops is that it doesn't matter if you're a seasoned entrepreneur or just starting out—ALWAYS invoice before you start working. It sets clear expectations from the beginning of your relationship and protects you from working for free!
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