Paying In Advance, Charging In Advance: Do you?

Discussion in 'Copywriting' started by Senobia, Jan 12, 2011.

  1. #1
    I want to preface this by saying I have had the good fortune of contracting some awesome clients that pay promptly every time. Some of those have found me right here on DP Forums.

    That said, I've also encountered clients (from all over, not just here) that made collecting payment akin to pulling teeth. Unless it's a client that I have a lot (a whole lot, did I say a lot?) of history with, for balances of less than $100 I ask for advance payment. For balances over $100, we can do 1/2 and 1/2 or thirds - if its a considerable amount.

    Some buyers instantly balk and refuse advance payment, saying they've been "burned" before and can't stand to lose any more money. I thank them for their interest and wish them luck in finding a suitable hire. Others will agree on the price, telling you, "Great! Can you start on it now?" - only to disappear when you reply, "I surely can! As soon as you forward payment."

    Writers get burned just as often. Not only are they out money, they're out the time and effort they invested in doing the work, which could have been applied to another, more reliable client.

    So, writers - do you charge anything in advance? If you do, how does that go over with your clients and potential clients?

    And buyers - are you willing to pay for a project in advance or at least pay some kind of deposit?
     
    Senobia, Jan 12, 2011 IP
  2. geegel

    geegel Well-Known Member

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    #2
    It's all about reputation. Here on DP you have the iTrader. Set a rule and stick to it. If someone has X positive feedback (you set the X) and no negative ones, go with the "pay when it's finished model", if not set a 50/50 deal.

    Oh and if the buyer does have negative feedback only accept 100% cash upfront. Tell them why, most of them will understand.

    Hope this helps.

    Best regards,
    George
     
    geegel, Jan 12, 2011 IP
  3. Luckysacrifice

    Luckysacrifice Peon

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    #3
    I have been scammed a lot already and i have only been registered for a few weeks, I now know who to trust and who not to trust.

    I will generally make the member pay up-front if he has under 10 i Trader.
     
    Luckysacrifice, Jan 12, 2011 IP
  4. Senobia

    Senobia Notable Member

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    #4
    I don't really deal in iTrader. Clients who come through DP go through my website to get to me usually so we forget all about leaving feedback.

    Eh. Maybe we should start...*laughs*
     
    Senobia, Jan 12, 2011 IP
  5. YMC

    YMC Well-Known Member

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    #5
    The fallacy of the feedback system is that any business conducted outside of a thread has no way of accessing the iTrader system. You also used to be able to offer something for free or in trade and give a rating for the "transaction". I think that's no longer an option. There's also been more than a few that have "sold" to friends and family with accounts to prop up the scores. It's generally a good metric but it can and has been manipulated. And, as I said, private transactions are not included.

    As to the original question, all new clients are done at 50/50. Some pay it all up front - their choice usually. When needed, I simply explain that we don't know each other and both sides are taking a risk that the other is for real. I explain the first half of the risk is on them because 1 - they contacted me and 2 - they'll be getting something of value, my work. The risk then jumps to my side once we go beyond the 50% point of the project. I only have 4 regular clients who are billed in lump sums for work after it's done. Like Senobia said, there's much history and trust that has been built over time prior to my accepting/offering that arrangement.

    Can't really say that I've explained it all that much. Most clients have come to me expecting to have to pay something up front. Most have balked at the price rather than payment terms.
     
    YMC, Jan 12, 2011 IP
  6. backlinkexcellence

    backlinkexcellence Peon

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    #6


    Yes, I charge in advance (even though I offer another service). There is no way I'd ever start a project, no matter how big, without having a bit of security from the clients side first. When I started out, I was trying to make it right for everyone but took big hits pretty quickly by shady customers and changed the way I do business upside down.

    By charging in advance you immediately filter out the time-wasters, tire-kickers and scammers, or at least a big portion of them. Yes, they can always charge you back or do other crap but that's not for discussion here.

    As a service provider, always charge in advance because if someone grabs your service and vanishes before paying, you can't get back the time you spent on his project.
     
    backlinkexcellence, Jan 12, 2011 IP
  7. Jillycakes

    Jillycakes Peon

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    #7
    I started out writing on spec, but had to switch after getting burned for a few hundred dollars' worth of work. Now I ask for a 50% deposit up front, which has yet to bite me lol.
     
    Jillycakes, Jan 12, 2011 IP
  8. uggsmacys

    uggsmacys Guest

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    #8
    That's good, you can learn about, hoping to continue to see such a good thing
     
    uggsmacys, Jan 12, 2011 IP
  9. Jbroyer44

    Jbroyer44 Peon

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    #9
    My brother and I have started offering our writing services and we thought the best way to make it fair for everyone was asking for 50% up front and the rest on delivery. One small projects though if it doesn't make sense with paypal fees I will let them pay upon completion. I've been wondering if I should ask for it upfront though.

    I am in the process of building a website for our services and want to automate the system a little bit and have the ability for clients to order and pay for work on the site directly. I wonder if people have experience with that type of store set up?
     
    Jbroyer44, Jan 13, 2011 IP
  10. GrantDraper

    GrantDraper Active Member

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    #10
    I started on DP doing some upfront and some without upfront payment. For the last 18 months+ I always get payment upfront. On balance of $250+ I can usually do something IE: 50% upfront and so on. There are a lot of messers out there, and I can't be doing with chasing people around :)
     
    GrantDraper, Jan 14, 2011 IP
  11. etienne

    etienne Member

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    #11


    Yes, sometimes I pay in advance and get scammed. I guess thats life right?
     
    etienne, Jan 14, 2011 IP
  12. GreenSmile

    GreenSmile Well-Known Member

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    #12
    I think I'll have to stick with upfront terms as a service provider.
     
    GreenSmile, Jan 15, 2011 IP
  13. sprks79

    sprks79 Peon

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    #13
    I have much of the same issues when it comes to money. If it's a long term, and steady client, I will usually do the work knowing that they will pay me. New clients, I ask for 100% up front if price is under $200 or 50% if over. Most of my work comes from unique full rights Ebooks so the price gets up there and most understand that I ask for payment upfront due the significant time spent on the project as well as the slight possibility of a new client skipping after the work was done. As for buying content goes, I expect the same form, if I am new, i expect to pay up front.
     
    sprks79, Jan 25, 2011 IP
  14. Kraven2

    Kraven2 Active Member

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    #14
    I usually do a small order on specs, large orders 50/50 or upfront. If I get bitten, I bite back :D
     
    Kraven2, Jan 26, 2011 IP
  15. WebBuddy

    WebBuddy Well-Known Member

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    #15
    WebBuddy, Jan 27, 2011 IP
  16. GrantDraper

    GrantDraper Active Member

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    #16
    Yeah, looks like a waste of time. Most people get paid $20 for 1,000 or so anyway. So why risk not getting paid if it does not hit page 1? Also, even if it does hit page 1, there is no guarantee they will pay.
     
    GrantDraper, Jan 27, 2011 IP
  17. kefutiwi

    kefutiwi Member

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    #17
    When I think the best to do is to take a 20% upfront payment as this we the client knows that he's not paying the too much of money but that the same time as a writer you know the client is willing to pay
     
    kefutiwi, Jan 30, 2011 IP
  18. danniel

    danniel Banned

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    #18
    I don't pay upfront and i don't want to be paid upfront because maybe i cannot finish the job in time and then refunds and stuff like that.
     
    danniel, Jan 30, 2011 IP
  19. kefutiwi

    kefutiwi Member

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    #19


    just a word of advice to you guys, i got scammed for $630 recently and it sucks, i never took any upfront, even my usual 20%. Stupid decision and the guy wanted me to write on daily news articles and they are uploaded on his website. He says that he will pay when someone buys his website!! I'm really looking for help guys...
     
    kefutiwi, Feb 3, 2011 IP
  20. tamiora

    tamiora Peon

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    #20
    I also wasted lot of time to search for a honest website to be work on
    and after a lot of struggle I find the best one so I thought it is better
    to share with all here is solutions of all your problems whether you are
    an employer or freelancer or want to sell / buy anything
    find out more desklancer.com
     
    tamiora, Feb 16, 2011 IP