Normalize Paying Freelancers and Creatives on Time

As we enter 2025 and beyond, it’s way past time we normalize paying freelancers and creatives on time. Too often clients, companies and others use net 30, 60 or even 90 days as a way for to pay creatives and freelancers while they’re already using and promoting the work done by these freelancers. And it’s also up to freelancers and creatives alike to start to negotiate for better payment terms. There is no reason why paying freelancers and creatives has to be a long, drawn out process. It should be you get the work, you hand over a check or wire the money.

Aside from finding clients, the biggest pain point in being a freelancer is tracking down clients to pay. There is nothing more time consuming and annoying than playing phone or email tag trying to track down why you haven’t been paid yet even though you see your work all over your client’s social media accounts accumulating likes while you accumulate debt waiting to get paid.

Basically what these companies are doing is, in essence, theft. They’re using and promoting your work without paying for it. And why should they? You’re just a freelancer or small business. What are you going to do? Sue them? They know it will cost more to bring a lawsuit against them than what they owe you. They think they have the leverage.

And while paying freelancers and creatives is the least of their concern, it’s unfortunately the biggest concern for the freelancer or creative. We have bills to pay, food to put on the table and gas to put into our cars. When clients don’t pay at the agreed upon time it starts a downhill effect of bills being late or rationing money to make it last longer.

There are people who say that if you can’t afford to be a freelancer, you should get a full time job. And while there are people who are better off being in an office than freelancing, the issue isn’t being a freelancer. It’s non-paying clients. Imagine you go to the market and instead of paying, just say that you’ll pay in 30 days and then never pay. What is it called when you take something but don’t pay for it? That’s right, theft.

It’s also incumbent upon the freelancer or creative to dictate better terms. Stop agreeing to wait 30, 60 or even 90 days to get paid. Normalize paying freelancers and creatives in 15 days or less. If they can’t wait to use our work then you as a freelancer shouldn’t have to wait to get paid.

I’m also fully aware that not everyone is going to agree to pay in 15 days or less. That would be too easy. I’m also aware that if you have a chance to work with a dream client and they have a net 60 pay, that you’re going to swallow your pride and take it because it’s your dream client. And there is nothing wrong with that. What is wrong is when they don’t pay at the agreed upon day.

Accidents happen. Sometimes Susan in accounting forgot to submit the request or you forgot to send the invoice. But if you have to constantly call, email and text looking for your money then that is a problem. That means you’re attracting “cheap” clients or they view you as weak and as someone who isn’t going to make a big deal about not getting paid. Basically they can disrespect you and know you won’t do anything about it.

And that is on the freelancer or creative. In this world if you have a dog in the fight but you’re afraid to bark or bite to make a point, then it’s probably better that you tuck tail and run back to a regular 9-5 job. That way you can get a treat daily for doing a “good job” while you sit in a cold, dark office surrounded by cubicle walls that are devoid of any sunshine or life basically.

And if every client is not paying you on time, then you’re going to have to take a hard look at yourself and see why people think it’s ok to keep disrespecting you and your time. Are you not adding payment terms in your contract? Are you to busy trying to please people and not be a “bother” looking for your money?

I’m tired of hearing this is the way it’s always been. Just because that has been the way doesn’t mean it has to continue to be the way. We should be paid in a timely manner for our work especially if the client is using it right away. If you can use it right away you can pay me even faster.

The freelancing and creative industry are constantly getting taken advantage of and it’s time that the industry gets shaken up. If companies and clients like to play hardball with paying then in our contracts it should state that our work is not to be used until payment has been received in full and if it used, we have the right to sue.

Creatives and freelancers have to sign contracts that state we can’t share the work until the client does first and so forth. So why can’t we do the same thing with our contracts? It’s about leveling the playing field that has been tilted in favor of companies for so long. We’re just as essential and important to the success of your brand as your 9-5 employees, but when it comes to paying us at the agreed upon time for the agreed upon amount we get treated like people with leprosy.

There are people who don’t like to rock boats, but boats that aren’t moving don’t get very far in life. The boat that needs to get rocked in 2025 is the paying freelancers and creatives on time boat. Waves need to be created to send a message that we won’t be exploited or neglected in terms of payment because we’re a freelancer or small business. Our time and talent is just as valuable and if it wasn’t you wouldn’t be hiring us to do specific work for them.

Photo by KOBU Agency on Unsplash

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