6 ways to get paid faster

As a subcontractor, you may have expenses that your clients will reimburse after you finish the project, such as a freelance editor hiring a graphic designer for visual content or a proofreader to improve on its grammar. Expense automation solutions can ensure that you get paid faster.

It works like this:

• You spend the money on a product or service
• Then log it in the expense automation tool and submit a copy of a receipt.
• The financial controller is notified and can proceed with reimbursement.

You can use online signature software to sign your contract.

• The quicker the document is signed, the faster clients can make an upfront payment for your services.
• Online signature software often connects with Apple Pay or other payment services. After clients sign a contract, they are automatically redirected to the payment gateway.

Instead of encouraging early payments with a discount, use a late fee for creating an incentive. Clients who intend to pay on time won't mind signing a contract with a late fee.

How to include late payments in your contract:

• The amount should not exceed 1.5% of the project fee unless you can justify it.
• Set a due date on your invoice.
• If a client does not pay, send an invoice reflecting the change in the final sum.

Try to prevent late payments by examining a customer's profile and avoid working with clients similar to that one. If a new client is too similar to that client profile, it's better to pass on such projects.

If you have a personal webpage or social media profile, select and add video testimonials of your ideal customers, thereby turning away companies that you don't consider ideal.

By building your brand, you can get more gigs and become selective in who you work with. As a result, you can stand out and win more respect.

With a solid personal brand, you can stop selling your time and invest in more scalable ways of earning money, such as launching an online course or blogging.