3 SUCCESSFUL WAYS TO GET PAID BY A CLIENT WHO HAS “NO MONEY”

Bartering a fee may include:

Trading work for office space. This is fairly common. Many freelancers want an official office space that has a conference room, receptionist, better address for a more professional appearance, and other people around.

Trading for hard goods, such as groceries, office supplies, equipment or any goods the company manufactures or sells. Trading work for “exposure” is one of those lies many free work-seeking clients use. You have to weigh how much exposure is gained/work you might get vs the work required of you.

Investment credit and a percentage of the company:

If you argue about having to provide thousands of dollars to use your design work to help build up a startup, you might demand a percentage of the company itself, just like those who have invested financial funds. And you will have these benefits:-

• You are legally a partner.
• You have access to company records to make sure you are being paid your true percentage.
• You can’t be bought out of your percentage for pennies on the dollar.
• You have limited liability so you won’t be the only partner being sued, or going to prison if the startup fails.

Extended or deferred payment can assure you of a legally binding way of recovering fair payments down the road. This can include:

• Invoicing for the full fee, but giving an extended payment time of several months.
• Invoicing for the full fee with tiered payments spread out over a longer period of time.

Invoicing for the full fee, with the intention of claiming the unpaid fee as a tax loss for a tax break (check with an accountant for how much you can legally claim on your taxes – accountants, like lawyers, also never seem to work for free.

Naturally, being paid in full and in a timely manner is the ideal situation, but in the freelance business, sometimes you have to think quickly on your feet when provided an opportunity that may seem to be a scam to start off, but end up truly being an opportunity… just like the client promised you, but not with “rich friends”, “exposure”, or possible “lots of money later”… at least not without the mentioned contract!