Aaron Lindberg – Blog

“Words From the CopyDiva” By Julie Cortés

Billing Practices of Freelancers
When working with a self-employed professional, you may find that billing practices vary from one individual to another. For instance, some freelancers are willing to discount their rates for non-profits. And some are willing to give quantity discounts for ongoing guaranteed work or early-payments. However, the operative word here is “some.”

A lot of it depends on the client-freelancer relationship. A freelancer may ask himself, is this a brand-new relationship? Does the client pay their bills on time? If the “guaranteed” work doesn’t end up being as much as promised, will the client pay the regular rates?

Clients should also note that some freelancers charge rush fees if they’re asked to turnaround a project:
•    Same day
•    Overnight
•    Over a weekend
•    Over a holiday (federal, religious, or other)
This may also vary, depending on the freelancer’s current schedule, and rush fees could be anywhere from 25-100% more than their regular rate.

Many freelancers ask for a deposit upfront, do milestone or progress billing. And some charge late fees for payments not made on time. (This amount varies per state but is a legally accepted practice, and is often 1.5% every 30 days.) Also, many will charge a cancellation or kill fee if the project ends mid-way, no matter what the reason.

That said, it’s always a good idea for clients to ask about a freelancer’s policies and practices before engaging in any work with them. And, it’s also a good idea for freelancers to include this information in a working agreement or written contract for the client ahead of time.

Follow Julie Cortés and Aaron Lindberg on twitter @kccopydiva and @aaronlindberg