One of the biggest mistakes freelancers make is starting work before getting paid.
Many clients are honest, but some delay payments, disappear after receiving work, or dispute invoices. To avoid financial stress and protect your business, requiring upfront payments is the smartest move. Here’s why you should always get paid before starting work—and how to make it easy for clients to agree.
1. Prevent Late or Missing Payments
Clients often have good intentions but may forget, delay, or even refuse to pay after receiving your work. By requiring partial or full upfront payment, you eliminate the risk of unpaid invoices and ensure you never work for free.
2. Filter Out Problem Clients
Clients who hesitate to pay upfront often cause issues later—whether it’s endless revisions, payment disputes, or scope creep. When you require a deposit, you attract serious clients who respect your time and expertise.
3. Improve Cash Flow and Financial Stability
Freelancers don’t have a steady paycheck, so waiting 30-60 days for payment can be stressful. Upfront payments help you manage your finances better, pay your bills on time, and avoid cash flow issues.
4. Set a Professional Tone
Big companies and agencies require deposits—so why shouldn’t you? Clients take you more seriously when you run your freelance business professionally. A clear payment policy shows confidence in your work and prevents clients from treating you like an afterthought.
5. Reduce Scope Creep and Last-Minute Cancellations
When clients haven’t paid yet, they’re more likely to change project details, ask for extra work, or ghost you entirely. An upfront payment locks in the agreement and ensures they’re committed to seeing the project through.
How to Ask for Upfront Payments Without Losing Clients
If you’re worried about scaring clients away, try these approaches:
• Require a 50% deposit upfront before starting work. The remaining balance is due before final delivery.
• Offer milestone payments for larger projects (e.g., 30% upfront, 40% mid-project, 30% upon completion).
• Use Blakebill to get paid instantly—clients must pay before accessing the final files, making the process seamless.
The Best Way to Secure Upfront Payments: Blakebill
One of the biggest challenges with upfront payments is getting clients to trust the process. Blakebill.com solves this by allowing freelancers to send files and receive payments at the same time. Clients must pay before downloading your work, ensuring you get paid instantly without chasing invoices.
Final Thoughts: Get Paid First, Work Second
Upfront payments protect freelancers from unpaid work, scope creep, and financial stress. By setting clear payment terms, filtering out problem clients, and using Blakebill.com to ensure instant payments, you can build a stable and profitable freelance business.
Do you ask for upfront payments? If not, what’s stopping you? Drop a comment below! 🚀
