If you’re dealing with a freelance client who won’t pay, and not sure what the next step is, here are steps I took to finally get paid what I was owed. I share the exact email template I used plus a few extra tips you can use to get paid what you deserve!

1. 7
Steps to Convince Non-Paying
Clients to Pay What They Owe
Is Your Client Not Paying You?

2. What if every client you worked with
decided to pay late, or not pay you at all?

3. If you’re dealing with a freelance client who
won’t pay, and not sure what to do next...

4. ...here are steps you can take to finally
get paid what you’re owed!

5. ...here are steps you can take to finally
get paid what you’re owed!

6. Establish Rules from
the Beginning1

7. Establish Rules from
the Beginning1
Teach clients how to treat you!
You’re the boss, remember?

8. Don’t let them mistreat you, not pay for
your work, or get away with being
unethical about a business deal.

9. Even if it takes more time than it’s worth,
it’s often more important to establish
professional boundaries.

10. While you’re in the process of establishing
boundaries, don’t do anymore work
for this client until you get paid.

11. While you’re in the process of establishing
boundaries, don’t do anymore work
for this client until you get paid.

12. Determine the Cause
of Non-Payment2

13. Determine the Cause
of Non-Payment2
Sometimes, checks really do
get lost, or the bank numbers
were input incorrectly.

14. Figure out if the non-payment reason a
legit issue or just a misunderstanding
or technical problem.

15. Perhaps the issue is with the payment
processor and not the client themselves.

16. Your job is to remain calm and determine the
cause of the non-payment, then work to resolve it.

17. Exhaust All
the Avenues3

18. Exhaust All
the Avenues3
Do whatever you can to ensure that
you’ve done your research and have
exhausted all the avenues of getting
their attention.

19. Try calling
their office.

20. Try calling
their office.
Ask friends or
coworkers who you
know worked with
this client & ask
them about their
payment
experience.

21. Try calling
their office.
Ask friends or
coworkers who you
know worked with
this client & ask
them about their
payment
experience.
Do a search
online and find
the client’s
Twitter handle
and reach out
to the social
team.

22. Seriously, some companies are so disorganized
that they never communicate with each
other and have no idea what’s really going on.

23. Send Them a
Warning Email4

24. Send Them a
Warning Email4
If you truly feel like you’ve done
everything you can (outside of legal
force) send your non-payment client
a warning email.

25. This will show them that you mean business
and it can serve as written proof that you
gave them ample time to rectify the situation.

26. Here’s an example
that works!

27. Notice all of the methods used to contact them
(to no avail) are listed, the exact dates, their
promise, information about the contract,
and written notice about further action.

28. Reach Out to a
Lawyer for Help5

29. Reach Out to a
Lawyer for Help5
If you truly feel like you’ve done
everything you can (outside of legal
force), send your non-payment client
a warning email.

30. Have a lawyer friend send a letter (on their
professional letterhead) stating that you plan
to pursue this matter further, and that you’re
applying X% fee to the invoice each month.

31. Mail this letter via snail mail with return receipt
requested notifying them that they are X days overdue
for payment and as per the contract you are owed $X.

32. If you’re not paid within X amount of time, you will
pursue further legal action. Make sure you keep
the receipt for when they sign for the letter.

33. You don’t even have to pay a lawyer to do this, just
ask your friend if you can use their stationary.

34. You don’t even have to pay a lawyer to do this, just
ask your friend if you can use their stationary.

35. Put the Client
on Blast6

36. Put the Client
on Blast6
Still not getting anywhere with a
client who doesn’t want to pay?
Follow through with your threats
and put them on blast.

37. Call the
client or
company out
by name.

38. Call the
client or
company out
by name. Alert your entire
community via
social media (like
a private
Facebook group)
or even on your
blog.

39. Call the
client or
company out
by name. Alert your entire
community via
social media (like
a private
Facebook group)
or even on your
blog.
Warn other
freelancers
not to work
with them or
use their
services.

40. You’re not doing this out of spite, and you
should still be respectable about your words,
but make it known that clients can’t treat
business owners this way.

41. Consider Small
Claims Court7

42. Consider Small
Claims Court7
There comes a time when
you can either give up on
getting paid, or pursue the
matter via small claims court.

43. You could be spending your time and
energy working with clients who
actually want to pay you.

44. Be sure to weigh out the principle of the
matter as well as how much you’ll get paid, and
any fees you’ll pay the court or a lawyer.

45. Sometimes it’s
worth teaching
your client (and
yourself) how
the business side of
freelancing is to
be conducted.

46. Ready to
supercharge your
online business?

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