Online jobs can be tricky when it comes to payment. There are
many people out there that will fool you by asking you to do a project,
but then disappear. Getting payment from those people can be nearly
impossible, and then you end up wasting your time. Don't become
discouraged though. You can tackle the payment problem with online work
by doing one of the following.
Ask for a Deposit
You can ensure you're paid at least some money for a project if you ask for a deposit. This deposit can be 25%, 50% or any amount you feel is fair. The terms should be that you will start the project when you get the deposit. You can then send part of the project to the client for approval. If it's approved, you can then complete it.
Require Upfront Payment
There are many online jobs without investment. Usually, these come with an upfront payment. This should cover any costs that you may need to make. For some projects, you don't need to invest any money, but you may still want the upfront payment to ensure you get paid. This is a good idea if you're working with a client who has been slow to pay or hasn't paid you in the past.
Use an Escrow Account
Freelance websites that cater to online jobs for college students and others have escrow features. Clients can submit payment, but the worker does not receive it until the project is approved. This shows the worker that payment has been made, and it protects the client from having a writer receive payment for not doing the work satisfactorily.
Put It in Writing
Without a contract, you will have a difficult time taking a client to court if he doesn't pay you. If you have something that says that if you complete the work requested, you will be paid a certain amount of money, you can use it in court. Make sure to be as detailed as possible, and have the client sign it before you start working.
Always Follow Your Gut Instinct
As you begin working more in the online world, you'll start to get a gut feeling if someone is not going to pay you. Pay attention to what your instincts are telling you, and then use one of these ways to protect yourself or move on to another client. The point of working online is to make money, not to work for free.
Ask for a Deposit
You can ensure you're paid at least some money for a project if you ask for a deposit. This deposit can be 25%, 50% or any amount you feel is fair. The terms should be that you will start the project when you get the deposit. You can then send part of the project to the client for approval. If it's approved, you can then complete it.
Require Upfront Payment
There are many online jobs without investment. Usually, these come with an upfront payment. This should cover any costs that you may need to make. For some projects, you don't need to invest any money, but you may still want the upfront payment to ensure you get paid. This is a good idea if you're working with a client who has been slow to pay or hasn't paid you in the past.
Use an Escrow Account
Freelance websites that cater to online jobs for college students and others have escrow features. Clients can submit payment, but the worker does not receive it until the project is approved. This shows the worker that payment has been made, and it protects the client from having a writer receive payment for not doing the work satisfactorily.
Put It in Writing
Without a contract, you will have a difficult time taking a client to court if he doesn't pay you. If you have something that says that if you complete the work requested, you will be paid a certain amount of money, you can use it in court. Make sure to be as detailed as possible, and have the client sign it before you start working.
Always Follow Your Gut Instinct
As you begin working more in the online world, you'll start to get a gut feeling if someone is not going to pay you. Pay attention to what your instincts are telling you, and then use one of these ways to protect yourself or move on to another client. The point of working online is to make money, not to work for free.
