| This is valuable content from my free
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| | depending on whom you work with, or what
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| online newsletter, the FREELANCER'S
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| | market you're working in. For instance,
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| BUSINESS BULLETIN. In the April 2004
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| | ad agencies may ask you to collect 100
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| issue I shared with my subscribers the
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| | percent at the back end, especially if
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| secret to getting at least 50% of your
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| | the job is small and fast.
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| freelance fee up front, plus a whole host
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| | For very large jobs, paying in thirds is
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| of other important requirements for your
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| | also common. And small businesses may
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| freelancer's business.
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| | prefer to pay in thirds if their budget
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| It was FREELANCER'S BUSINESS BULLETIN
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| | is tight (and it usually is). And then,
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| subscriber and copywriting expert Susan
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| | of course, there are those pay
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| Fantle who asked for a discussion of this
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| | arrangements that include bonuses or
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| topic because she had recently
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| | royalties,which you will most often find
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| encountered some difficulties with
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| | in the business-to-consumer side of
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| clients. In her own words:
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| | direct marketing, among very large
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| "I've been in this business for 23 years
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| | mailers. More and more I'm seeing
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| and only in the last two years do I
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| | commission arrangements - a very good
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| finally see the need to have a contract
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| | thing for the copywriter who also can
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| with new clients."
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| | bring valuable marketing expertise to the
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| Now I've seen a lot of contracts in my
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| | table.
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| freelance life, but none more complete or
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| | Does anyone ever get paid 100 percent up
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| protective of a freelancer's interests
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| | front? The answer is yes, but I've seen
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| than my own. And I'll share its elements
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| | it rarely. Recently one of my coaching
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| here so you can create your own contract,
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| | students was paid 100 percent up front
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| or perhaps improve the one that youuse.
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| | for a very small job worth $300. And
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| But before we get started I'll make a
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| | another student was paid in the four
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| couple of points:
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| | figures from a sole-proprietor
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| The first concerns semantics: Somewhere
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| | entrepreneur, who obviously understood
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| along the line I read that the word
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| | that the copywriter realized the risk
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| "contract" is negative and off-putting,
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| | involved with working with a risk-taking
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| and after some thought, I had to agree.
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| | marketer.
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| So I call my contract a "Fee Agreement,"
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| | My advice is to try for 50 percent, and
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| which I think is friendlier and sets
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| | if the client balks, proceed very
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| thetone for the positive and equally
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| | carefully if you proceed at all. If the
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| respectful working relationship to come.
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| | client has problems paying you now,
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| You might think about doing the same for
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| | before you do the work, it's a very
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| your own contract.
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| | serious red flag. You're better off to
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| Point two is that you should always,
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| | say no, and spend your time marketing
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| always use a Fee Agreement and get it
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| | yourself to find a better client.
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| signed and faxed (or emailed) back before
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| | A Quick List of What Should Be in Your
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| starting any work. When you work with the
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| | Contract if You're a Copywriter or Other
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| proper forms you are telling your client
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| | Business Freelancer:
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| that you are a professional, and your
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| | - A very detailed description of the job,
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| client will then treat you with the
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| | listing virtually everything you will do
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| respect you deserve. Much of the success
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| | - A deadline for the work to be completed
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| of the freelancer/client relationship is
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| | - Revision terms
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| built upon how you conduct yourself in
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| | - Payment terms
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| your financial transactions.
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| | - Late payment terms
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| In my Fee Agreement I always make it
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| | - A description of what will be included
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| clear that I will Invoice for half the
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| | in your services
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| fee up front, upon receipt of the signed
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| | - A description of what will not be
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| Fee Agreement. That way the client has
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| | included (interviewing and creating
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| agreed to pay an up front fee of 50
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| | testimonials, for instance)
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| percent.
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| | - A policy on how change orders are
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| Then I email the Invoice, which instructs
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| | handled (you charge more if they make a
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| the client to send the check via FedEx or
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| | significant change after work has been
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| another overnight delivery service. Since
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| | done)
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| I tend to work with mid-size to large
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| | - Ownership (you own the copyright until
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| companies, I never have a problem getting
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| | you've received full payment)
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| my up front fee or having it delivered
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| | - Indemnity (a legal disclaimer holding
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| over night.
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| | you harmless against any legal charges
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| My feeling is that clients are in a hurry
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| | such as libel and copyright infringement;
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| to get their copy and are at their most
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| | you don't need to add false advertising
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| agreeable at this stage. However, once
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| | since you won't be doing that anyway)
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| they've received their copy, there is no
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| | - An agreement for the client to share
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| incentive the rush the check. So I send a
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| | work samples and results (so you can use
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| final Invoice "due and payable
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| | them in your promotions)
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| uponreceipt," instructing the payment to
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| | Don't be so anxious to get the work that
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| be sent via regular mail.
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| | you fail to get a signed Fee Agreement
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| Since I work directly with the client,
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| | and payment up front. Getting payment up
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| this arrangement works well for me,
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| | front is an effective screen, and
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| however you may need to be more flexible
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| | evidence that you are a professional.
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