Getting-paid guide
Freelance Payment Terms Explained (and How to Set Ones That Get You Paid)
Your payment terms decide your cash flow more than your rate does. Get them right and money arrives predictably; get them wrong and you're chasing every invoice. Here's what the common terms mean and how to set them in your favor.
Net-15, Net-30, Net-60
Net-N is how many days the client has to pay after the invoice date. Net-15 is freelancer-friendly; Net-30 is standard; Net-60+ is a cash-flow risk worth pushing back on. Shorter terms mean money in your account sooner.
Deposits and upfront payment
Asking for 25-50% upfront filters out non-serious clients and protects you if they vanish. For new clients especially, a deposit is one of the best protections you have.
Milestone / progress payments
For larger projects, bill in stages tied to deliverables (e.g. 1/3 upfront, 1/3 at draft, 1/3 on delivery). You never carry the full project's worth of unpaid work at once.
Kill fees and late fees
A kill fee pays you if the client cancels mid-project; a late fee motivates on-time payment. Both belong in your terms before the work starts, not after something goes wrong.
Make the terms visible and consistent
Put your terms on every invoice and in your contract, and apply them the same way every time. Predictable terms, consistently enforced, train clients to pay you on schedule.
Stop sending these by hand
DunningDesk tracks your outstanding invoices and emails a polite, escalating reminder sequence automatically — so you recover revenue without the awkward chasing.
Start recovering payments →Frequently asked
What are the best payment terms for freelancers?
Net-15 with a deposit for new clients is a strong default. Shorter net terms and upfront deposits protect your cash flow and filter out unreliable clients.
Should I ask for a deposit?
Yes, especially with new clients — 25-50% upfront filters out non-serious clients and protects you if they disappear.
How do I get clients to respect my payment terms?
Put terms on every invoice, apply them consistently, and follow up the moment something is overdue. DunningDesk automates that escalating follow-up for you: dunningdesk.dietsoda.dev
Templates are examples — adapt the tone and timing to your own client relationships and contract terms.