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If negotiation is getting painful, get a lawyer. Why?

1. Freelancing is hard enough without spending mental and emotional energy with this kind of thing. Let someone else handle the unpleasant talks.
2. You are a business, not having legal counseling is something you can't afford.
3. I like to think all business start with the best of intentions from both parts, but often things go wrong. You need a hired gun to make sure you will get paid no matter what and to cover your ass (last thing you want is exposing yourself to liability).

I could not put it better than Mike Monteiro (Design Director and co-founder of Mule Design Studio) did on his CreativeMornings talk - I wish I had watched this video when I started freelancing.

In some countries you can get free or affordable advice from your union or small business bureau.

[update]

For every relationship problem in life (professional or personal) there are always 4 alternatives:

1. flee: get another job
2. change the other (tricky one): make him pay for the full month
3. change yourself: cut expenses?
4. suffer.

Are you choosing number 4?

Another tip: if you are a group of contractors working for the same client, avoid collective negotiation - it is always easier to get a raise for yourself then for a dozen people.

If negotiation is getting painful, get a lawyer. Why?

1. Freelancing is hard enough without spending mental and emotional energy with this kind of thing. Let someone else handle the unpleasant talks.
2. You are a business, not having legal counseling is something you can't afford.
3. I like to think all business start with the best of intentions from both parts, but often things go wrong. You need a hired gun to make sure you will get paid no matter what and to cover your ass (last thing you want is exposing yourself to liability).

I could not put it better than Mike Monteiro (Design Director and co-founder of Mule Design Studio) did on his CreativeMornings talk - I wish I had watched this video when I started freelancing.

In some countries you can get free or affordable advice from your union or small business bureau.

[update]

For every relationship problem in life (professional or personal) there are always 4 alternatives:

1. flee: get another job
2. change the other (tricky one): make him pay for the full month
3. change yourself: cut expenses?
4. suffer.

Are you choosing number 4?

Another tip: if you are a group of contractors working for the same client, avoid collective negotiation - it is always easier to get a raise for yourself than for a dozen people.

By all means, get a lawyer. Why?

1. Freelancing is hard enough without spending mental and emotional energy with this kind of thing. Let someone else handle the unpleasant talks.
2. You are a business, not having legal counseling is something you can't afford.
3. I like to think all business start with the best of intentions from both parts, but often things go wrong. You need a hired gun to make sure you will get paid no matter what and to cover your ass (last thing you want is exposing yourself to liability).

I could not put it better than Mike Monteiro (Design Director and co-founder of Mule Design Studio) did on his CreativeMornings talk - I wish I had watched this video when I started freelancing.

In some countries you can get free or affordable advice from your union or small business bureau.

If negotiation is getting painful, get a lawyer. Why?

1. Freelancing is hard enough without spending mental and emotional energy with this kind of thing. Let someone else handle the unpleasant talks.
2. You are a business, not having legal counseling is something you can't afford.
3. I like to think all business start with the best of intentions from both parts, but often things go wrong. You need a hired gun to make sure you will get paid no matter what and to cover your ass (last thing you want is exposing yourself to liability).

I could not put it better than Mike Monteiro (Design Director and co-founder of Mule Design Studio) did on his CreativeMornings talk - I wish I had watched this video when I started freelancing.

In some countries you can get free or affordable advice from your union or small business bureau.

[update]

For every relationship problem in life (professional or personal) there are always 4 alternatives:

1. flee: get another job
2. change the other (tricky one): make him pay for the full month
3. change yourself: cut expenses?
4. suffer.

Are you choosing number 4?

Another tip: if you are a group of contractors working for the same client, avoid collective negotiation - it is always easier to get a raise for yourself then for a dozen people.

By all means, get a layer. Why?

1. Freelancing is hard enough without spending mental and emotional energy with this kind of thing. Let someone else handle the unpleasant talks.
2. You are a business, not having legal counseling is something you can't afford.
3. I like to think all business start with the best of intentions from both parts, but often things go wrong. You need a hired gun to make sure you will get paid no matter what and to cover your ass (last thing you want is exposing yourself to liability).

I could not put it better than Mike Monteiro (Design Director and co-founder of Mule Design Studio) did on his CreativeMornings talk - I wish I had watched this video when I started freelancing.

In some countries you can get free or affordable advice from your union or small business bureau.

By all means, get a lawyer. Why?

1. Freelancing is hard enough without spending mental and emotional energy with this kind of thing. Let someone else handle the unpleasant talks.
2. You are a business, not having legal counseling is something you can't afford.
3. I like to think all business start with the best of intentions from both parts, but often things go wrong. You need a hired gun to make sure you will get paid no matter what and to cover your ass (last thing you want is exposing yourself to liability).

I could not put it better than Mike Monteiro (Design Director and co-founder of Mule Design Studio) did on his CreativeMornings talk - I wish I had watched this video when I started freelancing.

In some countries you can get free or affordable advice from your union or small business bureau.