Getting Paid as a Smutlancer

by Kayla Lords · Published November 7, 2018 · Updated July 23, 2020

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We spend a lot of time, as smutlancers, saying that we should be paid for our work, and that’s completely true. But once you’ve secured the agreement for payment, there’s still a lot of work to be done — and a lot of ways where things can go wrong. Deserving payment is one thing, but actually getting paid is another. In this episode, let’s talk about actually getting paid as a smutlancer.

In this episode:

This week’s episode is brought to you by QuickBooks Self Employed
Different types of work and situations require different ways of handling payments
You need an invoicing/payment system.
Set or know the rules for how you’ll be paid based on the work you’re doing:
- Clients — create billing and payment policies
- Blog sponsorship — create a payment policy
- Writing for other sites — follow their guidelines
- When selling products — no payment, no product
Be prepared to follow up when you’re not paid
- Clients — reminders, discontinue work
- Blog — no money, no work
- Other outlets — follow up and nag
Sometimes you don’t get paid
- Could get an attorney but typically more expensive than the money you’re losing
- Could go to small claims court, but same problem
When you pay for services you don’t receive: don’t let up
- To avoid: set an agreed upon deadline
- Discuss communication and notifications before work begins
- Don’t let up when you don’t receive the goods or service you paid for