How to Get Clients to Pay Faster: Get Paid 100% Upfront

Want your clients to pay faster? Ask to get paid upfront. In this video, you'll learn why it's important to ask for 100% upfront... even if you’re pretty sure you’re not going to get it.
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Do you have questions about pricing strategies? Drop it in the comments below or tweet your question at me tagged with #AskJonathan.

[@kgauheloletsholo5083]

"they pay for everything up front, why not this?" lmaooo just the push i needed! thanks buddy👍🏾🙏🏾

[@CarlosHernandez-lb3wq]

Dope video, thanks for the insight. I'm going to start doing this, it also establishes you as the expert that doesn't F-around and they respect you (more)... couple that with high ticket projects, you're setting yourself apart.

[@TheJonathanStarkShow]

I'm glad you found it useful Carlos!

[@BillClinton228]

You are also weeding out the riff raff... you will save yourself so much time and headaches if you get rid of these "monthly" paying clients because chances are they will pay you peanuts and expect you to do EVERYTHING. I wrote an app for a client that was paying me monthly, I gave him everything we agreed on and after 3 months he just stopped paying me and said he's company are not using the app anymore. I don't live in the USA so I can't just sue him and he knows I don't have the money to spend on dragged out court cases.

[@ZhoustifyMarketing]

Pay 50% upfront and 50% after. It is industry standard. However, we often offer a 5% cash discount for full upfront. Which might also be called the "cash discount" principle in accounting. You can also raise the price for 50% upfront by 5% but offer the full upfront discount cash price as a "killer deal".

[@ZhoustifyMarketing]

But normally we'll start with just 100% upfront and not negotiate anything. Many clients are willing to pay unless it's more of an individual trying to hire you with their life savings for some "killer idea". Then we start getting into those plans, perhaps even equity or profit shares depending on how much we believe in them. But as far as getting cash flow into your business. Always get something upfront that makes you and your business sustain and happily work.

[@seanbdesign4306]

Will this also work for designing and building a one-off physical product for an individual client?

[@m0uchm0uch]

Hi Jonathan, long time fan first time commenter. I don't understand the whole "rush to sign off".
Isn't there an outline of deliverables usually?
Shouldn't the final % of the payment whatever it may be, 15%-50% just be paid whenever the total list of deliverables is met at the agreed upon standard?
I understand that you want to use it as an "anchor" but the excuse to say "if I don't get paid up front I will rush to sign-off" confuses me..
I'm not asking from a negative Nancy perspective, just curious on your thoughts..

[@TheJonathanStarkShow]

Thanks for your comment! It's a big question that touches on a lot of concepts. We'll add it to the #askjonathan queue and I'll answer in a video. Thanks!

[@bt2925]

Is impossible to get 100% upfront, especially amount over 100k. Is about how well you design your contract to protect your company. The beauty abt this biz is, normal residential client do not issue work contract!

[@TheJonathanStarkShow]

I'm proof that it's possible. Is it always easy? No.

[@bt2925]

@@TheJonathanStarkShow well, u r one lucky contractor....

Developers may have a chance to get upfront payment, for designers, SEOs and other freelancers on a weekly based payment this is completely unrealistic and no client will accept.

[@TheJonathanStarkShow]

I know it sounds crazy AND it might not work with the type of clients you are currently attracting. But it's 100% doable.

@@TheJonathanStarkShow I think is doable for one time projects, website designs, software development and integrations. I've been working with high-end profile clients for over 10 years and not even the biggest companies or those that pay best will even consider this method. Sounds nice and in a perfect world it would be great but sadly is not realistic in the I.T sector and any freelancer there will tell you the same.

[@rp_FGBWA7700]

@@TheJonathanStarkShow Its also how you "present" yourself. ;)

[@Design475]

Would you still ask for 100 percent upfront if you were designing a logo instead of being a developer?

[@sfa-voiceofafrica]

Especially if you are designing a logo. Charge 100%

[@Design475]

@@sfa-voiceofafrica yes since my last comment I ask 100% upfront for almost all projects now 👍