Originally Posted by divineva

5. I don't work Fridays, weekends or holidays. (Fridays are my "administrative days" when I focus on marketing, get caught up on things, or whatever.)

Wow, you don't work Fridays? Your clients are ok with this policy? I can't imgine telling clients that I wouldn't be available on Fridays!

Lezly

For projects, do you all require a deposit? I'm just getting started. I plan on getting clients to sign a retainer.

Originally Posted by mrsgofficetogo

For projects, do you all require a deposit? I'm just getting started. I plan on getting clients to sign a retainer.

I found that you need to offer three different payment solutions:
1. contract payment for so many hours
2. Retainer payments
3. Projects

For project payments I have not requested a down payment yet because they are people that I know from my networking groups. For first time project clients that I do not know however, I would ask for at least a 25% deposit.

Do you incorporate these policies into your contract or are they in addition to your contractual obligations? I am just looking for a way to separate my full-time job from my part-time business because it is becoming more freelance than virtual. I need a way to draw a distinct line between the two.

Great policies you have all posted. I will have to implement many of these into my own business.

1. Contract signed before any work begins
2. Setup fees and monthly website/newsletter fees paid up front.
3. Specific business hours unless agreed upon
4. Invoices paid within 10 days.
5. If they have a website, they are not allowed to update it unless they purchase the package that allows for that. I've had too many clients in the past completely delete or totally mess up all the work I'd put into it.

Interesting reading through this, I ensure I have a contract signed, retainers are paid up front, deposit on project work, project scope provided for projects.

and most importantly, I'm an independent business owner and I don't believe I need to inform my clients of specific hours I'm working. I also take on work that doesn't have me tied to any specific numbers. My clients have time each week for us to touchbase by phone and after that it's usually contact by email. Generally, Mondays and Fridays are for my work related to my business or errands or whatever.

I'm available by email and people know this, I very rarely answer my skype number unless it's a call I'm expecting simply to not be distracted.

I wouldn't normally say I have business hours, but when I've had clients call me at 11pm and midnight, I have HAD to enforce that! Some just don't realize when they're in CA and I'm in OH, there's a time zone change. It may be 9pm there, but it's midnight here!

I am reading the responses and see stuff about billing and the signed contract and I am just curious...
Has anyone ever had a problem with a company just not paying..if so what do you do about that?

I'm still a newbie and this is a great post for me and other newbies to learn from. Thanks!