It’s happening again! You agree to take on a freelance gig and when the job is finished, you send them an invoice. But after the due date has past, you still haven’t received your money. You don’t know what the hold up is, but it’s annoying and stressful to not know when, or if, you are getting paid.

Chasing down payment can be one of the worst parts about being a freelancer. But the good news is, there are professional ways to encourage clients to pay on time. One of the easiest things you can do to deter late payments is to start charging late fees.