Unique payment strategies

Setting ground expectations, no matter how casual the client relationship

One of the most important lessons to learn is that even if the client is someone you know casually, you should still create written agreements. This protects both parties and sets a tone of respect and professionalism from the start. Consider including the following documents:

• Proposals

• Estimates

• Letters of agreement or contracts

• Schedules

• Change orders

You can also run credit checks to get a sense of the client’s reliability. While a strong credit score cannot guarantee payment, it can give you insight into their financial habits and ethics. Experian and Dun and Bradstreet are common options for pulling reports.

Unique payments

As a creative, you may have opportunities to trade services instead of using traditional payment. If you choose this route, make sure everything is still documented in writing, and clarify that this is not your standard payment method. For example, if you create a brand identity for a winery, your compensation could be a yearlong membership to their wine club. These types of agreements can work well for partial compensation, such as revisions, late fees, or small changes, instead of replacing the full project payment.

Set a payment schedule

You will learn more in the next lesson, but it is wise to break payments into smaller amounts that correspond with specific deliverable milestones. Tie each payment to a deliverable or service rather than client approval. This helps ensure consistent compensation throughout the project.

Cohen, Emily Ruth. “Payment Strategies for Freelance Designers and Design Firms.” AIGA, www.aiga.org/resources/payment-strategies-for-freelance-designers-and-design-firms. Accessed 25 Nov. 2025.