Will Kelly says freelancers should expect a percentage of customers to never pay, and build that loss into their rates like any other business cost. Treating non-payment as predictable expense rather than personal rejection keeps your cash flow and emotions healthier.
There are going to be people who don't pay you. It's going to happen. It is inevitable. And when you're brand new, it feels personal. It feels like a punch in the gut because you need that $60. You need every dollar. But as you grow, you have to shift how you think about these things. Non-payers are a cost of doing business, just like equipment wear, just like fuel. You have to price for it. When you're out there building your rates, just understand that a fraction of your volume, a small percentage is never going to pay. So bake it in. Don't take it personal as a personal attack. It's literally just business math.
