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Get Paid Fast: How To Make Sure You Get Paid On Time Everytime

November 12, 2018 by Contributed Post Leave a Comment

Getting paid

Are you having trouble with your invoiced payments? You can’t run a business if you can’t get paid fast. Here’s what to do to get paid on time everytime.

On paper, the premise of freelance work is simple. You provide a job or service, and you receive a fixed payment for it. Right?

However, if you’re among the 57 million freelancers working in America, the formula may not be so simple. From unpaid invoices to late payments to miscommunication issues with your clients, it’s frustrating to chase down your funds.

If you run a business, you need to get paid fast- on time, every time. Let’s get into the top tips for success.

Understand Why The Payments Are Late

To identify a solution, you first need to target the problem. In other words, what exactly is going on?

There could be a couple of scenarios at play here. On the one hand, a long-time client may make a one-time mistake. This is normal, as we’re all busy humans with full schedules.

On the other hand, if you’re working with someone new and a late payment happens, there’s a very good chance of this history repeating itself.

It’s also important to identify if you are part of the problem. For example, are you being too nonchalant with how you expect payments? Are you sending invoices weeks after completing the work?

Identify and Specify Your Payment Requirements

When you work as an independent contractor or freelancer, it’s usually up to you to determine what the payment calendar and schedule looks like.

This means you need to identify the cost of time and labor and specify how and when you expect to get paid.

You need to specify these requirements and expectations from the beginning of your working relationship. Don’t expect your clients to read your mind. After all, it’s usually not their top concern to think about when their contractors receive payment.

Get It In Writing

Before you even begin any contract work with a company, its best to have both a verbal and written understanding about the work, payment, and communication.

This is where many people start with upfront deposits. It’s not uncommon to request a 50$ deposit prior to beginning work. This provides both the freelancer and the company to put some skin in the game.

Furthermore, a legal contract protects you in the event of your client skipping out or underpaying you. Setting up a contract may require consulting with a lawyer, but this is usually worth the financial peace of mind.

Encourage Incentives

Some freelancers incentivize their customers by offering small discounts for paying ‘in full’ or even making early payments.

This is, of course, at your discretion, but it can serve two purposes. On the one hand, you establish a protocol for increasing your chance of getting paid on time (or even early). For two, you’re rewarding customer loyalty, and that can improve your reputation and overall business structure.

However, don’t assume that clients will know about these incentives. Make sure that you show the price differences, send out flyers or make a note when drafting out your invoices. You want the incentives to be obvious and enticing!

Finally, you can also offer incentives for different modes of payment (such as using an electric check instead of a credit card).

Automate Your Payments

If you truly want to eliminate late payments, it’s worth considering whether you should automate your billing system. In doing this, you automatically process your payments without the hassle of manually invoicing and sending out reminders.

Fortunately, the process of how to use automation software is fairly straightforward. You will input the vendor’s name, contact information, and tax ID number.

From there, you can verify payments, monitor changes, create audits, and essentially streamline your accounts.

This is usually advantageous if you work with clients in providing recurring services. If you have many clients on the books, it’s easy for you to get overwhelmed or even forgetful about the services your render.

Automating will help you save time- and it could help you earn faster money without all the headaches of reminding your clients.

Have Protocol For Late Payment Management

Payment still not received? You need to establish authority and ownership by taking action.

Once the invoice or payment is overdue, you need to send out a reminder within 48 hours to the company. Still no word? Send out another.

At that point, you need to remind your customer that you do retain the legal rights to charge interest on their debts.

Yes, you may hear excuses, and you’ll need to learn how to deal with those. Customers will blame other colleagues. They’ll tell you about their financial problems. They may even try to coerce you into a lower rate.

If needed, you may have to locate a reputable debt collection agency and tell your consumer that to establish your intentions.

In other words? Don’t just ignore the problem and hope that it goes away on its own. While some customers occasionally forget to make a payment, this shouldn’t be a pattern.

It’s normal for first-time entrepreneurs to doubt their work or skills, but that doesn’t mean you should overlook your worth.

After all, you have expenses to pay and a business to run. Don’t feel nervous to take further action for those who disregard your business practices.

Final Thoughts On How To Get Paid Fast

No matter how amazing your business is, it’s not worth any of the work if you aren’t receiving the compensation you deserve.

You deserve to get paid fast and on time without questions or concerns. You and your business are both valuable, and you need customers who can and will validate you for that!

Interested in learning more about improving your career or creating the business of your dreams? Contact me today!

Making the Most of Co-Working

November 8, 2018 by Contributed Post Leave a Comment

More people than ever before are working from home. Some of these people just work a few days a week at home, instead of in their office, still working for an employer. Others, run their own business out of their house, often working around family commitments. Then, some work as freelancers. They use their skills to make money online or in the real world. They work doing something that they enjoy, providing clients with their abilities, to help them to get a good job done. Freelancers work as writers, photographers, designers, editors and in many other fields. The growth of the internet means that more people are able to make money in this way and it can seem like a dream come true.

Before you get started, working from home can feel like the answer to all of your problems. You’ll be able to work more flexible hours. You’ll be able to work around your family. You’ll be able to sit on the sofa in your sweats, working as and when it suits you.

Then, for many, reality sets in and it’s rather different. Many people that work from home fall into two camps. The first, procrastinate. They are distracted by home life. They find it hard to focus and instead spend their time watching Netflix and eating cake. They gain weight, their work suffers, and they aren’t able to make as much money as they’d like to, because they don’t focus on their work.

The second camp become obsessive workers. They work all day and into the night. They take on extra projects, they never take time off, and they work much more than they ever would as an employee in an office. They spend less time with their family and friends, and much less time outdoors. Work takes over their lives, and they feel constantly stressed out and anxious.

Despite the appeal of home-working, most truly struggle to find that perfect work-life balance that they are looking for. This is just one of the reasons that co-working spaces are becoming more popular. Working from a shared office can be an excellent solution to all of your problems that offers you the best of both worlds, and it can make a very real difference to your working life, and the success of your work, even if you only use your shared office for a day a week. But only if you make the most of it. Here are some tips to help you to do just that.

Choose Your Office Well

One of the main appeals of using a co-working space is that it gets you out of the house and helps you to avoid cabin fever. It also helps you to get more done and make the most of your time. But, only if you choose your office wisely. If you pay for a co-working space or membership that’s miles away from your home, or too far away from your children’s school or childcare, you won’t ever make the most of it. Even if you do use it, you’ll waste that much time commuting that you won’t get as much done as you should. That’s why location should be your primary consideration when choosing an office.

That said, the location shouldn’t be your only consideration. You’ll also want to be realistic with what you can afford. If your funds allow, a more luxurious coworking space could offer you better facilities, more comfortable space and a better place to hold meetings. It’ll also give you a chance to make more successful contacts.

Co-working offices are in every major city all over the world. Some, you just pay for when you use. Others, offer a membership which allows you to use any of their offices at any time, and others still let you hire a desk for a monthly fee. These can all be great options, but look at cost, location and the facilities on offer before committing to any.

Get to Know People

Another appeal of co-working is that you’ll get to be around people. One of the only downsides of home working or freelancing is the loneliness. Many people find that despite all of the benefits, they miss being around people. They don’t enjoy working alone all of the time, and they find that without people to share ideas with, the ideas stop coming. Even those that enjoy working alone can discover that they feel lonely and they miss the social aspect of working with others.

But, co-working spaces aren’t quite the same as working with colleagues. You’re around other people, but you’re working on different projects, for various companies and even in different fields. It can be easy to sit at your desk, get your head down and get on with your work without ever communicating with those around you.

If you want to make the most of your co-working space, you need to put yourself out there. You need to speak to the people that you are sharing an office with. Chat with them around the coffee machine, ask them what they are working on and get to know them.

Socialize

Getting to know the people that you are working around is great. You can share ideas, let off some steam and learn from them. But, that’s still not the same as making friends at work. To do that, you need to spend time with them away from the office. Go out for lunch together, start a group or just go for a drink once you’ve finished for the day.

You might be working in different fields, but you are all working remotely away from a traditional environment. That’s something that you’ve got in common that could be used to build a friendship.

Collaborate

Collaboration is a great way to learn, to grow and to develop your business. You can use collaboration to attract new clients, to reach a new audience and to advance your business. In a co-working office, you are surrounded by talented professionals. By people that are keen to explore new ideas and work on different projects. Make the most of it by pitching ideas to your new friends. Find ways that you can work together for the good of everyone.

Make the Most of the Facilities

You could just go in, use your desk, chat with the people next to you and get on with your job. But, most co-working spaces have so much more to offer, and you should make the most of it all.

There might be a coffee shop or kitchen facilities. There might be sofas or even a games room and TV. Some offices have meeting and conference rooms that you can hire when you need to meet clients or host networking events.

Change Things Up

Working at the same computer, within the same four walls every day can get boring. This can cause you to procrastinate, to become distracted and to lose focus. Your work and your productivity levels will suffer.

Having a co-working space helps. It takes you out of our usual environment and helps you to feel fresh. But, you can do more. Change things up within the office. Swap desks, work in another area and move around as much as you can.

Organize Your Time

Wherever you are working, a lack of organization can be a terrible thing. You’ll never get as much done when you don’t have a plan. Go into each day with a list of things that you want to get done before you go home. Then, manage your time. Either assign each task a set amount of time or break it down into “before lunch” and “after lunch.” You’ll get much more done by simply taking a little time before you start to organize your day.

Take Regular Breaks

Most of us can only give something our full focus for around 30 minutes. After this, our minds start to wonder, we slow down, and our work suffers. You might be able to keep going for an hour without distraction, but after that, you won’t be working at your best.

So, instead of working for hours before taking a lunch hour, why not take a lunch half an hour and give yourself a few more 5-10 minute breaks throughout the day. Go for a walk, get a coffee and have a chat with someone in the office. You’ll work more productively for it.

Do the Right Work

Some things, are easy to do at home. There are some small, manageable tasks that you can easily do sat on your sofa while the kids are running around or the TV is blaring. Don’t waste your new workspace on these tasks. Instead, use your time in the office to do the work that you’d struggle to focus on at home. The critical or difficult tasks that you need to give your full focus and can’t tackle when surrounded by distractions.

Look After Yourself

The key to making the most of your time is looking after yourself. Get plenty of sleep, give yourself time off to relax, eat well, exercise and generally take good care of your physical and mental health, as well as your mood, and you’ll be able to work much more productively, wherever your desk is.

Protecting Your Finances When You’re Out Of Work

October 31, 2018 by Contributed Post Leave a Comment

Being unexpectedly out of work as the result of an injury or job termination can be a very stressful event. If you’ve been caught off-guard by this temporary or permanent leave from your job then you might be worrying about your finances. Perhaps you’re waiting to be fit enough to return to work, or perhaps you’re searching for a new job. Either way, you need to make sure that your costs are covered whilst you’re out of a wage. These pieces of advice should help you to protect your finances whilst you’re not working.

Make money from home.

You might not be able to head into the office if you’re injured or unwell, but that doesn’t mean you’re unable to earn any money. In the modern age, you can use the internet to bring in additional sources of income. You could start freelancing, for example. You could find ways to sell your talents. Maybe your profession involves writing, web development, or graphic design; whatever your area of interest, you could use freelance sites such as Fiverr to earn some money from it. You could also consider making money through sites such as Amazon by selling some goods on there. There are so many ways to make money from home if you start thinking outside the box. You might be stuck in the house, but that doesn’t mean you should be without an income. Of course, there are other ways to supplement your finances…

Get financial support.

If you’ve ended up out of work on a temporary basis as the result of an accident then you might want to research your options in terms of financial support. When you’ve been injured as the result of an event that wasn’t your fault then there are often legal routes that can get you some sort of compensation to cover your costs for medical bills or time taken off work. Maybe you were injured as the result of a road accident because of negligence or improper truck maintenance. Whatever the case, it’s important that you assess all possible routes to get the financial support you deserve for the time you’ve had to take off work. You don’t have to let your personal savings take a hit if you were injured as the result of an accident which wasn’t your fault.

Start budgeting.

Of course, one of the smartest ways to protect your finances when you’re out of work is to simply start budgeting. You might find that you’ll have more than enough money to cover your costs whilst you’re not working if you reduce unnecessary expenditures. You need to track both your sources of income and your outgoings. Budgeting is all about spending within your means. The best way to do this is to pinpoint any expenses that could be cut out of your life or simply reduced. Maybe you’ve developed some bad habits that you could give up, such as smoking or drinking too much. Maybe you could save money on your weekly shop by using online coupons to get a discount. The point is that you could improve your financial situation by cutting down on your monthly expenses.

Travel Around The World With These Careers

October 3, 2018 by Contributed Post Leave a Comment

Are you someone who likes to travel? Do you dream about seeing as much of the world as possible? You may assume that this is something you are never going to be able to do. After all, you just don’t have to budget! However, this does not mean you should let your dreams of travelling die. After all, if you combine your career with travelling, you have the perfect solution. But, what sort of career can take you around the world? Read on to discover some suggestions that can help you to realise your dream.

Career Travel Options

Nurse – Are you someone with a caring nature who likes to help others? If you have always wanted to work in the healthcare industry, you can use this passion to take you around the world. After all, there is not one country on the planet that does not have a need for professional healthcare. This reason alone shows how this career can take you anywhere. A lot of people with nursing qualifications decide to go to third-world countries whereby they can help those most in need. This is an extremely fulfilling route to go down and it will enable you to visit some of the world’s most wonderful places.

Work on a yacht – There are a number of different ways you can approach this and look for a job on a yacht. The first option would be to work for a cruise ship. The great thing about working for a cruise ship is that you are going to be travelling to different places all over the world on a daily basis. You will also meet new people too. Plus, there are lots of different jobs available on cruise ships, from becoming an entertainer to working at the reception. In addition to this, you may decide to look for a job on a superyacht working for a private client. This means ensuring every single part of the yacht is flawless and providing an impeccable service when the owner is on the yacht and hosting guests. This is a job that will enable you to rub with the rich and famous too but it is only suited to those with an impeccable attention to detail.

Freelancing – Freelancing is one of the most flexible job and business options for people today, which is why it is the perfect solution for anyone that is searching for a job that will allow them to travel the world. All you need is a laptop and an Internet connection, and you are ready to go. If you take a look online, you will see that there are so many different websites for freelancers today, and so there are many different ways you can pick up suitable jobs. If you have a skill that can be delivered over the web, you can freelance. Some of the main areas for this work include the likes of content writing, training, software development, web design, graphic design, admin, PR, translation, marketing, and such like. If you are travelling around the world, you will need to make sure you manage your time carefully when going for this route.

Teaching – Another sort of career that can take you across the world is to become a teacher. Of course, you can become any sort of teacher you wish too. However, teaching English is something that is in demand all across the world. Plus, if that was not good enough, with every country you add to your CV, you are enhancing your CV further, and this will lead to more doors being opened in more countries. If you do not have a taste for languages, don’t panic. No matter whether science or maths is your forte, you are going to find international schools in most countries that are looking for people like you. Of course, you could also opt to provide private lessons or even give online training.

Flight attendant – Of course, one of the most obvious job options for anyone that wishes to travel the world is to become a flight attendant. This is definitely something that is worth considering if you would like to see different places. If you can get a job as a long haul flight attendant, even better! Not only is this beneficial because you can travel far and across different continents, but long-haul flights often incorporate overnight stays, and so you will get a small amount of time to explore the country you have stopped at. If you go on short-haul journeys, there is every chance you will simply fly somewhere and then fly back, and so you might not get to explore as much as you would like. Nevertheless, the discounted air tickets you will receive will also help you to travel more!

As you can see, there are many different careers that can take you around the world. From counselling to working on a superyacht, you should, hopefully, have found one or two ideas that resonate with you. After all, there are many different skills and attributes that are in demand all across the globe, and so this means that there are many opportunities to work and travel. If you like the sound of anything that has been mentioned, make sure you conduct further research so that you can plot your career moves more effectively.

7 Practical Tips for Successfully Landing a Job Outside of Your Field of Expertise

September 21, 2018 by Audrey Robinson Leave a Comment

There are few things in life as frustrating as coming to the realization that you no longer enjoy what you set out to do with your life. Maybe you’ve just become bored with the same thing day after day, or maybe you’ve just realized that your passion lies elsewhere.

The good news is that it’s never too late to make a career change or to pursue your passions. While finding a job in the field you are completely unfamiliar with is certainly challenging – it is far from impossible. Here are seven tips to help you break into a new career outside your area of expertise.

Research the Industry

The first thing that you need to do is make it your field of expertise. If you’re going to make a go of it, you need to learn the ins and outs of the new field. If it’s already something you’re familiar with like a hobby or personal interest of yours, you may have a head start. If not, see if there are any free courses or books that you can find that can help you gain the knowledge you need to get started in the industry.

Establish Yourself as an Authority

Once you’ve gotten a handle on the basics, you can start building some credibility within your field. Join a professional organization and participate in online discussion forums. Create a website and start writing a blog. Reach out to other influencers in your field and offer guest posts on their sites. Start leaving a digital trail as early as possible, so that when a potential employer searches for you, they’ll find what you’re looking to present.

Make it a Side Hustle

Before you throw caution to the wind and quit your current job, it might be worth it to give it a shot on a part-time, trial basis. You can apply to freelance jobs and offer lower prices to potential clients. First, it can give you a chance to see if you enjoy it as much as you hope you will. Second, it allows you to maintain your current income, while getting yourself set up and testing the waters in your new career. This way you don’t compromise your financial security while you get the bugs worked out.

Look for Volunteer Opportunities

One of the best ways to get started is by volunteering for an organization in the field. You may find yourself working alongside people that can impart wisdom and expertise that you might not gain otherwise. In the meantime, you’re learning and building valuable work experience that can later be added to your resume.

Networking

If you’ve established your credibility, started a side hustle, and volunteered, then you’re probably already on your way to building a strong network. Don’t let it stop there though. Reach out to corporations in your industry, attend a conference, and build your LinkedIn profile. Keeping in touch with your network is the best way to learn about new opportunities and updates in your industry.

Focus on Your Accomplishments

Instead of focusing on what you’re missing, you need to begin focusing on what you’ve proven yourself able to do. When writing resumes or cover letters, explain your strengths, your knowledge, and your soft skills, rather than apologizing for your lack of education or experience. Don’t tell them what you can’t do, tell them what you can do.

Accept Entry Level

Depending on how long you’ve been in your current field, you may have to swallow your pride and take a pay cut. You can’t expect to be making the same money as someone who’s been working in the field for years and has a proven track record. Just remember that entry level means that there’s room for growth and advancement.

Starting over in a new industry can seem overwhelming, but plenty of people do it every day. If you’re fed up with your current situation and eager to get started on a new path, these tips can help you realize your hopes and dreams.

About Audrey:

Audrey Robinson works as a finance and career consultant, helping people make right career choices and protect their personal finances. Currently supporting Learn to Trade – an educational resource for investors, Audrey is easy to find online, where she participates in various discussions and shares her ideas and suggestions. If you wish to learn more, feel free to pm her at @AudreyyRobinson.