I’m a freelance web developer. I occasionally tell people that I’m a writer of code and business plans. I’ve done consulting work for lots of companies – big, small, awesome and shitty. I haven’t had a proper W-2 job since 2007.
I work with a great partner doing some really sweet work, building both a software company for independent retailers and a fantastic sales / marketing partnership with Gotta Groove Records. I LOVE what I’m doing, and even though the money isn’t exactly there just yet, I frequently work late into the evenings because I love it (and after spending the real evenings enjoying life and my girlfriend and dog.

Anyway, this is a rant about being a freelancer. Or more accurately about getting paid as a freelancer.  I’m not going to name names.  I have my weaknesses as does everybody else.  I’ve dropped the ball before and admitted it.  I’m human after all.  But I’ve also been screwed numerous times while working as a sub-contractor.  Screwed as in not getting paid…. not just really late payment, but not at all.  I’m not one to name names. (unless you want to buy me some root beer and get it out of me) But WHY THE **** IS THIS OK?  I’m sick of the old standard: “I’ll trust you until I don’t.”

If I buy heroin, I can’t just get a suitcase full and then tell the guy I’ll pay him in 30 days.  I can’t tell him I’ll pay him tomorrow.  That’s how people get shot.  If I don’t pay my hosting company every month, they shut my shit down.  It’s a service. I pay for it and they provide it.  So why can’t I demand payment from a client BEFORE launching their site?  A lot of my work is my knowledge, advice, planning, analysis, but a good portion of it is also in that crunch time getting every nit-picky detail correct before launch.

Why isn’t it industry standard to demand payment before site launch? Sure I can claim copyright on code I wrote that I was never paid for, but any company worth its salt will change its server passwords once work is complete.  I can’t just un-do shit I already did.  Convince me why I’m wrong or I’m right.

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