To want to be paid before christmas

[chickydoo]

I work freelance for several different small companies.
One of the companies is quite new, and business is not booming. The owner told all freelance staff last week that there was no money to pay our November wages. I was fairly OK with it, as the company has a good ethos, and the owner a decent sort, the owner said we would get our money asap. Business is very quiet right now, if there was no money for November there will be even less for December! I could really do with being paid before Chritmas, word on the grapevine is we won't get paid until things pick up in the New year. WWYD?

Put a late payment clause in your contract for next time?

Make a massive fuss? The squeaky wheel gets the oil.

Suck it up. That's life as a freelancer and you should set your day rate to account for instances like this.

Harsh, but I do sympathise OP, being FL myself.

I would be popping in to see him tomorrow tbh to find out exactly what you can expect and when. Do you have a payment schedule on your invoices? (ie mine is 30 days from invoice, then I can start applying interest). Would payment two months later usually be the norm in your line of work?

You have to balance pushing too hard with getting any future work of course, but if you've done the work you're entitled to be paid for it. And start invoicing some money upfront for smaller businesses where you're uncertain of payment.

Thanks so much.
Never had this issue before, think will wait to xmas, then invoice again.