Friend expecting me to work for free

[unpaid1]

Recently, a friend who I used to work with has opened her own consulting business and told me about it. As we worked in the same field she said we could work together where if she needed any help with documents, data entry I could pick it up. I of course said yes, that sounds great , make a bit of money on the side.

The issue is I’ve now done quite a few pieces of work for her but she hasn’t mentioned any payment? I tried to hint to her last week when she asked me to type something up for her, how would we work how I’m getting paid and she said don’t worry we will talk about it soon. She gave me the business bank card and told me to order stationary etc if needed as she would cover the costs.

She’s just messaged again asking for a task to be competed and I’m slightly annoyed now because I can’t keep giving my time up for free. How do I approach this with her without ruining our friendship? I really don’t want to finish this new task she’s given me as I know it’s going to take a good 5-6 hours 😭.

AIBU and should just help her?
AINBU and how do I ask her to pay me?

OP is being unreasonable for continuing to work for free and being too afraid to raise the conversation about how to be paid! Stand up for yourself, OP!

Omg, how have you let this happen?
What is your hourly rate at your actual job? Your freelance rate should be this plus 30 percent.
That is the hourly rate you set.
Send her a message and say you have not got the time to work for free, you thought it wp
ould be good to work with her to generate some side money but you arent working anymore unless you formally contract and Your hourly rate is x.
I elrsinally dont think she will pay you anything at all based on her behaviour

If asking for payment ruins the friendship so be it. YANBU.

Message back that you’ll start once you agree payment terms as it’s important to remain professional.

⬆️ This. Bill her for your time.

Are you the c f ?

"Hi, what hourly rate would you like me to put on my timesheet?"

Send draft timesheet (with work done so far) minus hourly rate.

Discussion: It's best if I keep a timesheet and you authorise those so I can invoice you monthly.

Don’t do any more work until you’ve been paid and arrangements for future are agreed.
Assuming you are still doing your usual job you are working for a competitor and it could be seen as moonlighting ?

What about the tax implications ?

Aside from that do not ask how much she will pay you - tell her your rate and make it high enough it can be negotiated down a bit

And stop jeffing hinting. Are you a child? ?

I agree she’s not a friend so you’ve got nothing to lose

You need to be brave and come out with it: 'Sorry X, I can't do any more work until I've been paid for the first lot as I'm struggling for time now.'

And see what she says.

OP, your friend is being a dick but how have you started without a simple written agreement in place? Recipe for nonsense.

Just invoice her! Why are you being so wet?

I doubt it. The thread title is inaccurate, unsurprising as the OP can't bring herself to have set the rate of pay straight out and this is mirrored in ascribing untrue behaviour to the CF which the OP could and should have had sorted out at the start.

It's all avoidance behaviour on the part of the OP.

Wht on earth didnt you speak about being paid?. Thats wild. You are friends and now both ofbyou will feel shafted.

She is expecting you to do work to a professional standard. So behave like one.
Send an invoice for the work you’ve done already and send an estimate/ quote based on an hourly rate for the next piece of work.
Ask her to confirm she agrees the quote & a delivery date for the work before you do it.
Tell her you are giving her a 20% discount or whatever for mates rates.

I voted YABU because you started doing work for her without agreeing pay rate, terms, etc and getting it in writing. If you were starting a new job for a 'regular' employer, would you do that?

Set out details of all the time that you’ve have ‘worked’ for her so far, give that to her and tell her when you expect the payment . Do this on a periodic basis, monthly, fortnightly, however you feel inclined and inform her that unless she pays for services she cannot expect compliance and support!

Send an invoice.

You are working for free unless you tell her what your rate is and send her an invoice. I’m sure she is expecting this also.

Consider also an agreement between the two if you - lots of templates online.

Getting the commercial terms pinned down is something both parties can ‘hope’ the other will sort. I hope she isn’t also doing this with clients as her consultancy may not last too long.

It’s not a normal message by a long way.

Just tell her you can’t do anymore, until proper payment has been dicussed & she pays you for the work you’ve already done.

Of course a freelancer can and should be paid before the business is paid. If the friend doesn’t have a buffer she shouldn’t be letting others work for her at all while her business isn’t viable.

Be circumspect about your reason for not doing any further work, say you are busy or don’t have time and just keep avoiding it and wait for the conversation about payment.

just send her an invoice and asap, then she will either pay up or stop using your services

In terms of business there’s no room for friendship or being polite when someone is taking the mick , which she quite clearly is. Say quite clearly you are unable to do any more work until you have been paid for the last lot and have agreed how much/when you’ll be paid going forward.

I voted YABU for working for free - my apologies for getting the buttons wrong.

You don’t need to ask her for another meeting - it’s clear she will fob you off or kick the can down the road - further delaying payment.

You have nothing in writing so any small claims court enforcement for pay is going to be tricky.

As PPs advised: set an hourly rate (don’t undercharge !!!) and bill her for work done. Advise her in your email that any further work will be completed once paid.

You need to be more direct now. I can understand why you'd question haven't but she's quite happy letting you feel awkward and not know whether / when you're getting paid so you need to ask her outright what the payment situation is before you do any more work.