First copywriting job - help please!

[BranchingOut]

Hi, I possibly have my first copywriting job - developing some text for a website.

Any tips on how to manage the process of billing?

It will be a small job, under £100. Do you ask for payment by cash or cheque and then just keep a record?

I am dealing with an individual rather than a business, so need to be a little cautious in terms of making sure I am paid. Do you ask for a part-payment up front?

Thanks

Congratulations branching!

It's best to issue an invoice which the client then pays by cash/cheque/bank transfer. Make sure you keep a copy of the invoice so you can match everything up when you are doing your accounts (or when you pay your accountant to do it as I do!).

If I was rewinding and going back 6 years to when I started out in business I would absolutely take part payment, if not the whole lot, upfront. Be confident, know how you want to set out your stall and stick with it. Then you'll attract the kind of clients you want to deal with.

branchingout - can I ask how you went about startng copywriting? I am really interested in this s I don't want to go back out to work and copywriting seems a good option.

I would definitely send an invoice. I normally put my account number and sort code on the invoice and am generally paid directly into the account. I sometimes get cheques. Never cash.

I have a very basic spreadsheet where I record the invoice number (give your invoice a reference as it helps their accountant as well as you, when you have many more), the date it was issued, the business details, the date payment is received and a running total of annual accounts.

I have never asked for or been offered any money in advance. I'm not sure whether this is standard practice or not though as I'm not that experienced myself.