Re: How do freelance technical writers deal with the thorny issue ofpayment?

[Jay Maechtlen <techwriter -at- covad -dot- net>]

Contracts, deposits, and such - a point of comparison:
A friend of mine is a contractor.
He does landscaping and related stuff, mainly for homeowners here in SoCal.
The work doesn't start until a contract is signed and a deposit paid to
him. The deposit, I believe, runs from 10% to 30% of the agreed total cost.
No work is done that isn't covered by the contract. If the customer
wants more work done, it s put in writing along with a price for that work.

Well, that's the theory, anyway.
He still gets burned from time to time, usually from not following his
own rules.
It seems to me that, unless you're running a straight 'by the hour'
scheme, the above system would make a lot of sense.
ymmv.

cheers
Jay
-- 
Jay Maechtlen
techpubs -at- covad -dot- net
626 444-5112 office
626 840-8875 cell

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Create HTML or Microsoft Word content and convert to Help file formats or 
printed documentation. Features include support for Windows Vista & 2007 
Microsoft Office, team authoring, plus more.
http://www.DocToHelp.com/TechwrlList

True single source, conditional content, PDF export, modular help.
Help & Manual is the most powerful authoring tool for technical
documentation. Boost your productivity! http://www.helpandmanual.com

---
You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as archive -at- web -dot- techwr-l -dot- com -dot- 

To unsubscribe send a blank email to 
techwr-l-unsubscribe -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
or visit http://lists.techwr-l.com/mailman/options/techwr-l/archive%40web.techwr-l.com


To subscribe, send a blank email to techwr-l-join -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com

Send administrative questions to admin -at- techwr-l -dot- com -dot-  Visit
http://www.techwr-l.com/ for more resources and info.