Freelancers are found in many different fields these days and they work hard for their money. Since they are independent contractors, they don’t get paid unless everything they were supposed to do is done. Therefore, they typically strive to offer the very best quality of work on time for each project. The freelancer may be installing a sprinkler system for someone or setting up their website. Yet if they don’t get paid for the work then they likely will not be able to stay in business very long.
To help eliminate the risk of not being paid for the work they do, freelancers need to have a very detailed contract in place for each job. This contract is legally binding once both parties have reviewed it and signed it. Specific details of the project including what is to be done, when it is to be done, and the payment that will be made all need to be included.
If there needs to be any changes to the contract then both parties have to agree to it. This should be in the form of an amendment that is added to the original contract. There are many reasons why this may happen. For example the flooring that the owner of a home wanted isn’t available. They choose something else but it is more expensive. That change needs to be added to the contract so that the freelance worker doesn’t get stiffed on payment for those materials.
Some freelancers seem to think this type of written contract is a waste of time but in our experience a good contract can make or break a small claims court case. Contracts are critical to success. They keep everyone involved in the project on the same page and ensures that everything can be delivered as promised and then paid for in a timely manner.
A contract can be gold to the freelancer who isn’t getting the money they deserve from the buyer. If problems arise with getting paid, the freelancer who believes he delivered what was expected needs to pursue payment. If you are new to the concepts you can find out all of the details on the California Department of Consumer Affairs here: http://www.dca.ca.gov/publications/small_claims/index.shtml. If you need help collecting on a California Small Claims Court money judgment, please read more about what we do on our Judgment Enforcement page. If you believe your case meets our requirements, please use our online case submission form to get in touch and we may be able to turn that piece of paper into cash.
