Explore all your Payment Options
There is nothing more exciting to a freelance writer than getting paid. This shows that you are making progress, and that there are clients out there that are willing to work with you in an honest manner. Do you know what payment options exist? In my early days as a freelance writer I never really thought about this. Soon enough I realized that there were many options, and some that I had never taken into consideration.
I have found that PayPal is the easiest way to receive funds from clients. If both you and the client have an account this is an easy process. Once you receive payment you can then transfer the funds to your checking account, and then use the money as you see fit. The majority of my payments are made via PayPal, and despite the fees, I do not have any problem with this.
Many of my clients prefer to pay by check. You may not get paid right away with a check, but as soon as it arrives in your mailbox it is ready to be cashed. On top of this, you do not have to pay any additional fees when you are paid via check. While I usually opt for PayPal over a check payment, this is not something I will fight. This works out fine for me in the long run.
Finally, wire transfers are quite popular as well. I have a couple of clients that wire money from their account to mine every month. This is quick and efficient for the most part. The only thing that I don’t like about it is that my bank charges $10 for each transfer. This is not a lot of money, but it is something I always notice.
If your clients give you an option on how to get paid make sure you think long and hard before making a decision.Â

May 14th, 2009 at 2:05 pm
I use PayPal a lot. If you have a merchant account, you can also apply for a debit card so you don’t have wait for transfers. I probably use my PayPal debit card more than my bank account.
May 15th, 2009 at 3:01 pm
Like P.S. Jones, I prefer PayPal and use their debit card. Plus, you can claim the fees you get when someone pays you for the year’s end taxes. That’s always a plus.
May 17th, 2009 at 9:59 pm
If you are goin to use Paypal make the effort to get Verified.
this gives your business more credibility and will make customers more confident when dealing with you.
Ivan Walsh
Freelance Writer, China