Contractor Resources
Tips, guides, and tools for independent contractors
Practical advice for getting paid and protecting your business.
How to Write a Demand Letter for Unpaid Consulting Fees
A consultant's guide to demand letters for unpaid fees: the documentation, the exact language, small claims limits by state, and the three-letter escalation that works.
Cease and Desist Letter When a Client Uses Your Work Without Paying
How to write a cease and desist letter when a client uses your work without paying: ownership language, what to include, how to send it, and how to escalate.
Cease and Desist Letter for Client Copyright Infringement
How to write a cease and desist letter when a client uses your work without paying: copyright ownership, exact language, DMCA takedowns, and small claims escalation.
How to Write a Notice of Assignment to Collections
A contractor's guide to the Notice of Assignment to Collections: when to send it, what to include, sample language, and how to send it so the client pays.
How to Write a Notice of Intent to Lien for Unpaid Work
A contractor's guide to writing a Notice of Intent to Lien: who to send it to, what to include, deadlines that matter, and how to send it so it actually works.
How to Write a Final Demand Letter Before Collections
A contractor's guide to the final demand letter before sending an unpaid invoice to collections: what to include, deadlines, state small claims limits, and how to send it.
Demand Letter When a Client Files a Fake or Fraudulent Dispute
How to write a demand letter when a client files a false dispute or fraudulent chargeback: documenting the fraud, naming it correctly, and escalating to court.
Demand Letter When a Client Disputes Payment on PayPal or Stripe
How freelancers write a demand letter after a client files a PayPal or Stripe dispute: evidence, reason codes, fees owed, and the small claims escalation.
How to Write a Statement of Work to Prevent Invoice Disputes
A contractor's guide to writing a statement of work that prevents invoice disputes: scope, exclusions, change orders, milestone payments, and signatures.
Demand Letter When a Client Says the Work Was Unsatisfactory
How to write a demand letter when a client withholds payment over quality complaints: addressing each issue, offering a cure, and escalating to small claims.
Demand Letter When a Client Files a Chargeback on Your Invoice
How to write a demand letter after a client files a chargeback on a paid invoice: fighting the processor, the reason code, fees owed, and small claims escalation.
Demand Letter for Unpaid Wages as an Independent Contractor
How a 1099 contractor writes a demand letter for unpaid wages: the documentation, the language, small claims limits, and the three-letter escalation that works.
Cease and Desist Letter for Unpaid Wages as a 1099 Contractor
When a cease and desist letter fits an unpaid 1099 invoice, when a demand letter is the right move instead, what to include, and how to send it so it holds up.
How to Write a Personal Guarantee Clause to Protect Your Invoices
A contractor's guide to personal guarantee clauses: when to ask for one, exact contract language that holds up, getting it signed, and how to enforce it.
How to Write a Past-Due Invoice Reminder Email (With Templates)
A contractor's guide to past-due invoice reminder emails: the three-stage sequence, what to include, copy-paste templates, and when to escalate to a letter.
How to Write a Payment Plan Agreement for Overdue Invoices
A contractor's guide to payment plan agreements for unpaid invoices: what to include, how to set the schedule, late fees, and what to do if they default.
How to Write a Collections Escalation Timeline for Unpaid Invoices
A contractor's 60-day timeline for collecting unpaid invoices: what to send on each day, when to escalate to demand letters, and when to stop chasing.
How to Use a Mechanic's Lien (or Equivalent) to Force Payment
A freelancer's guide to mechanic's liens and their equivalents: who qualifies, what deadlines matter, and what to do when a lien is not the right tool.
How to Write a Cease and Desist Letter for Unpaid Creative Work
A freelancer's guide to cease and desist letters for stolen work or unpaid creative services: what to include, the copyright angle, and how to escalate.
How to Report a Client to a Credit Bureau for an Unpaid Invoice
A contractor's guide to reporting a non-paying client to credit bureaus: who can actually do it, collection agencies, court judgments, and faster alternatives.
Demand Letter for Unpaid Services When You Have No Contract
How to write a demand letter for unpaid work when you never signed a contract: proving the verbal agreement, building the paper trail, and escalating to court.
How to Send a Formal Notice Before Suing a Client
A contractor's guide to the formal notice before legal action: when to send it, what to include, how to deliver it, and what to do if the deadline passes.
How to Write a Contract That Protects You From Unpaid Invoices
A contractor's guide to writing a contract that holds up: payment terms, change order clauses, late fees, and the protective language that gets you paid.
How to Charge Late Fees on Overdue Invoices (And Collect Them)
A contractor's guide to late fees: how much to charge, how to write the clause into your contract and invoice, when to apply it, and how to actually collect.
What to Do When a Client Goes Silent After an Invoice
A contractor's step-by-step guide to a client who stops responding after you send the invoice: how to follow up, document, and escalate to a demand letter.
What to Do When a Client Pays Only Part of Your Invoice
A contractor's guide to partial payments: why clients short-pay, how to apply the money, what to write back, and how to collect the remaining balance.
What to Do When a Client Disputes an Invoice After the Job
A contractor's guide to handling invoice disputes after work is done: how to respond, document the job, push back, and escalate to a demand letter.
How to Write a Demand Letter for an Unpaid Invoice
A practical guide for contractors: when to send a demand letter, what to include, how to reference small claims court, and how to get paid before filing.
How to Sue a Client in Small Claims Court for an Unpaid Invoice
A contractor's practical guide to filing in small claims court: state limits, filing steps, evidence to bring, and what happens after you win.
How to Write an Invoice Dispute Letter That Gets You Paid
A step-by-step guide for contractors who are owed money. What to include, how to escalate, and what legal language to use without hiring an attorney.