What to do when a client won't pay for a mix
You delivered the mix. The client loved it. Then the invoice went quiet. It's one of the most demoralising parts of working for yourself — and almost entirely preventable with the right setup.
If it's already happened
- Follow up calmly and clearly — assume it slipped their mind before you assume the worst.
- Restate what's outstanding and how to pay, with a one-click payment link to remove friction.
- Set a firm but polite deadline. Vagueness invites more delay.
- Stop further work until the balance clears — you're a business, not a charity.
How to make sure it never happens again
The fix isn't being tougher — it's structuring the deal so non-payment isn't an option. Take a deposit before you start, so you're never fully exposed. Then gate the final master behind the invoice: the client can preview the work, but the full-quality file unlocks only when they pay. "Can you send the final?" and "have you paid?" become the same question.
The best way to chase a payment is to never have to — make the deliverable the thing the payment unlocks.
Levels Flow does exactly this: deposits and invoices by card, automatic reminders, and invoice-gated delivery so the master unlocks on payment. You stop being the person sending the third awkward follow-up.