Still Not Asking for Payment Upfront?
Okay, friend. Let’s have a quick heart-to-heart.
You’ve been pouring your time, energy, and creativity into content. You’re booking brand partnerships, sending drafts, editing, and delivering on deadline. But when it comes to asking for payment upfront? You freeze.
You’re worried about sounding difficult, scaring off the brand, or looking “too demanding.” So you wait. You hope the brand follows through. You cross your fingers that the invoice gets paid… eventually.
Let’s change that.
Why asking for payment upfront matters
This is about more than money. It’s about respect, professionalism, and protecting your time. When you send content without payment in place, you’re taking a risk. And honestly, one you don’t have to take anymore. Because if a brand truly values your work, they will have zero issue paying you either in full or at least partially before you begin.
Let’s talk about those NET terms
Net 30? Net 60? Net 90? No, thank you. You are not a corporate vendor waiting on a paper check. You’re a creator providing digital content that a brand will likely use immediately. You should not be waiting a month or more to get paid for content that’s already live.
Instead, advocate for:
50% upfront and 50% on delivery
0r 100% upfront for short-form / last minute brand partnerships
Or payment due upon content approval, not 30 days later
This is the industry shift we need to normalize.
Guess what, you’re not being too much
We hear it all the time. “I don’t want to lose the deal.” “It’s a good opportunity.” “I don’t want to come off as pushy.” But think about this. A brand would never hire a photographer, a designer, or even book a hotel room without putting down a deposit. So why should your creative work be treated any differently?
Asking for payment upfront isn’t aggressive. It’s confident. It tells the brand you’re a professional who takes their work seriously, and that’s exactly the kind of creator brands want to work with long term.
What to say instead
Not sure how to phrase it? Try this:
To reserve my time and deliverables, I require 50% payment upfront and the remainder upon delivery.”
Or for smaller projects:
“For one-off UGC deals or brand collaborations, full payment is due before delivery. Let me know if you’d like me to send over an invoice to get started.”
Clear. Kind. Professional.
Let’s Keep It Real
You’ve worked too hard to still be chasing payments or silently hoping the brand follows through. You deserve clear boundaries, timely payment, and respect for the value you bring to every collaboration.
So here’s your reminder: You’re not being “too much.” You’re running a business. If you’re ready to tighten up your process, write better contracts, or stop second-guessing your worth, Olivia Rowe Studio is here to help you grow with confidence and clarity.
