How to Get Paid for Odd Jobs
Whether you're a student or a full-time employee, odd jobs offer you a chance for additional income. There are many types of odd jobs, from participating in medical studies to babysitting. Whether you're searching for a job online or by canvassing your neighborhood for messy lawns, there is one key component to all odd jobs: making sure you get paid. Discussing money can be nerve-wracking, but if you know a few tricks of the trade, you can make sure that you get paid for odd jobs.
- Difficulty:
- Easy
Instructions
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1
Investigate your client. Ask other odd job workers who provide similar services if they have worked with the client, and get information about any payment problems, such as disputed or late payments. For virtual clients, you can check scam reporting websites like Snopes.com and the Ripoff Report for potential problems.
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2
Create a set of payment regulations for each gig. According to an article on The Red Carpet Broadcast, getting paid on time requires compiling a list of "rules." You and your client should agree to a set of regulations before you start the project, including what is to be done, the deadline for completion, the deadline for payment, and what actions will be taken if the bill is not paid on time.
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3
Develop a written contact. The contract should stipulate the regulations you established in the first step---listing actions that both you and your client have agreed to perform. The Red Carpet Broadcast recommends asking a client to sign to signify that she understands your rules.
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4
Send invoices. Invoice templates are available online and on some word processors. Fill out the template with all pertinent information, such as your name, phone number, project completed and total cost. Make sure the deadline for payment is typed on the invoice.
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5
Follow your payment regulations. Revisit the written contract to ensure you've completed the project correctly and on time. If the client does not make the payment, move forward with the actions stated in the contract. According to The Red Carpet Broadcast, the penalty for not paying on time is the most important part of the rules and regulations you create, as clients do not want to incur fees and delays.
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6
Do quality work. Donna Freedman of MSN Money suggests doing the dishes and organizing the main room while babysitting, in addition to playing and having fun with the children, to encourage repeat business and repeat payments.
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Tips & Warnings
Before you meet with a client to discuss the contract, create a list of regulations that seem reasonable for the project that the client is proposing. This makes you look knowledgeable and prepared.
If a client seems hesitant to accept the terms set forward in your contract, think again about working with that client.
Charging too much can put you on the fast track to not getting paid for odd jobs. If you charge too much, you won't get hired, and you won't get paid. You can find out how much to charge by calling other similar services.
Never try to process a check that seems fraudulent. It could be a scam.
