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In one survey, 77% of freelancers said they’d had issues collecting payments from clients. Independent contractors can feel like they have to take on the second career of bill collector. The time it takes to collect on an overdue invoice can cost you dearly in productivity and the ability to finish other jobs effectively. What’s an independent contractor to do when they are not covered by the same laws for wages as permanent employees are at businesses?

First and foremost, insist on a formal contract when possible. Having everything spelled out and agreed to in writing can make it easier to follow up on claims later. Also, make sure to include a clause describing a late payment penalty or fee schedule. Some freelancers have found success in offering a discount for early or lump sum payments. It’ll depend on the client whether that will be attractive enough to get the check in the mail sooner rather than later.

Send out invoices on time. If there is a payment schedule spelled out in the contract, then follow that. If you are sending one invoice at the end of the project, send it in with the final product. Always include a due date on the invoice (you’d be surprised how many don’t).

Once the payment is late, call the client — call them the first day you realize it is late. The sooner you start the process, the faster you can hopefully resolve the problem. You should send a second invoice (with the revised amount if a late fee was agreed upon) and make another call to the client. Third, fourth, fifth, etc. invoices can be sent but your best bet to getting them paid is to talk with the client by phone (even better, in person). Be polite but firm and don’t be embarrassed to ask for what’s due to you. Patience, persistence and flexibility can go a long way in negotiating for payment. Another tactic, can be to write a letter to the client, your lawyer, their lawyer and/or any regulatory agency overseeing the client with an explanation of the situation and ways to remedy it short of going to court.

If the client still refuses to pay, there are always small claims court or collection agencies. But these should be absolute last resorts. You’ll spend copious amounts of time gathering evidence, getting the client served, arguing your case, and the end result can be disappointing in small claims court. Collections agencies will take a significant portion of the money owed to you as payment for themselves if they collect.

As more people move to become independent contractors due to the struggling economy and difficulty in finding jobs, the problem of getting paid on time is sure to grow.

On April 15, 2010, Congress passed and the President signed, H.R. 4851 Continuing Extension Act of 2010. This extends the Small Business Administration’s loan adjustments program, started under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act through May 31st.

This extension sets new guarantee levels at 90 percent on SBA 7(a) and 504 loans and reduces borrower fees for these loans as well. That is significantly more than the old guarantee of 75 percent. This is great news for small businesses. Banks are more likely to loan at a 90 percent guaranteed return than they would have before this and small businesses will be able to reduce their capital costs a bit.

But, as always with government programs, there are a couple of hitches. Loans that were taken before the extension was passed or that were funded under non-ARRA terms are not eligible for renegotiation. And since this program started, Congress has been slow in enacting the extensions — recently, it’s been a month-to-month process. This has caused the small business lending market to suffer from fitful starts and stops, which has made it difficult for many to plan appropriately for the loans they want. Congress needs to get its act together and extend the bill through the federal fiscal year (September 30, 2010) as proposed by the President and small business interest groups. Even so, applicants should be ready to deal with fast timelines, volumes of paperwork, and long wait times for approval from the SBA.

A 90 percent guarantee will certainly make many small business plans look like safer investments than they did even one year ago. The banks received their cash from Uncle Sam. Now’s the time to get yours.