Get Paid What You’re Worth… With Creative Payment Methods and Terms

There are many ways to be compensated for your time and expertise. If you are a service provider, you may meet a new colleague, have a strong mutual desire to work together, but need to be creative in terms of being paid.

The possibilities are limitless. Combinations are myriad. Here are a few options to get you started:

1. 15% discount for prepayment in full
2. Purchase 3, pay for 2 (1 free)
3. 50% deposit, balance paid in products or services
4. 50% deposit, balance paid in marketing efforts to promote your business
5. 50% deposit, balance due in two payments instead of the usual full balance due at project completion
6. 50% deposit, 50% of all sales until the balance due is paid in full
7. 50% deposit, balance paid in products or services by someone they know
   (e.g. I provide you services, you provide your products/services to someone you know who offers massages. I receive a massage! Yay! It’s a beneficial triangle of services.)

You’ll notice a theme: 50% deposit in cash. Because money is the culturally-agreed upon method of exchange, that is a solid foundation for your business relationship. The 50% deposit represents your commitment to start projects with a universally-understood practice. The rest is negotiable.

Keep in mind that your intent is to create a win-win scenario. Each party must contribute to the workability of the exchange. If you find you’re the only one giving or compromising during the negotiations, it is not an energetically balanced interaction. If you proceed, you will unnecessarily set other dynamics in motion–even if they are subtle–regarding unclear or unspecified boundaries.

The last place you want to find yourself is feeling compromised. Your services have value. Treat them that way by continuing to massage the details until you both have what you need to make it a dynamic, workable arrangement.

When both parties give, both parties benefit.