Small Print, Big Protection
Your invoice is a legal document. Including the right clauses can save you thousands in legal fees and countless hours of stress.
1. The "Right to Stop Work" Clause
Explicitly state that work will cease if an invoice remains unpaid for more than X days. This prevents you from digging a deeper hole with a non-paying client.
2. Intellectual Property Transfer
Specify that ownership of all work product only transfers to the client upon receipt of final payment in full. Until then, you own the IP.
3. Dispute Resolution Window
Require that any questions or disputes regarding an invoice must be raised within 7-10 days of receipt. This prevents "convenient" disputes from appearing right when a payment is due.