Rates
I've invested a lot of time, effort, and money in development of my skill set. I expect to be compensated fairly, but I'm amenable to negotiation of compensation agreements that are palatable to my clients. In these tough economic times, we all need to work together!
Payment
Before beginning work on a project, I require a down payment. The amount of the required down payment is based on the specifics of the particular project. The down payment is "earnest money" to demonstrate that a client is serious about going through with the project.
For relatively small projects, payment can be made in two installments: the down payment and the final payment. For larger projects, a milestone-based payment schedule will be developed.
Payment can be made by check; I also accept American Express, Discover, MasterCard, and Visa.
In lieu of the arrangements outlined above, I'm happy to work within third-party escrow systems.