>>I require new clients to give a retainer, then I invoice against that. From then on, I invoice every two weeks. If payment is ever more than a week late, I stop all work. At 30 days, I file suit. This information is written into the contract that the client signs. I explain the payment terms with the client before they sign the contract. I also have copyright information in the contract. They don't get ownership or source code until the end of the contract and payment has been made in full. This gives me extra leverage through copyright laws.
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>Craig,
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>Have you had to file suit against anyone? If so, what was involved?
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>Renoir

Yes. Once. The amount was just over what I could get in small claims court. It wasn't worth the hassle of the additional $200, so I filed for the max amount in small claims court ($2500 here in Utah). I won a default judgement because the other party never showed. The client was from Idaho. I did a property search here in Utah and found he has no holdings here. Luckily Idaho recognized my claim. I currently have a lien against his house. (note that the contract was with an individual, not a company...his mistake.) It may be several years before I can collect, but he won't be able to sell his house until I get paid. I did all this without an attorney, which is the reason I went to small claims court.