Is net-60 payment normal for freelance work?
The short answer
Net-60 means payment is due 60 days after you invoice — longer than the net-30 commonly reported as standard for freelance work, and a real cash-flow cost on top of the time spent doing the work. Some places set a floor: under New York's Freelance Isn't Free Act (General Business Law Article 44-A, §1411, "Contracted compensation payments"), payment is generally due by the date the contract sets or, if the contract sets no payment date or mechanism, no later than 30 days after the work is completed — and New York City has a similar local law. What binds you is your agreement's payment clause — due date, late-payment terms, kill fee. Scan it to see what you're agreeing to wait for.
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What the payment clause usually does
It sets when the clock starts (invoice date, delivery, approval), how long the client has to pay, and what happens if they don't — late fees, suspension of work, or nothing at all. "Net-60 after approval" can quietly become net-90 if approval drags.
Kill-fee and deposit terms live nearby: what you're owed if the project dies halfway, and how much is paid up front.
Why people worry
"I got burned, now I always get a contract" is the recurring freelancer story: finished work, silent client, rent due. Long payment terms shift the financing burden onto the freelancer, and a missing late-payment clause leaves no lever when the date slips.
What to look for in your agreement
- When the payment clock starts — invoice, delivery, or client approval.
- The actual term: net-15/30/60, and any early-payment or late-payment provisions.
- A deposit or milestone schedule for longer projects.
- A kill fee if the project is cancelled mid-way.
- Whether work product transfers before or after payment clears.
Questions to ask before signing
- Ask the client whether they can meet net-30, or split payment into milestones.
- Ask the other party to clarify what "approval" means and how long it can take.
- Confirm what happens to ownership of the work if payment is late.
- Consider having the agreement reviewed if payment terms are long and the project is large.
Reading the actual document
The general rule tells you the baseline. Your agreement tells you what you’re actually being asked to sign — and the wording is what binds. Read the specific clauses in your document before you sign.
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Common questions
Is net-60 something I have to accept?
Payment terms are negotiable contract terms. Larger clients often default to longer terms, and freelancers commonly counter with net-30, deposits, or milestone payments — the agreement is what decides.
What does New York's Freelance Isn't Free Act generally require?
It generally requires a written contract for covered work and, under General Business Law Article 44-A, §1411, payment by the contract date or — if the contract sets no payment date or mechanism — no later than 30 days after the work is completed. Whether it covers a given engagement depends on the situation.
Sources
- New York General Business Law Article 44-A, §1411 — Contracted compensation payments (official statute text, NY Senate) · official source
- New York State Department of Labor — Freelance Isn't Free Act (official agency page) · official source
- NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection — Freelance workers (official agency page) · official source
- Sources last checked 2026-06-10. Laws and market practices change — confirm current rules before relying on them.
No account required · File deleted after analysis · Not legal advice. Dang reports contract findings in plain English — general information, not legal advice about your situation. For consequential decisions, consult a licensed attorney in your state.