This is another link-posting. Web Worker Daily has published this article about invoicing your clients. While I’m tempted to copy-paste the whole article, it’s worth clicking over to read the great comments left by their readers.
One that jumps out is this one:
Our new policy, which is becoming industry standard, is to charge half up-front, thus literally splitting the investment between us and the client.
Creating trust is always a tricky game to play. In the absence of qualified reviews and recommendations, both client and freelancer have to take some risk in business, or take action to minimize that risk, such as using a 3rd party escrow.
Good business doesn’t mean trusting everyone – it means taking all reasonable steps towards creating win-win situations.