Business etiquette question - reminding client of promised bonus

[Mircea]

If it ain't in writing in never happened. The next time you have bonuses, insert it as a clause in your contract.

[coldwine]

Originally Posted by StoneOne

I did some consulting work for a client about 8-9 months ago and was on a retainer at the time. For the last six months, I have done no work with that client.

Part of the work I did do involved submitting proposals to publishers in the hopes of getting a book published. Well, just this week, a deal came through and a contract will be signed with a publisher. I was promised last winter at the outset of the project that I would be paid a bonus in the event a contract is signed with a publisher.

My client is extremely busy, and I'm quite sure he has forgotten about the bonus offer - it was mentioned in email only. I am meeting with him next week to discuss further collaboration on a new project.

So, my question is this: how do I best go about approaching the subject of the bonus? Do I simply mention it to him in our conversation next week? Do I follow up by email or phone several days later? Do I spell it out in a new project proposal?

The bonus is a substantial amount of money, and I definitely want it, but I don't want to create the impression that the bonus money is all I care about. I would rather create the impression that I'm interested in renewing collaboration with him and have the bonus be a side thought - especially since the new project promises to be even more lucrative.

What would everyone do in such a situation?

This sounds very odd.

Do you bill your time? It sounds as though you're a professional who bills time (hence consultant). Unless there is a preexisting business arrangement which allows a client to draw on my time whenever at a rate already agreed upon, I always draw up a contract which outlines the services provided, rates, etc.

If you send your client a bill I'd include the bonus, broken down so that it shows where each item is coming to. If he didn't agree to contractual terms, well, it may be hard to make him pay without finding a lawyer, the email he sent you and a lot of hard feelings getting involved.

You need to start drawing up contracts to protect yourself. Hire legal advice, that's the best way to go about it. A lawyer can draw together a contract that's legal and enforceable by the statutes and laws of your area, usually for a one-time fee, and you can pay the $75 for random questions that pop up later on. I know, I know, a lawyer advertising lawyers, but it's worth it.

Whatever you do, don't let yourself be used. You shouldn't be going above and beyond for someone to promise you a "maybe" bonus. There's a point at which you as a professional are sacrificing time you could be spending on other projects where clients will actually pay. Your time is a hell of a lot more measurable in terms of dollars and cents than a regular corporate stiff's

[StoneOne]

Originally Posted by coldwine

This sounds very odd.

Do you bill your time? It sounds as though you're a professional who bills time (hence consultant). Unless there is a preexisting business arrangement which allows a client to draw on my time whenever at a rate already agreed upon, I always draw up a contract which outlines the services provided, rates, etc.

If you send your client a bill I'd include the bonus, broken down so that it shows where each item is coming to. If he didn't agree to contractual terms, well, it may be hard to make him pay without finding a lawyer, the email he sent you and a lot of hard feelings getting involved.

You need to start drawing up contracts to protect yourself. Hire legal advice, that's the best way to go about it. A lawyer can draw together a contract that's legal and enforceable by the statutes and laws of your area, usually for a one-time fee, and you can pay the $75 for random questions that pop up later on. I know, I know, a lawyer advertising lawyers, but it's worth it.

Whatever you do, don't let yourself be used. You shouldn't be going above and beyond for someone to promise you a "maybe" bonus. There's a point at which you as a professional are sacrificing time you could be spending on other projects where clients will actually pay. Your time is a hell of a lot more measurable in terms of dollars and cents than a regular corporate stiff's

Folks, it's not going to come to this. He'll gladly pay the bonus he promised in an email to me. Whether or not he'll pay is not an issue. What is an issue is the likelihood that he forgot the offer, as it was made last December. This book project is only one of many, many projects he's involved in (he won't even be writing it - I'm hoping to get the contract to write most of it and be a co-author).

I simply want to be able to remind him of the bonus offer in such a way that doesn't emphasize that money but instead the new business relationship going forward. Niners fan's approach seems the most reasonable.

[StoneOne]

An update on the situation. The client in question has paid the bonus, and I'm collaborating on a new project. There should be even more work with him after the New Year.