In business relationships, money is part of the equation. The thing to remember is that both parties are looking for value and trust. Your client may ask for discounts. You may want to be paid up front. Your client may need to settle old debts with you. These conversations don't have to be uncomfortable if you know where to start. 

Here some tips for negotiating money with your clients.

Reader asks:

"I started my business as a freelancer and have now grown into a full creative agency. My largest clients frequently pay their bills at Net 90 days, even though I ask for Net 30 or 45. Should my agency ask for payments upfront?"

Our answer: It depends. 

Read more to learn why.

As a business leader, it can be challenging to keep up with everything that's going on. Your focus may be sales or attracting venture capitalists. You may be the creator of your product or service and spend more of your time manufacturing what you're selling. Whether it's an upcoming recession or lax accounts receivable management, you'll want to know if your business is in trouble.

Here are 5 signs to tell if your business is headed for financial straits.

Is the United States headed for a 2019 recession? According to economists, the risk is high though there was strong financial growth in the first half of the year. Even the whisper of a recession can trigger business owners with even the strongest constitution. 

Do you know if your business is recession-proofed or prepared? Do you feel secure that you can continue operating in an economic downturn? Here are some steps you can take now to feel better about the future of your business.

Is your business recession ready?

So you've decided to take the plunge into entrepreneurship - 🙌Congratulations📣! Perhaps you're breaking away from an established business with a new idea or you're trying the freelance life. If you're feeling a bit unsteady, it's perfectly normal. Now's the time of frenzied activity and some of that involves rearranging your life.  The good news is that you can build a solid foundation right now so that you're off to a great start.

Here are 5 best practices to have a successful first year in business.

Subscription based billing is when services are billed on a recurrent basis. Examples of subscription services include website hosting, software, consistent access to published content, apps, music or other digital information.  From a B2B standpoint, your business likely sells a service or software to another business and bills them monthly for access. This billing model brings in recurring revenue that your business can depend on. 

Here's how to ensure that your subscribers keep paying their monthly bills.

In every business and at every job level, there are negative situations. You may be faced with challenging colleagues or a client who's not holding up their end of a deal. It could be easy to loathe your job or let it get to you. You may then experience mental health challenges or problems with your home life. Or you could empower yourself and learn to face things with a different attitude. Your choice could change the outcome or launch you into something better. 

Here are 4 best practices to stay positive in negative situations.

As winter melts away, many of us feel inspired to refresh our homes and offices. Spring cleaning doesn't have to stop with the garage. Growing businesses also need to take this time to look at business finances.

Here are tips to cleaning up your business finances.

In a Quora thread from last year, an owner of a software business shared the story about a client who stopped paying for their SaaS services.  After months of nonpayment and no response to follow-up notices, they closed his account. He later chose to sue the software company for closing his account and they went to court. Because their contract clearly stated that they could close his account due to nonpayment, they won their court case.

Freelancers, software companies and marketing agencies are examples of businesses that may work exclusively with other businesses. Because of the potential for litigation, B2B contracts are not only important, but necessary for protecting the interests of these companies.

Here are 10 things to include in every freelance and B2B contract.

You've established a great rapport with your client. They love what you have to offer and you feel like they're a great fit for you. Now it's time to discuss how much they're going to pay for it. 

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Feeling a bit queasy about this part? Most people do. Beyond the understanding that you can ask for what you're worth, this is also the time to make it a natural and expected part of your business relationship. Because it is. 

Here's how to talk to your clients about money.