The rise of the gig economy has been one of the most visible trends over the past several years. The gig economy has provided workers with a sense of freedom that they didn’t have before. Workers can decide when and how much to work and are in control of their destinies. In the gig economy, payment can be a big challenge. You must deal with non-traditional setup, inventory control, and payment delays. As the marketplaces grow and the startups raise more funding, this will only worsen.
To solve this problem, we’ll discuss challenges and business payment solutions.
1. Late Payment
Late payment is a significant problem for freelancers, especially those working on a project-by-project basis. The gig economy is often described as the future of work, and many people are indeed opting to work independently because they want control over their time and earnings. But the gig economy also puts freelancers at risk for late payment.
Late payment can be an issue for anyone with an occasional client who isn’t paying on time, even if you’re okay with that. It can also be an issue if you’re not getting paid by your employer or other payers.
Here are some tips for avoiding late payments:
- Ensure your bank account is up to date and has funds available before accepting new clients. This will make it easier to track payments and avoid losing money because of late payments from clients.
- Find out about requirements for payment processing, such as credit card minimums, early payout options, etc. Make sure you understand them so you’ll know what options are available should there be a problem with the client’s bank account or other payment details.
- Ensure that your business’s accounting software automatically tracks all client payments to quickly see how much money comes in and goes out each month. You don’t want to be caught off guard by an unexpected invoice from a client who hasn’t paid you yet!
2. Fraud Risks
Fraud risks in the gig economy are accurate but can be managed. Fraud is a serious concern for businesses and individuals in the gig economy. Regarding fraud, the most common scams involve fake review sites and sites that offer guaranteed payouts but don’t pay out.
Businesses need to be aware of these scams to protect themselves from fraudsters trying to take advantage of their customers and employees. The following are some of the most common fraud risks faced by gig workers:
- Anonymity: The gig economy has made it easier for people to work from home and get money from multiple sources without having to show their faces in person. This anonymity makes it more difficult for employers to verify your identity and ensures that you can continue to take advantage of the gig economy even if you’re not happy with your job or employer.
- Receiving cash: Many gig workers receive payments via bank transfer or PayPal, meaning they don’t have access to their funds. This can make them vulnerable if they ever need to use those funds and find themselves unable to do so because their bank account has been frozen or seized.
- Theft: If someone steals your identity and uses it to take money out of your bank account, this can put you at risk of losing everything – both financially and emotionally – including any belongings that have been purchased with the money that was stolen from you.
If you suspect your business is being targeted by someone who’s trying to scam you out of money, here are some tips:
- Look for red flags: When people start talking about working online or through an app, they’ve likely been scammed before. The same rules apply when searching for work online or through an app: Do your research first! Ensure the company has a good reputation and comes highly recommended before committing yourself as an employee or customer.
- Check with agencies: Agencies can help by verifying the authenticity of employment opportunities and ensuring that legitimate employers are hiring from them. They may also help solve disputes between employers and employees, which can help prevent future problems.
- Look for reviews: Reviews on Yelp (or other sites) aren’t always reliable, but they give you a general idea of what to expect from a company before you decide to work with them. If there’s no feedback or negative reviews, check out their Better Business Bureau profile and other third-party sites that rate companies based on customer service and honesty.
3. International Payment Challenges
The international payment system is difficult to navigate, no matter how you look. It’s not just the fact that there are different currencies but also different exchange rates. The more money you have in your wallet, the easier it is to send funds internationally. But if you’re sending out a small amount of money, then it cannot be easy. This is especially true when it comes to mobile payments and e-commerce transactions.
Some of the international payment challenges include:
- Currency exchange for international payments is a major challenge for the gig economy. It is challenging not just the currency exchange rates but also the fees charged by the relevant payment systems.
- International payments take time due to different time zones, banking hours, and holidays, which can be an issue when you need to make a payment quickly.
- The lack of transparency in pricing and fees can be a problem for companies that rely on international payments as part of their business model.
Conclusion
In conclusion, these are some of the challenges and business payment solutions in the gig economy. Although the payment method is a challenge that needs to be solved, it will never stop new companies from innovating and coming up with solutions.