Ask Why do clients always find a reason to delay payment even when the work was approved without complaints?

[Brendan]

Getting work approved and then waiting weeks for money to actually arrive is something many freelancers deal with regularly. The strange part is that the delay usually comes after everything was signed off without any issues. Invoices get lost, approvals need more approvals, or the right person is suddenly unavailable. It rarely feels like a coincidence. Some freelancers have started asking for a deposit upfront just to reduce this kind of stress. What has helped you get paid on time?