Good comment but in any case. "never enter business relationships that you cannot pay the legal costs for." More or less would indicate not to enter into a bu

Good comment but in any case. "never enter business relationships that you cannot pay the legal costs for." More or less would indicate not to enter into a business relationship that is very small which of course does make sense since the amount you would lose is very small. "you can get a court order for payment pretty quickly" Can't speak for the UK but have won court orders in the US. Doesn't mean you will actually get money. Could be entity folds or further delays. Or there are extra time consuming steps required to get the money. Once again, at least in the US. Also in us something called "confession of judgement" but once again can't get blood from a stone or a moving stone. "clients are silent because _they cannot pay_ " Exactly. No money doesn't matter who is compelling what. "don't need a contract as long as there is documentation of the process. A signed offer by the client goes a long way." Agree. A contract is an agreement. Can take many forms and be ultimately enforceable. Doesn't have to necessarily have a degree of formality either. "But I often threatened taking legal action" Would say thought that one thing to consider is that in certain organizations threatening legal action can be seen as a bluff or simply make the recipient able to pass it off to the legal department where it's not their problem anymore and all motivation to settle is lost. What I have found that often works is to be a "pain in the ass" where the person simply wants you to stop pestering.