You did the work. They did you dirty. Now what?
Freelancer protections explained one issue at a time, in plain language, with the jurisdiction shown next to every rule and a real court decision behind every example. Our initial coverage is the New York City Freelance Isn’t Free Act, with New York State law noted where it differs.
Browse by issue
Each entry sets out the right, what it actually means, what happened in a real case, what matters in your own situation, and where the rule applies.
5 of 5 rights shown
- Getting paidNew York City
You must be paid by the date your contract sets — and if it sets none, within 30 days of finishing the work
Under the New York City Freelance Isn't Free Act, payment is due on or before the date stated in your contract, or by the date the contract's own mechanism produces. If the contract does not specify either, payment is due no later than 30 days after you complete the services.
Read this right → - Written contractsNew York City
You can require a written contract once the work is worth $800 or more
In New York City, a hiring party and a freelance worker must put the agreement in writing when the contract is worth $800 or more, either by itself or when added to everything else the same hiring party contracted for during the previous 120 days.
Read this right → - RetaliationNew York City
A hiring party cannot punish you for asking for what the law gives you
New York City law prohibits a hiring party from threatening, intimidating, disciplining, harassing, denying work opportunities or taking any other action that penalizes a freelance worker for — or is reasonably likely to deter them from — exercising rights under the Freelance Isn't Free Act.
Read this right → - Who is protectedNew York City
You are covered if you are a one-person business hired as an independent contractor
The New York City law protects any natural person, or any organization made up of no more than one natural person — incorporated or not, trade name or not — who is hired as an independent contractor to provide services for compensation. Sales representatives, practicing lawyers and licensed medical professionals are excluded.
Read this right → - Remedies and deadlinesNew York City
If you win, the City law can give you more than the unpaid amount
New York City Administrative Code § 20-933 lets a freelance worker sue in court and sets out what a court can award, along with the deadlines for bringing each type of claim: two years for written-contract claims under § 20-928, and six years for payment and retaliation claims under §§ 20-929 and 20-930.
Read this right →