1st,
provide the standard net 15 days,1 1/2% per month, 18% annum on all bill heads .

if you operate contractually, you can assume whatever criterior you wish to pen for drafts, and/or add this ontop of completion/draft dates, or as you've suggested simply hold back finals.

the thing with finals is some projects may never really get done.....or get done by someone else...

this is what the headhunters all tell me, basically hope for the best, fix for the worst......

@ 30K i would ask for whatever collateral he has to put up, same as a bank!