If you’re a contract worker, here are some tips for not getting shafted:

Use a contract. A formal agreement spelling out a project’s scope, date and fees is key. If you’re having trouble getting a client to sign, Sara Horowitz of the Freelancers Union suggests e-mailing them with your terms and saying “Let me know if you disagree.”

Know your power. At a time when a growing number of firms rely on freelancers, don’t be timid about asserting yourself, says Horowitz. “Don’t be afraid to just say, ‘I am a professional, and I can’t work until you sign something.’”

Cover your bases. To avoid employer “amnesia,” follow up all verbal agreements with e-mails, and keep records of all other communications.