After you have made attempts to resolve the problem amicably, and receive obvious excuses for non-payment you will need to set a time limit on the problem.When you determine that the problem client is stalling and no longer making resonable efforts to pay you, that is the time to terminate them, and initiate collection proceedings... not post a negative review. When the sheriff/marshal serves them with a summons, they are more likely to take you seriously. You also should consider a shorter time limitation than 4 to 5 months of non-payment. If the client is short of cash, he is going to be spending it on those expenses which he needs to keep him going. There is going to be a increasingly smaller amounts of cash available each month to pay your claim in the event that you win your collection action. If your state permits prejudgment remedies, it is always wise to garnish his bank account or his accounts receivable in the hands of his clients when you begin the suit. The receivables are usually the best option because they are still in the hands of third parties, and have not yet been paid to the client to spend.