After years of chasing payments, I’ve finally nailed my follow-up system. It starts with gentle reminders and escalates to firm deadlines, making late payments less stressful for me.
Before, I was just figuring it out as I went. Now, I have a reliable process that keeps things moving smoothly without damaging any relationships.
Set payment terms upfront - Net 15, Net 30, whatever works for you. Just make it crystal clear from the start. I send a reminder at 7 days overdue, then call at 15. Hit 30 days? I stop working until they pay. Most clients get the message and pay up when they see you’re serious. The slow payers usually never pay anyway.
I use a three-step process. First notice at 10 days overdue, second at 20 days with a hard deadline, then collections at 30 days.
Consistency is everything. When clients see you actually follow through, they pay up quicker.
I just bill and give it a month. If they don’t pay, I drop it.
I just ask for cash when the job is done.
Payment terms mean nothing without real consequences that bite.
Here’s what actually works:
Consistency is everything. Clients will test you early to see if you’re all talk. Once they know you’re serious, payments speed up fast.
I also grab partial payment upfront on bigger projects. Learned that after a client vanished with my $3k invoice.
Game changer for me was automating payment reminders through my invoicing software. No more awkward personal follow-ups.
Day 1 overdue = automated “friendly reminder.” Day 15 = stronger email with updated terms. Day 30 = final notice with hard deadline.
Clients can’t get pissy with you since it’s obviously automated. Removes all the emotion from collections.
I also demand 50% upfront on anything over $1000. Cuts my risk in half when someone ghosts me. Happened twice before I wised up.
Good clients don’t care about deposits. The ones who whine about it? Those are your problem payers anyway.