Been trying to find a balance between staying on top of unpaid invoices and not coming across as pushy. It’s tricky when you’re a one-person show and every payment matters.
I’ve started sending friendly reminders a week after the due date, but I’m not sure if that’s too soon or too late. Anyone else navigate this tightrope successfully?
Here’s what’s worked for me:
Send a friendly reminder 5 days after the due date. Not too soon, not too late.
If no response:
I also started using invoicing software. It:
One trick that’s helped: offer a small discount for early payment. It’s surprising how many clients suddenly pay on time when there’s a little incentive.
Remember, you’re running a business. It’s okay to be firm about getting paid for your work. Just keep it professional and polite.
I’ve been through this exact situation. Here’s what worked for me:
I send a friendly reminder email the day after the due date. It’s not pushy, just a gentle nudge.
If no response, I follow up once a week for two weeks. After that, I pick up the phone and call.
One thing that really helped was setting clear payment terms upfront. I now include a line in my contracts that says ‘Payment due within 14 days’. This sets expectations from the start.
Also, I started offering a small discount (like 2%) for early payment. It’s amazing how many clients suddenly found the motivation to pay on time!
Remember, it’s your work and you deserve to be paid. Don’t feel bad about following up on what you’re owed.
Don’t really track it. Just send the bill and hope they pay. Sometimes they do sometimes they don’t.
I send a reminder 3 days after the due date. It’s not pushy, just business.
If they don’t respond, I follow up weekly. After a month, I call them directly.
For new clients, I always ask for a deposit upfront. It filters out time-wasters and shows they’re serious about paying.
Here’s what I do:
Send the invoice right when the job’s done. No delays.
Give them 14 days to pay. After that, a quick reminder email.
If they don’t pay in a week, I call them. Most times, they just forgot.
For new clients, I always get a deposit upfront. Saves a lot of hassle.
If a client’s always late, I start charging interest after 30 days. It’s in my contract.
Main thing is to stay calm but firm. It’s your money, you earned it. Don’t let anyone make you feel bad for asking for it.
I just send the invoice and forget about it. If they don’t pay, I’ll call 'em after a couple weeks. No big deal. Maybe start asking for half upfront if it’s a new customer.