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?
Send a friendly reminder 5 days after the due date. Not too soon, not too late.
If no response:
Follow up once a week
After 3 weeks, give them a call
If still nothing, consider stopping work until paid
I also started using invoicing software. It:
Sends automatic reminders
Tracks who owes what
Saves me time chasing payments
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.
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.