I’m in a bind with a client who’s two weeks behind on payment. We’ve had a solid working relationship so far, and I don’t want to jeopardize that.
At the same time, I need to address the overdue invoice. How can I communicate firmness while maintaining a friendly tone?
I always start with something like “Hope you’re doing well! Just wanted to check in on the invoice from [date] - I know things get busy.”
Then I give them a specific timeline: “Could you let me know when you’re planning to process payment? I’d appreciate having it wrapped up by [specific date].”
The key is asking when they’ll pay, not if they’ll pay. Makes it clear you expect payment while giving them room to explain if something’s up.
I’ve found this approach keeps the relationship intact. Most clients appreciate the direct but respectful tone.
Just ask when they can pay. No need to dance around it or make it complicated.
A phone call can be more effective than an email. It often speeds things up. Try saying, “I wanted to follow up on the invoice from two weeks ago. When can I expect payment?” Keep it straightforward.
Two weeks isn’t that long but you still need to get paid. Send an email with the subject line “Payment Due - Invoice #123” and keep it short. Something like “Invoice #123 for $X amount is overdue. Can you process payment this week?” Follow up in three days if there’s no response. Don’t overthink it. Good clients pay when reminded, while problem clients make excuses either way.
I just send a quick text asking when payment comes.
I’ve been doing this dance for years. Here’s what works for me:
Send a brief email with a clear subject line like “Invoice Follow Up” and keep the message simple:
Something like: “Hi [Name], Following up on Invoice #456 for $2,500 from [date]. Could you confirm when this will be processed? As a reminder, my terms are net 15. Thanks!”
The trick is being matter of fact about it. You’re not apologizing or being overly nice. You’re just asking about money that’s owed to you.
If they don’t respond within a week, that tells you more about the client than any excuse would.