Had a client go 60 days past due on a decent-sized project. I really need the payment but don’t want to burn bridges since they’ve been good for repeat work.
It’s tough to be firm about payments while keeping the relationship intact.
A phone call can be more effective than another email. Clients often forget or get sidetracked. A simple reminder over the phone can speed things up. If they are good repeat clients, they will see your need for payment. Those who react poorly to payment reminders are not worth keeping.
I keep things simple with a three step approach:
- Week 1 overdue: Short email asking if they received the invoice
- Week 3 overdue: Direct message saying payment is needed to continue working together
- Week 6 overdue: Stop all new work until they catch up
The key is being consistent about it. I learned the hard way that clients who pay late once usually do it again.
For your 60 day situation, I’d send a brief note saying you need to get caught up on outstanding invoices before taking on new projects. Most clients get it. The ones who don’t aren’t worth keeping anyway.
Also worth updating your payment terms going forward. I switched to net 15 instead of net 30 and it helped a lot.
Start with a polite email reminder. If they still don’t pay, suggest a payment plan. Most good clients will appreciate your flexibility. If they react poorly, you might want to reconsider future work with them.
I’ve been in this exact spot more times than I want to count. What worked for me was adding late fees to my contracts from the start. Makes the conversation easier when you can point to what they already agreed to.
For your current situation, I’d send an invoice copy with a note saying you’re updating your books and noticed this one is still open. Ask if there’s anything holding up payment on their end. Sometimes there’s actually an issue you don’t know about.
If they’re truly good repeat clients, they’ll work with you. I had one client who was always 45-60 days late but paid every time. I just built that delay into my cash flow planning for their projects.
Worst case, you can always pause new work until current invoices are settled. Most clients understand that.
I just ask when they plan to pay it.
Sometimes you need to be firm. Politely remind them about the payment and set a clear deadline.