Been using basic invoice templates, but clients keep paying late. Wondering if there are templates out there with clear, enforceable payment terms already baked in.
Tired of chasing payments and want to nip this issue in the bud. Anyone found a good solution?
Honestly, I’ve tried a bunch of different approaches over the years. Here’s what’s worked best for me:
On the invoice, I just add a line at the bottom: ‘Payment due in 14 days. 1.5% monthly interest after that.’ Short and clear.
For follow-up, I use a basic system:
With clients who are always late, I switch to 50% upfront. It weeds out the flakes pretty quick.
The key is finding what works for you and sticking to it. No fancy templates needed - just be clear and consistent.
I just write my terms on a sticky note and slap it on the invoice. Keeps it simple. Most folks pay on time. If they don’t, I’ll give 'em a call. No fancy stuff needed.
I write a clear due date on invoices.
I’ve found a simple approach works best. On my invoices, I include a clear line: ‘Payment due in 7 days. Late fee: $50 + 2% monthly interest.’
For new clients, I ask for 50% upfront. It filters out time-wasters.
If someone’s always late, I stop working until they pay. No exceptions. It’s about setting boundaries and sticking to them.
I’ve been there with late payments. It’s a pain.
What worked for me was tweaking my invoice layout. I put payment terms right under the total amount due. Something like ‘Due within 30 days. 2% interest per month on late payments.’
Also, I started sending reminder emails. One week before due date, then on the due date, and a week after. Most clients pay up with this system.
For new clients, I ask for a 30% deposit upfront. It filters out the non-serious ones.
These small changes made a big difference. Less time chasing payments, more time actually running my business.
Forget templates. Just add your terms right on the invoice. I put ‘Payment due within 14 days’ at the top in bold. Then list out late fees and interest charges. Keep it short and clear.
For repeat offenders, I switched to 50% upfront, 50% on completion. Cuts out most payment headaches. If they balk, walk away. Not worth the hassle of chasing money.
Remember, you’re running a business, not a charity. Set clear expectations from the start and stick to them. Good clients will respect that.