Been dealing with this pattern where clients consistently pay weeks after my payment terms. Started tracking the reasons and noticed some recurring themes.
Wondering if others see similar patterns with their client base. The delays are starting to affect my cash flow planning.
Most of my delays come from invoices getting lost in their system. Clients will swear they never got it, even when I have delivery receipts.
Another big one is approval chains. The person who hired me isn’t always the one who cuts checks. Your invoice sits on someone’s desk for two weeks waiting for a signature.
I’ve also noticed clients stretch payments when their own cash flow is tight. They pay the big vendors first and small businesses like us wait.
Started requiring 50% upfront for new clients after learning this the hard way. Helps with the cash flow issue you mentioned.
Clients just pay when they want to really.
Clients often take your payment terms as a chance to use your services for free. If you say net 30, some will stretch it to net 45 without hesitation. Another issue is when their accounting team processes payments in batches. They might only pay twice a month regardless of your due date. Some clients genuinely lose track of invoices, but many are just managing cash flow by putting off payments.
Big companies often have monthly payment runs where they process everything at once. Your invoice could arrive the day after their run and sit there for four weeks.
I’ve also seen clients who dispute tiny details just to buy more time. They’ll question a $20 line item on a $2000 invoice and use that as an excuse to hold the whole payment.
Some just assume you’ll chase them. They know small contractors rarely charge late fees or stop working over payment delays.
Clients forget a lot. Some just prioritize other bills before yours. It’s a common issue.
Cash flow issues are huge with smaller businesses. They’ll drag out payments to manage their own money problems.
Another thing I see a lot:
The worst ones are clients who just don’t prioritize vendor payments. You’re not their bank or landlord, so you get pushed to the bottom of the pile.
I started sending payment reminders three days before due dates. Cuts down on the “I forgot” excuse and keeps me top of mind when they’re deciding which bills to pay first.