This one client consistently pays weeks after the due date. I’ve tried polite reminders, but it’s not working. Starting to feel like I’m running a charity instead of a business.
Wondering if others have dealt with chronically late-paying clients and found effective ways to get paid on time without burning bridges.
Been there, done that. It’s frustrating when clients treat your invoices like optional bills.
Here’s what worked for me:
I started adding late fees to my contracts. 10% after 7 days late. It lit a fire under some clients.
For the really slow ones, I switched to milestone payments. No more work until they pay for the last chunk.
I also started sending invoice reminders a week before they’re due. It helps some folks plan better.
For one particularly bad client, I straight up told them I’d have to stop work if they kept paying late. They shaped up pretty quick.
Remember, it’s not personal. Some clients are just disorganized or have cash flow issues. But that’s not your problem to solve.
If nothing works, maybe it’s time to find new clients. Your time is worth more than chasing payments.
Late payers are a pain in the ass. Here’s what works:
Start billing upfront for new clients. No money, no work.
For existing clients, shorten payment terms to 15 days. Send a reminder 3 days before it’s due.
If they’re still late, call them up. Most folks pay quick when you’re on the phone.
One thing that worked for me: stop all work when they’re late. Tell them straight up why. Amazing how fast they find the money when the job’s on hold.
Don’t waste time chasing payments. Your work’s worth more than that. If they keep jerking you around, time to find better clients.
I just tell 'em no pay no work. Keeps it simple.
I’ve dealt with this before. Now I require a deposit upfront and break projects into milestones.
No payment, no more work. It’s that simple.
For existing clients, I send reminders a few days before the due date. If they’re still late, I follow up with a phone call. Most pay up pretty quick after that.
Late payers are a pain. I’ve tried a few things that helped:
For existing clients, I had a frank talk about cash flow. Most understood.
One trick that worked well: I offered a small discount (like 2%) for early payment. Suddenly, some chronically late clients started paying on time.
If all else fails, I’ve put work on hold until payment comes through. It’s not ideal, but it gets the message across.
Remember, you’re running a business, not a bank. Don’t let late payers take advantage of your good nature.
Late payers suck. I’ve been there.
Had one guy who never paid on time. Started asking for half upfront.
If they’re still late, I just stop working. Can’t pay the bills with promises.
Sometimes you gotta let 'em go and find better clients.