Recently, I’ve had a few clients drag their feet on payments. It’s starting to impact my cash flow. I’ve tried gentle reminders, but it’s not always effective.
Curious how other solo operators handle this. What strategies have worked for you to get clients to pay promptly? Do you use any specific tools or techniques?
I just send the bill when I’m done and move on. Don’t have time to chase people down. If they don’t pay, I don’t work for them again. Simple as that.
I’ve been there with late payments. It’s a pain, but I’ve found a few things that work for me.
First, I started using invoicing software. It sends automatic reminders, which is great because I used to forget to follow up. Plus, it looks more professional than my old Word docs.
I also offer a small discount for early payment. It’s usually enough to motivate clients to pay quickly. Costs me a bit, but it’s worth it for the steady cash flow.
For problem clients, I’ve started asking for 50% upfront. It filters out the non-serious ones and gives me some cushion if they drag their feet later.
One last thing - I always follow up with a phone call for overdue invoices. It’s amazing how often ‘lost in the inbox’ is the real reason for delays.
Set clear payment terms from the start. I put ‘due within 14 days’ right on the invoice. Late fees too, even if you don’t always enforce them.
For new clients, I take a deposit upfront. Cuts down on payment issues later.
If someone’s consistently late, I’ll call instead of email. Sometimes there’s a hiccup in their system you can sort out.
Last resort: stop work until they pay up. It’s not ideal, but it gets the message across. Just make sure your contract covers this.
I send invoices right after finishing the job. No waiting around.
If payment’s late, I shoot a quick follow-up email. Most folks just need a nudge.
For repeat offenders, I might ask for partial payment upfront next time. Keeps things moving without too much hassle.
Been there, done that with late payments. It’s a hassle, but I’ve figured out a few tricks:
Break up big projects into milestones. Bill for each chunk as you go. Keeps cash flowing and clients engaged.
Use an invoicing app. They send reminders automatically. No more awkward “hey, where’s my money?” emails from me.
For new clients, I ask for a deposit upfront. Weeds out the flakes.
If someone’s consistently late, I’ll hop on a quick call. Sometimes there’s a snag in their process you can help smooth out.
Worst case? I pause work until they catch up on payments. It’s in my contract, so no surprises.
Remember, it’s your work. Don’t be shy about getting paid for it.