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Late payments: how to chase a client who has not paid

Most late payments are not bad faith. The invoice is sitting in an inbox, waiting for an approval nobody was asked for. The cure is a calm, regular process.

Before the work: prevent it

Agree the price and the payment terms in writing before you start. A signed quote helps; our quote e-signature add-on turns the accepted quote into the invoice. For a large project, ask for a deposit.

The day after the due date

Send a short, friendly note with the invoice attached and the payment link. Assume a mistake, not a refusal.

One week and two weeks later

Write again, more directly, and name the date you expect payment. Then call: a two-minute conversation often finds the person who can press the button. Automatic payment reminders send these messages for you.

If nothing moves

Pause any ongoing work, in writing. Send a formal notice giving a final date. After that, the options depend on your country and on the amount; a local adviser can tell you which is worth it.

Make the next one easier

Clients who can see everything they owe pay faster: a client portal gives them one page for it. And a clear invoice is chased less often; see how to write an invoice.