- Invoice immediately, not at month end. The moment work is done is the moment you invoice. A two-week delay in sending becomes a two-week delay in getting paid - twice.
- Put clear payment terms on every invoice. "Due within 14 days" on the document itself beats an unspoken expectation. Customers pay what they see.
- Send a gentle reminder before the due date. A polite "your invoice is due in three days" email prevents the "I forgot" excuse. MyFinance Studio can send these automatically.
- Make paying take ten seconds. The fewer steps between your customer and your bank account, the better. An online payment link on the invoice removes every excuse.
- Take deposits for bigger jobs. A 50% upfront deposit funds materials and signals commitment. Invoice the remainder on delivery.
- Offer a small discount for early payment. "2% off if paid within 7 days" is often cheaper than chasing money for a month.
- Never let invoices go out without a number and due date. Vague invoices get deprioritised. Numbered, dated invoices look official and are easier to track.
- Follow up within 24 hours of the due date. The fastest payer is the one who hasn't found something else to spend the money on. A quick, friendly reminder works.
- Stop sending the same work twice. Recurring invoices for retainer-style work mean neither you nor the customer has to remember. The invoice just arrives.
In MyFinance Studio, reminders run automatically: a heads-up before the due date, then a friendly nudge afterwards - one email per invoice, max. Set the timing once in Settings and stop chasing.