Offer to provide additional information or clarification, if necessary Īgain, double-check fee schedules to ensure you provide the correct details. As your payment is now 45 days overdue, your updated amount due is. Or: Your contract includes a late fee of $X for overdue invoices of 30+ days. Please send payment immediately to avoid incurring this extra charge. For example: Your contract includes a late fee of $X for all invoices 30 days or more overdue. If your agreement includes a late fee, include a reminder and an updated total as necessary. State the original due date and terms of payment. Don't be accusatory, but emphasize the agreement. Now you get to the important part - the clear reminder that the payment is late. Remind the recipient of the payment terms and due date Restating this information also helps you trace the reminder back to the original project and maintain a paper trail. Doing so is a courtesy to the client, who can then use the provided details to locate the original invoice or create a reminder for their accounts payable department. Include these key details in your reminder email. Invite them to call you if they have any questions. Ask if they received the original invoice, providing the send date as a memory aid. Start by giving your client the benefit of the doubt. Check that the client received the invoice Even if you don't, protecting your reputation as a respectful professional is vital.Īvoid accusatory or angry language in your request. Maintaining goodwill is crucial, especially if you hope to retain the client. Think of your reminder email as a professional courtesy to someone with multiple tasks on their plate. If you can offer a payment plan, you may earn the long-term loyalty of a valuable client. A recent report from the National Federation of Independent Business indicates 28% of small business owners are struggling with inflation, and a decreasing number of owners see profit growth. Many businesses are struggling in the current economic climate. Ask them: What other payment types or schedules might work for you?Īlso, consider whether you can accept a payment plan. You don't have to know the answer, but showing consideration for your client always helps. Maybe the client is struggling with cash flow or isn't set up to use your payment method. ![]() Consider alternative payment methods and plansĪssuming all your information is correct and the invoice is overdue, consider why it might be late. If the client mistakenly receives the original two-product order, they’d need to get an updated version of the invoice before paying. For example, a client might send an order for two products and later cancel one. If the client received an invoice with outdated information, they might hold onto it until they can clear things up. Likewise, ensure there was no change to the project between contracting and invoicing. For example, did your company complete the job as scheduled, or was there a delay? These kinds of miscommunications can happen in growing companies. It's also important to match the invoice with your work records. Review records to ensure accuracy of the invoice Verify the invoice is overdue and payment hasn't gone through. Make sure the payment terms and due date are what you initially outlined. ![]() You don't want that person to think of you as unprofessional - or worse, take offense toat your claim that they haven't paid. Check payment terms and invoice due dateĬlerical errors happen, and it's important to catch them before you message a client. When you become aware of an unpaid bill, your first step is to ensure everything is correct and complete on your end. ![]() It's probably not your favorite part of doing business, but here's how to make it as painless as possible. That means sending out the occasional letter to remind customers about invoice payments. As a business owner, your job is to recover as many of those unpaid invoices as possible to keep your business running. ![]() According to a 2022 survey, nearly half of all business invoices in the United States become overdue. Ven the most experienced business owners deal with late and unpaid invoices.
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