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How to get customers to pay on time
Updated 2026-09-28
Short answer: Customers pay faster when payment terms are agreed up front, the invoice arrives immediately with clear bank details and a due date, large jobs have a deposit, and polite reminders go out before and after the due date. Tracking who owes you every week stops late payments from slipping.
Before the work
- Agree the price and payment terms in writing, ideally with an accepted quote.
- Ask for a deposit on custom or large jobs.
When you invoice
- Invoice the same day the work is done.
- Show the due date and your bank details clearly.
- Send it where your customer will see it: email or WhatsApp.
After you invoice
- Send a friendly reminder a few days before the due date.
- Follow up on the due date and again a week later.
- Review who owes you every week and call your largest late payers.
Let it run automatically
ENB sends payment reminders for you, shows every unpaid invoice with how many days late it is, and lets you remind a customer in one tap.
Frequently asked questions
Should I charge a late payment fee?
You can, if it is in your terms before the work starts. Many small businesses get better results from reminders and deposits.
What should a payment reminder say?
Keep it short and friendly: the invoice number, the amount, the due date, how to pay and a thank-you.
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