Know the exact due date
"Net 30" sounds clear until you try to work out the actual date. Does it count from the invoice date or the delivery date? Does it include weekends? Late payment usually starts with this kind of uncertainty, so the first job of this tool is to turn your payment terms into one exact date that you and your client can both see.
Payment terms count calendar days from the invoice date unless your contract says otherwise. An invoice dated 10 March on Net 30 terms is due on 9 April. Writing that date on the invoice itself, not just "Net 30", removes any room for argument.
Payment terms explained
- Due on receipt: payment is expected straight away. Common for small one-off jobs and consumer sales.
- Net 7, Net 14, Net 15: short terms that keep cash flowing for freelancers and small suppliers.
- Net 30: the most common business standard in the US, UK and Europe.
- Net 45, Net 60, Net 90: longer terms that large companies often ask suppliers to accept. In the EU and the UK, business payment terms above 60 days are generally restricted unless both sides expressly agree and the terms are fair to the supplier.
- EOM: due on the last day of the month the invoice was issued.
- Net 30 EOM: due 30 days after the end of that month, so an invoice dated 5 March is due on 30 April.
Read our guide to payment terms for help choosing the right terms for your business.
A reminder schedule that gets you paid
Most late invoices are not deliberate. They are forgotten, stuck in an approval queue or sent to the wrong person. A steady, polite reminder schedule solves most of these cases without damaging the relationship:
- 3 days before the due date: a friendly heads-up, which often prompts the client to schedule the payment.
- On the due date: a short note that payment is due today.
- 7 days overdue: a polite check that the invoice was received, with a copy attached.
- 14 days overdue: a firmer message asking for a payment date.
- 30 days overdue: a final reminder before you consider late fees, interest or other steps.
The tool adds each reminder to your calendar as an all-day event with a 9 am alert, and can move reminders that would land on a Saturday or Sunday to the following Monday, when your client's accounts team is actually at work.
Ready-to-send reminder emails
Writing a payment chaser is awkward, so the tool fills in four email templates with your invoice number, client name, amount and due date: a friendly reminder, a due-today note, a polite overdue email and a firm final reminder. Copy the one you need, paste it into your email and attach the invoice PDF from the invoice generator.
Keep the tone factual. Mention the invoice number and amount, ask a clear question such as "When can I expect payment?", and make it easy to pay by repeating your payment details.
Make invoices easier to pay
The best reminder is the one you never need to send. Put the exact due date at the top of every invoice, address it to the person who approves payments, and quote the client's purchase order number if they gave you one. Offer more than one way to pay, such as bank transfer and card, and repeat your bank details in full. For new clients, agree the payment terms in writing before you start work, and for large projects ask for a deposit or staged payments so you are never waiting on one big sum.
Late payment interest and fees
In the UK, businesses can usually claim statutory interest on late commercial payments, plus a fixed recovery fee, unless the contract sets a different fair remedy. EU countries have similar rules based on the Late Payment Directive. In the US, late fees depend on your contract and state law. Only charge interest or fees that your terms or the law allow, and mention them in your invoice terms from the start.
Saved invoices stay in a simple list on this device, showing how many days remain or how many days each one is overdue. When the money arrives, click Mark paid and the invoice disappears from the list. Nothing is ever uploaded.