InvoiceGlance

Invoice payment terms

Invoice payment terms, explained plainly

Payment terms tell your customer when the money is due. Pick them before you send the invoice, write them down, and late payments become much easier to follow up.

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Terms in practice

A copywriter sends an invoice on 1 June with net 14 terms. That means the money is due 14 days later, on 15 June. If it is still unpaid on 16 June, the invoice is one day late and can be followed up.

Without a due date there is nothing to be late against. The customer can honestly say they did not know when you needed paying, and your reminder has to ask a vaguer question than it should.

The terms you will see most

  • Due on receipt

    Payment is expected as soon as the customer gets the invoice. Common for small jobs and one-off work.

  • Net 7 and net 14

    Payment is due 7 or 14 days after the invoice date. A good fit for freelancers and trades, where cash flow matters.

  • Net 30

    Due 30 days after the invoice date. Common when billing larger companies, which often pay on a monthly cycle.

  • Deposits and part payments

    Ask for part of the money up front on bigger jobs, and bill the balance when the work is done.

How to choose and use them

  1. Choose terms that suit the job

    Shorter for small work, longer only where the customer insists. Agree them before you start.

  2. Put the due date on the invoice

    Write the actual date, not only the phrase. InvoiceGlance counts an invoice as late once its due date passes.

  3. Follow up the day it is late

    A short, friendly reminder the day after the due date gets most invoices paid.

Questions, answered plainly

What does net 30 mean?

The full amount is due 30 days after the invoice date. An invoice dated 1 June with net 30 terms is due on 1 July.

Can I charge a late fee?

Rules about late fees differ by place, and the fee should be agreed and written down before the work. This is general information, not legal advice, so check the rules where you work.

Does InvoiceGlance chase late payments for me?

No. It shows you who is late and has the reminder ready. You read it and press Send, so you stay in control.

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