Getting invoices paid - how to deal with late payers?

[VectraMan]

I did a similar thing earlier this year, and after 31 days I sent a friendly gentle reminder email to the boss. They paid up, by cheque, sent second class post, but got there in the end. As you say, they were just doing the small business thing of making every day count.

I'd keep it friendly at this stage.

[The Master]

It is also good practice to send statements every 30 days on a fixed day every month, which coincidentally should be about halfway from when you submitted the invoice to when the next payment is due. This should, of course, conclude with a debt history breakdown.

Think professional, act professional.

[thunderlizard]

Make sure you know when their regular payment run times are, so you know when's the best time to remind them.
Using this knowledge, send them a reminder statement once the payment's overdue, then a few weeks later send another one with interest added on. The only time that failed to work for me, I told them I'd be turning up at their offices on such a date, expecting to be handed a cheque. I did, and was. That's the furthest I've ever had to take things.

[ferple]

Ta

Thanks everyone for the advice.

As it turns out, I just had a face-to-face with the client and they handed me a cheque straight away (along with some sheepish looks). I was about to mention the unpaid invoice during the meeting, but in the end didn't need to. I'll keep the advice in my back pocket for next time though.