1. Invoice the same day you finish
The clock starts when you send. Every day you wait to invoice is a day added to the eventual payment date. Same-day invoicing (or in-truck invoicing before you leave the site) is the single most effective habit.
2. Send by text, not just email
Text messages get a 98% open rate in under 3 minutes. Email averages 20% opens in 90 minutes and gets caught in spam. If your customer replies to texts, invoice them by text.
3. Put the pay button front and center
A one-tap card, Apple Pay, or Google Pay button removes friction. Customers pay a text invoice in the parking lot of a coffee shop. They don't pay a mailed PDF for two weeks.
4. Collect a deposit at approval
For jobs over a few hundred dollars, require a 25–50% deposit before you start. This is standard in the trades and legal in every state. Deposits filter out customers who can't pay and give you the working capital to buy materials.
5. Set shorter payment terms
'Net 30' is a hangover from a time when checks were mailed weekly. For most small services, 'due on receipt' or 'net 7' is entirely reasonable. Customers who need 30 days will ask.
6. Automate reminders
Most late payments are forgotten, not refused. An automatic reminder on day 3, 7, and 14 collects the majority of what would otherwise become past due — without you spending time chasing.
7. Charge a late fee (and put it on the invoice)
1.5% per month is standard and legal in most states. It has to be on the invoice at the time of sending — you can't retroactively add it. The mere presence of the fee changes customer behavior.
8. Offer a small early-payment discount
A 2% discount for payment within 5 days ('2/10 net 30' in accounting speak) is cheaper than most alternatives and gets money in the account fast. Especially effective for larger B2B invoices.
9. Save cards for recurring customers
For any customer who pays you more than once, save their card on file with consent. Next invoice, one tap — or auto-charge on the due date. This alone can cut collection times to zero for repeat business.