Shoutout to the 'payment due' line item on my invoices

I used to just send a total amount at the bottom of my invoices, and I was always chasing people down for money. About six months ago, I started adding a clear line item that says 'Payment Due Upon Receipt' right above the total. It sounds small, but the change was huge. Before, my average time to get paid was like 45 days. Now, I'm seeing most clients pay within two weeks. I think making the due date super obvious and part of the itemized list makes it feel more official, like it's part of the bill and not just a suggestion. It sets the tone right from the start. Has anyone else tried a simple wording tweak like this that actually worked?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_thomas1mo ago

Tried something similar with late fees. Used to just eat the cost when people paid late, which was always. Added a single line at the bottom about a fee for invoices past 30 days. Not a single client has actually paid the fee, but suddenly everyone pays on time now. Just putting it in writing changes how people see it.

spencerross1mo ago

Wow, that's wild. So you've never actually had to charge the fee? Makes you wonder if just the threat of it changes how they value your time.

hunt.jennifer1mo ago

Putting "net 15" in bold right by the total basically cut my wait time in half.