Guide · Getting paid
Net 30, Net 15, due on receipt: choosing terms that get you paid
Payment terms are the rule; the due date is the date. Put both on the invoice and most late payments stop being ambiguous.
What the terms mean
| Term | Means | Fits |
|---|---|---|
| Due on receipt | Pay when the invoice arrives | Small jobs, new clients, deposits |
| Net 15 | Pay within 15 days | Small businesses, repeat clients |
| Net 30 | Pay within 30 days | The default for most B2B work |
| Net 45 / 60 | Pay within 45 or 60 days | Large companies with slow AP cycles |
| 50% deposit | Half up front, half on delivery | Projects with real material costs |
Due date is not the same as terms
“Net 30” is a rule. The due date is the specific calendar date it produces. Put both on the invoice: “Net 30 — due December 2, 2026”. If you only write “Net 30”, a client receiving the invoice late will quietly start counting from the day they opened it.
Count from the invoice date, not the delivery date, unless your contract says otherwise. And if a due date lands on a weekend or holiday, say whether it moves to the next business day.
How to choose
- New client, small job: due on receipt, or 50% up front. You are testing whether they pay at all.
- Repeat client, service work: Net 15 or Net 30. Enough time for their AP process, short enough to keep your cash flow.
- Large company: ask what their standard is before you invoice. Net 45 is common, and pretending otherwise just delays the conversation.
- Real material costs: a deposit. Terms do not fund your suppliers.
Put the terms in three places
- On the invoice itself, next to the due date.
- In the notes, with the payment method — ACH details, check address, or a payment link.
- In the original quote or contract, so the invoice is not the first time they hear it.
When the due date passes
Most late payments are administrative, not malicious. A short, specific sequence works better than one angry email:
- Day 1 after due: “Just checking in — invoice BC-0001 was due yesterday. Let me know if you need it re-sent.”
- Day 7: restate the amount, the due date and the payment details. Ask for a payment date.
- Day 14: a firmer note: work on the next phase is paused until the balance is settled.
- Day 30: decide — payment plan, collections, or write it off. Do not keep sending reminders with no consequence.
Late fees can help, but they must be agreed in the contract and allowed under your state's rules. If you have not agreed them in advance, adding a fee on the invoice after the fact is usually not enforceable.