Waiting 45 days to get paid while your credit card bill arrives in 45 minutes? Welcome to small business. The good news: most late payments aren't personal. They're friction.
1. Invoice immediately (like, today)
The single biggest predictor of slow payment is slow invoicing. Finish the job Monday, send the invoice Monday. Every day you wait is a day they forget what you did and deprioritize your bill.
2. Make paying stupid easy
Checks are fine. "Mail a check to this address, reference this number, hope it doesn't get lost" is not fine. Offer card payments, ACH, and Tap to Pay. One tap beats a trip to the mailbox every time.
3. Be crystal clear on terms
Put due dates on every invoice. "Net 15" beats "please pay when convenient" (spoiler: convenient never comes). For larger jobs, take a deposit upfront — 30–50% is standard in trades and creative work.
4. Follow up before it's awkward
A friendly reminder at 3 days past due beats a tense phone call at 30. Automate this if you can — Lux in Plus can draft follow-ups so you're not manually copy-pasting "just checking in" emails at 10pm.
5. Know your slow payers
Track who pays on time and who treats Net 30 like a suggestion. It's okay to require deposits from repeat offenders or adjust terms. Your time has value.
6. Offer a small "pay now" incentive
2% off for payment within 7 days can move the needle without hurting margins much. Some businesses prefer the opposite — a modest late fee. Either works; pick one and stick to it.
Bottom line: faster payments come from faster invoicing, easier payment methods, and consistent follow-up. Plus handles all three — invoicing, online payments, and Lux-powered reminders. Try it free and see if your cash flow breathes a little easier.