5 tips for Chasing Invoices Without Annoying your Clients

When you’re a small business owner, sole trader or freelancer, asking for payment on overdue invoices can be a delicate matter. Without an accounts person or department, sometimes you’re trying to secure new work and chase invoices from the same person. That can be an awkward tightrope to walk.

Here are five tips for chasing payments while maintaining customer loyalty:

Automate reminders

Set friendly payment reminders that go out automatically – they tell clients they’re missed a payment without making it personal. It’s like your invoicing platform is giving them a nudge, rather than you doing it yourself. You can sign it off with just your business name, rather than your own.

Find out who’s behind the payments

Is there another person at the business who’s in charge of accounts or payments? Ideally, you want to be selling your services to your usual contact and chasing someone else to pay your invoices.

Enlist help from a friend

 If you have a friend who also has a small business, become each other’s accounts support. Set your friend up with an ‘accounts@yourwebsite.com’ address and they can send out email reminders and follow-ups to your clients, or call them about the invoice. Maybe you can do the same for them.

Set expectations when you negotiate the job

Firm and clear payment terms make it easier to get paid faster and keep that cash flowing. Set out your terms up front – it’s much easier to talk about your payment expectations when you organise the job, rather than once the invoice has been sent. For persistently slow payers, consider offering an early payment discount or ask for more money upfront for the next job.

Be nice, but firm

There’s no need to be rude or aggressive to your clients when chasing payment; you want to maintain a positive relationship. However, at some point you need to cut off their credit. Often saying ‘I’m very happy to do that for you, just waiting on payment of that last invoice’ will give them the impetus they need to pay you. But if they persistently don’t pay, no matter how much you like the client, you’re not providing a free service! Stop working for the client and chase those outstanding invoices more assertively.

We can help

If you need help with chasing your invoices please get in touch today.

Book a Complimentary 1 Hour Consult

What our clients say

My Company has been utilising the services of DFKOGC for many years and this itself speaks volumes for the excellent professional services rendered by them. I have been interacting with the DFKOGC team for the past 2 months and I have found them to extremely responsive, very professional and always willing to go the extra mile to service us.

Mary Abraham

We have found DFK OGC’s approach to everything from services provided to how they build relationships one that had worked well for them. We’ve found them to be down to earth, obviously knowledgeable about what they do and approachable as well. They always welcome the phone.

Any time I need them – any of the partners – they’re there to pick up the phone.
And they provide that service after hours as well, which is just great.

Dipak Bagia – CEO Petrochem Group

DFK have supported us for many years and the service has been great across various partners.

MAHA Australia & New Zealand

Very efficient and has a personal touch. If you have questions, they respond in a timely manner and even visits you to explain things face to face.

Marlo Camacho

Extremely professional and astute business advisors. Our businesses has benefitted and elevated to new horizons with DFK OGC by our side. Even when going gets challenging, they are open to seek subject matter experts. Anit Patel and his entire team are great highly recommended.

Sanjai Bagia

It’s not so big that you feel like just another number, but it’s also big enough that they can cover everything I need.  I feel comfortable with the fact that as my business grows, DFK OGC will be able to handle the demands that come with it.

Lee Chang Woo
Previous
Next