How to politely request late payment from a small business client

Late payment from a small business client usually comes down to their process, not bad faith. Here's who pays, when, what tends to hold payment up, and a polite reminder you can send today.

Who pays, and when

Usually the owner, sometimes with help from a part-time bookkeeper. Many pay as cash comes in rather than on a fixed schedule.

Why payment runs late

The owner is juggling everything, and paying invoices slips down the list.

Tips for chasing a small business client

Make paying easy: the amount, a link and bank details near the top.
Send reminders early in the week, when owners plan their admin.
Keep the tone personal. You're probably dealing with the owner directly.

Example reminder email

Subject: Quick reminder: invoice [number] Hi [first name], I hope all's well. Invoice [number] for [amount] was due on [date]. If it's already on its way, thank you, and please ignore this. To make it quick, the amount and a way to pay are right below. Is there anything you need from me to get this paid? You can pay here: [payment link] Thanks, [Your name]

Write your reminders

Fill in the invoice to get four emails for a small business client, from a heads-up to a final notice, with the dates to send them. Nothing you type leaves your browser.

Your reminders will appear here.

Want these sent for you?

We're building a tool that sends these reminders automatically from your own Gmail when a Stripe invoice goes overdue, all in one email thread, and stops the moment it's paid. It isn't ready yet. Planned price: $19 a month.