How to Stop Chasing Invoices as a Tradesperson

You’ve done the work. You’ve sent the invoice. And now you’re waiting. A week goes by, then two. You send a text. No reply. You ring. They say they’ll sort it. Another week. This is one of the most common, and most draining, problems in the trades.

Why it keeps happening

Most of the time, late payment isn’t malicious. People are busy. They forget. Your invoice is sitting in an email they haven’t opened. The problem isn’t usually the customer. It’s the system. Or rather, the lack of one.

Set clear terms from the start

Before you start any job, agree on payment terms. Put them on your quote. Seven days from invoice is reasonable for most domestic work. For bigger commercial jobs, you might agree 14 or 30 days, but make it explicit. “Payment on completion” is even better for smaller jobs, especially with card payments now being so easy.

Invoice immediately

The day the job is done, the invoice goes out. Not Friday. Not next week. The same day. The longer you wait to invoice, the longer you wait to get paid. Most job management software lets you invoice on-site from your phone.

Automate the follow-up

This is the game-changer. Tools like Tradify and ServiceM8 can send automatic payment reminders at intervals you set, such as 3 days overdue, 7 days, 14 days. The customer gets a polite nudge, and you don’t have to pick up the phone.

Take deposits

For any job over a few hundred euro, take a deposit before starting. 30–50% is standard practice. It covers your materials, confirms the customer is serious, and reduces the amount you’re chasing later.

Make it easy to pay

Offer bank transfer, card payment, and if possible, a payment link in the invoice itself. The fewer steps between receiving the invoice and paying it, the faster the money arrives.

Late payment doesn’t have to be part of the job. The right system handles it quietly, so you can focus on the work.