How to Get Paid Faster as a Tradesperson: 10 Tips That Actually Work

Chasing late payments is the most demoralising part of running a trade business. You did the work, you issued the invoice, and now you're chasing someone for money you earned six weeks ago.

Here are 10 things that actually work — not theory, just things tradespeople have told me work.

1. Take a deposit, every time

The biggest predictor of whether you'll get paid promptly is whether you took a deposit.

• Smaller jobs (£100–£500): 30% deposit.
• Medium jobs (£500–£2,000): 40% deposit.
• Bigger jobs (£2,000+): 50% deposit, with stage payments.

Customers who pay a deposit are psychologically committed. Customers who don't pay anything upfront are 3× more likely to be slow payers at the end.

2. Quote by the task, not the hour

When you quote a fixed price for a defined piece of work, customers know exactly what they're paying for. When you quote by the hour, they worry about how long you'll take and dispute the final number.

A clean quote also makes disputes harder — there's nothing to argue about.

3. Send the invoice the day you finish

Every day between finishing the job and sending the invoice is a day the customer has forgotten what you did. Send it before you leave the site.

GraftLog lets you create and email an invoice from your phone in under a minute. No more "I'll send it Monday."

4. Make the invoice easy to pay

If your invoice says "BACS to account ending in 1234, sort code 12-34-56, reference INV-2026-001" — that's three chances to make a typo. Use a payment link instead.

Stripe Payment Links (free for one-off invoices) or taking card payments directly in your invoice app means customers pay in one click. Adoption is dramatically higher.

5. State the due date clearly

Don't say "payment due on receipt." That's ambiguous. Give a real date.

Good: "Payment due by 14 March 2026."

It feels pushy, but it's standard. Commercial customers expect it.

6. Send a polite nudge 3 days before the due date

Most late payment isn't malicious — the customer just forgot. A short, friendly reminder 3 days before the due date pays off.

Example:

"Hi [name], just a quick reminder that invoice INV-2026-XXX is due on Friday. Bank details are at the bottom of the invoice, or there's a payment link at the top. Cheers, [your name]"

7. Phone the day after the due date

If they haven't paid by the due date, phone. Not email — phone.

Most late-paying customers aren't trying to avoid paying; they just have other things on their mind. A phone call moves you to the top of their list.

If they answer and promise a date, write it down and confirm by email: "Thanks [name], I'll look out for payment by [date]. Cheers."

8. Charge interest on overdue invoices

Under the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998, you can charge interest at 8% above Bank of England base rate on overdue invoices. For a £1,000 invoice 30 days late, that's about £10.

You don't have to enforce it, but stating it on your invoice is a powerful deterrent. Most customers pay promptly when they see the interest clause.

9. Set a clear stop-work threshold

If a customer's invoice goes 30 days overdue, stop any further work for them until it's paid. Most customers will pay quickly when they realise they won't get their next job done otherwise.

This is hard to enforce when you're desperate for the work. But the long-term effect is that customers learn your terms are serious.

10. Use the small claims court as a last resort

For invoices over £100 that are 60+ days overdue and not disputed, the small claims court is fast, cheap, and effective.

• Cost: £35–£455 depending on amount.
• Time: 4–8 weeks.
• Win rate for clear invoices: very high.
• Many courts award the court fees on top.

The threat of small claims is often enough to make a customer pay. Just make sure your invoice is properly drafted — court orders default judgments in favour of clear documentation.

The bottom line

Most slow payment comes from customers who aren't deliberately withholding money — they just need a nudge, a clear date, and an easy way to pay. Set your terms upfront, send the invoice immediately, and follow up promptly.

Set up your first invoice with GraftLog in 60 seconds →