Late payments are one of the biggest challenges freelancers, small businesses, and startups face. Often, the problem isn’t the client — it’s unclear or weak payment terms in your invoice.
In this post, we’ll show you how to write clear, firm, and professional payment terms that get you paid faster — with real-world examples you can use right away.
Payment terms are the conditions you set for when and how clients should pay you. This includes:
Let’s say you're a freelance web designer. Here’s an example of strong payment terms to include in your invoice:
🧾 Payment Terms Example (Freelancer):
"Payment is due within 7 days of the invoice date. Late payments are subject to a 5% fee. We accept bank transfers, credit cards, and PayPal. For payments received within 3 days, a 2% early payment discount applies."
If you sell physical goods or provide recurring B2B services, you might need a different approach.
🧾 Payment Terms Example (Small Business):
"Full payment is required within 15 days of invoice issue. A late fee of ₹250 will be added for payments received after the due date. Partial payments are not accepted. Bank transfer details are included below. For repeat clients, a 10-day credit term may apply upon approval."
Avoid legal jargon. Keep it simple, like:
"Please pay within 14 days to avoid late fees."
Instead of “Due on receipt,” write:
"Due by specific date" — this creates urgency.
Example:
"A 2% late fee will be charged for each week past the due date."
Early payment discounts can be surprisingly effective. Example:
"Get 5% off when paid within 3 days."
Don’t assume clients will remember — reinforce payment expectations on every document.
With EasyGoInvoice, you can:
This new feature helps you work faster and stay consistent with your client communications.
Bonus: Store all your invoices locally with no login required, and manage them from the History tab!
Writing clear payment terms doesn’t just get you paid on time — it shows professionalism and sets healthy boundaries with clients.
Start small: update your invoice template today with these best practices and test the results. You’ll be surprised how big a difference a few words can make.
👉 Need help setting this up? Reach out to us at support@easygoinvoice.com — we’re happy to help!