/ Business
How do I get customers to pay on time?
Take a deposit, invoice immediately, offer instant payment links, and chase on a fixed schedule.
/ 01
The short version
Late payment is usually a process problem, not a character problem.
/ 02
What actually matters
- • 50% deposit before work starts for projects.
- • Invoice the day work completes, not at month end.
- • Include a card or bank payment link in the invoice.
- • Automatic reminders at day 7, 14 and 21.
- • State late payment terms on every invoice.
/ 03
The bit most people get wrong
You have a statutory right to interest and debt recovery costs on late commercial invoices. Mentioning it politely changes behaviour.
/ 04
What to do next
Add a payment link and clear terms to your invoice template this week.
/ 05
Where RIOT fits in
We're a small Colchester studio helping UK SMBs get getting paid right without agency waste or freelancer flake. If you've read this far and you want a second opinion on your specific setup, book a 20-minute call and we'll tell you honestly whether it's worth doing anything at all.
We work with clients across Essex, Suffolk, London and the wider UK — and remotely with brands abroad. No lock-in, no monthly retainer minimums, no pretending your problem is bigger than it is.
/ FAQs
Common questions
Can I charge late fees?
Yes — statutory interest plus fixed recovery costs on B2B invoices.
Should I always take a deposit?
For anything over a day's work, yes.
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