As a startup, you’re likely always looking for ways to improve your cash flow. One of the best ways to do this is to ensure that your invoices are paid on time. Unfortunately, late payments are all too common. In fact, according to a recent study, 82% of businesses worldwide have experienced at least one instance of late payments. If you’re dealing with late payments, it can be frustrating and stressful. But there are some things you can do to help encourage timely payments from your customers.
Here are some effective tips to get your invoices paid on time:
Use an Invoice Generator
One of the easiest ways to ensure that your invoices are paid on time is to use an invoice maker or generator. This will help you create professional-looking invoices that are easy for your customers to understand.
Plus, using an www.vantazo.com invoice maker or generator can help you save time by automatically creating invoices for you. This way, you can spend less time on administrative tasks and more time growing your business.
Send Invoices Promptly
Another effective tip to encourage timely payments is to send invoices promptly. Ideally, you should send invoices as soon as the products or services have been delivered.
This way, your customers will know exactly how much they owe and when the payment is due. Plus, if there are any questions about the invoice, you’ll be able to resolve them quickly.
Include Payment Terms on Your Invoice
Make sure that your invoices include payment terms so that your customers know when they’re expected to pay. Typically, you’ll want to give your customers 14 days to pay the invoice.
If you can, it’s also a good idea to offer a discount for early payments. For example, you could offer a 2% discount for customers who opt into use your company’s subscription billing software to take payments in favour of traditional invoicing. This will direct your customers to pay their invoices promptly.
Follow Up with Late-Paying Customers
If you have customers who routinely pay their invoices late, it’s important to follow up with them. You can do this by sending a polite email or making a phone call.
During the conversation, be sure to emphasize the importance of timely payments. You may also want to offer a discount for early payment like you would on your invoice.
Mention Some Penalties
If your customers don’t pay their invoices on time, you may want to consider charging them a late fee. This will help discourage late payments and improve your cash flow.
Charging a late fee is typically done as a percentage of the invoice total. For example, you could charge a 5% late fee for invoices that are paid more than 14 days after the due date.
You should include information about late fees on your invoice so that your customers are aware of them. This way, they’ll be more likely to pay on time to avoid the fees.
Offer Incentive on Early Payments
If you want to encourage timely payments, you may want to offer an incentive for early payment. For example, you could offer a special discount for invoices that are paid within specific days.
This will help motivate your customers to pay their invoices on time. Plus, it can improve your cash flow since you’ll receive the payment sooner.
Allow Different Ways of Payments
Customers should have different options to pay you. If they can only pay by check, there will always be the risk of the check getting lost in the mail.
Instead, give your customers the option to pay by credit card, debit card, or even PayPal. This way, they can choose the payment method that is most convenient for them.
Conclusion
Late payments can be frustrating and stressful for any business owner. But by following these tips, you can encourage timely payments from your customers. So take some time to create professional-looking invoices and include payment terms on them. You should also send invoices promptly and follow up with late-paying customers. And finally, allow different ways of payment. By using an invoice maker or generator, sending invoices promptly, including payment terms on your invoice, and following up with late-paying customers, you can help ensure that your invoices are paid on. Doing all these things will help you get your invoices paid on time and improve your cash flow.
Read More: How to Use Google Reverse Image Search
